Just turned 29. Greenpoint, Brooklyn. benpier.com

Okay. I like things that are interesting at a glimpse. Something that's there and gone in an instant... I try to make a record of it. Also, I think the edit is as important as the shots and so I try very hard to come up with original edits. I don't shoot projects, I'm shooting my experiences and I shoot them just about everyday. My friend Jason said I'm "a photographer's photographer" I think I know what he means and I think I like that. It's flattering.

I grew up in St. Louis and went to school in Chicago and now I live and work here in New York. I really don't really know how I fit in here...or there. It's something I try not to think about at this point. I have my sensibilities and I concern myself with making photographs that I find interesting, work that I would want to see if I picked up a book of photos. Right now I just want to make work that I'm stoked on and psyched to share with people.

Bruce Davidson, Norm McDonald, Martin Parr, Blake Schwarzenbach, Roy Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, Ryan Due, Steve Powers, Brendan Kelly, Nick Haggard, Dave Eggers, Meaghan Mullaney, John White, Diane Arbus, James Nachtwey, Fransico Goya, Glen Friedman, Mikhail Bulgakov, Nathan Baker, Brian Ulrich, Eugene Mirman, Eugene Richards, Tim Armstrong, Danny McBride, Peter Sutherland.

I walk along and try to see something or someone that I like or that gets me psyched somehow, and I think to myself "I wonder what that would look like as a photograph" and then I take a couple frames of that thing.

Traveling, not traveling, going for a drive, shooting some film, shooting clay pigeons, sleeping in, getting up early and making tea or coffee or what have you, fishing, spending time with someone who you enjoy spending time with, making lists of fun things to do, water parks, books, getting in Glen's van and going to that river spot with the rope swing...the one in new jersey, eating BBQ, having a picnic in central park on the hill by the pond, having a mother fucking party, exploring, having sex outdoors, having sex with yourself indoors, sports, drinking on a train in south america, seeing old friends... Also, listening to music in tandem with most of these things will make them more awesome.

I buy my mom a horse and myself a house...and whatever Meaghan wants.

My friend Tony came in from San Francisco and we played pool and drank whiskey and talked shit in the daylight. We are also going to the bath-house later. Should be pretty great.

Mamiya 7.

Well, I just recently was added to tinker street and i'm really feeling lucky to be on that roster and a part of what's going on there. As far as the rest of the summer goes; I am shooting a couple music videos for some bands here in Brooklyn and I'm working on a little journal-y book thing with some people who can write stories good. I'll let you know.

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