Zeb Daemen Interview
It only seems right that today is my birthday and we have, as a gift for me and you, an interview from one of the coolest guys I have yet to meet. So everyone enjoy, and for those of you (lucky bastards) who get a spring break or the weather is nice where you are, embrace it and shout on high, “TREY’s the man!”
Zeb. Daemen. The man. From Antwerp. Belgium.
Zeb Daemen is an up and coming photographer whose work is a mix of simplicity and story. There is always a hidden agenda when it comes to his work. It could be described as ethereal, quirky, concrete, and interesting. Well, I actually whipped out those four words, but they definitely apply in some way, at least. His work reminds me of my favourite photographer, Gray Scott, but it also has an element of Hedi Slimane in there somewhere. I can’t put my thumb on it, Zeb. Your work escapes description. He’s shot for the likes of ILOVEFAKE magazine, Mercken magazine, and Weekend Le Vif. And now, we go straight to his studio in the north of Belgium.
Trey Taylor: Zeb. There are too many things about you that I like. And although there are many different ways I’d like to start this, I just gotta ask. Are you a model as well as a photographer? I mean, there’s no denying your face.
Zeb Daemen: (Laughing) It is kind of you to start the interview like this, but no, I’m only behind the camera. Thank you though!
TT: Okay, so maybe like me, you’re a die-hard Walt Disney fan. And no people, I don’t mean just the movies. Is it true?
ZD: I’m from the Disney generation, so It’s true. Growing up with the Disney videos made me really believe in dreams and to never give up on them. As a kid I was also living in my own space and imagination. At one point I wanted to become a disney animator and was writing stories with images. There was nothing more that I enjoyed then creating and doing just that. When I was about 12 I became very interested in filming and made little movies with drawings. Filming snapshots of slightly changing images or from my sisters dressed up as whatever you can think of.
TT: What do you like about the Man behind the Mouse?
ZD: I can only admire what he created in his mind and shared with you and I and the rest.
TT: There is certainly something about your work that is difficult to translate, so you can only look. Did you plan for that?
ZD: It’s not planned, but I think it’s great that you can’t always putt a picture in a category. It’s fashion photography and you can go so far. It’s there to look at and it’s to entertain.
TT: What do you want your work to convey? Do you try to change people’s views about the world with your photography, or are you more of a just better people’s lives with a beautiful photo type guy?
ZD: At the moment I try to create beautiful, unrealistic images of fashion. Right now when people see my work, I would like them to enjoy it, find it creative, new and fresh. Later,’ because I’m still growing and lurning so much to really bring controversy to my work’, I hope I will make a editorial that involves surten issues of the world and will make people discus it. Like photographer Steven Meisel who I admire and already brought alot of controversy with his fashion edirtorials about plastic surgery and more…
TT: Zeb, tell me something I want to hear.
ZD: Oh dear, uhm. My parents got my name from a Cowboy television series. The show was called Zeb Mccain and my dad was a fan when he was younger. So I’m named after a cowboy.
TT: Do you find it hard finding work at this stage in your career?
ZD: I’m still at a early stage of my career. Just been really committing to it for two years now and I’ve been very lucky with getting work in photography. With moments it’s hard but that doesn’t stop me from taking pictures just for myself. You got to keep busy!
TT: Do you ever find that people don’t take you seriously because of your age or lack of experience? What would you say to all the youth out there who have so many ideas but aren’t taken seriously?
ZD: It’s realistic that people in the business don’t take you seriously at age 24. The funny side is, when they first see and like your work and then meet you for the first time… Expecting someone a little older, ha! But it’s not so bad afterall, just believe in what your putting out there and show confidence.
TT: It’s no surprise that the fashion industry is cutthroat, and staying at the top is just as hard as getting there. Do you have any advice for people who haven’t made it as far as you have?
ZD: I’m still reaching to the top myself, but keep your work out there. Keep improving and keep entertaining basically! It’s also about meeting the right people at the right time, how plain that may sound.
TT: Where do you see yourself 5 years down the road? Any goals?
ZD: They are so many things, and they are big goals. I would deffinatly like to be doing fashion editorials for the best magazines like VMAN, L’Official, Numéro, Vogue… I Hope to have a big studio by then where I can do my work. I would like to travel and get inspired and produce deeper work. It’s also a dream to shoot a campaign for a designer. Either way, all at it’s time.
TT: Leave us with something that rolls off the tongue.
ZD: Oh, then I would like to thank you Trey for this refreshing interview. g