Mobile Photography & Art – ‘Intimate Interview’ with David Hayes from Milford, Ohio, United States
Our thirty seventh interview in this new series of intimate interviews enables award winning mobile photographer, David Hayes from Milford, Ohio, United States to eloquently unfurl his thoughtful answers to our memorable questions, combinations with scatterings of beautiful images, leaving marks on our hearts. Enjoy.
To read the other published interviews in this series including artists, Adria Ellis, Rino Rossi, Mehmet Duyulmus, Alexis Rotella, Lou Ann Sanford Donahue, Irene Oleksiuk, Kerry Mitchell, Filiz Ak, Dale Botha, Lisa Mitchell, M. Cecilia Sao Thiago, Deborah McMillion, Rita Colantonio, Amy Ecenbarger, Jane Schultz, Anca Balaj, Joyce Harkin, Armineh Hovanesian, Kate Zari Roberts, Vicki Cooper, Peter Wilkin, Barbara Braman, Becky Menzies, Sukru Mehmet Omur, Sarah Bichachi, Michel Pretterklieber, Alon Goldsmith, Judy Lurie Whalberg, Andrea Bigiarni, Sean Hayes, Oola Cristina, Kathleen Magner-Rios, Linda Toki, Deb Fiel, Emilo Nadales, Lydia Cassatt and myself, go here.
All images ©David Hayes
What was your childhood or earliest ambition?
I wanted to become a superhero…Superman to be exact. It was his ability to fly that I liked the most…although his x-ray vision appealed to my 10 year old fantasies.
First Recognition?
I’m not so sure what you might call “recognition”. My third grade teacher was always on my case about one thing or another…was never sure why. On the other hand I had a high school Language Arts teacher who supported my writing abilities as the high school newspaper editor. My editorials almost got her fired but she stood by me…
First Job?
Newspaper delivery boy. Delivered my small town’s weekly newspaper. Taught me a lot about myself and lessons about life. Like don’t mess with someone’s newspaper. They can get real nasty about it!
Private or State School?
State school. Ohio University in Athens, OH. BSC in Communications. After that…private school. Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. MBA in Finance and MEd in Elementary Education. My life has taken many turns…
University or Work?
Work whilst in High School. University then Work. And then University then Work. Like I said, my life has taken many turns.
Who was or is still your mentor?
I’ve had many mentors. The head of corporate HRD when I was in banking, several of my immediate supervisors later in my banking career. My teammates when I was in teaching as well as my professors in MEd school. Now days I look to the works of the artists I admire. (And my 6 year old Brittany Spaniel is always teaching me new tricks!)
How physically fit are you?
For a gentleman of 66 years I’m in pretty good shape thank you very much! Years of Pilates and Yoga have made a difference! I don’t have the energy levels I had as a youth and have developed some “ticks”over the years…just life’s way of keeping things interesting.
Ambition or talent: What matters more to success?
Ambition. Talent is important but without ambition one will not achieve much. It’s ambition that helps you get over the walls that life puts in your way.
How politically committed are you?
Much more than I have been in the past. Current times demand it. The world is at a critical crossroad right now…everyone needs to be committed.
What would you like to own that you don’t currently possess?
A lake house. A better camera. A red Jeep Wrangler. My 18 year old body…and the confidence I had back then. Seriously…I possess everything I need. That’s enough.
What’s your biggest extravagance?
The 2008 Harley Heritage Softail motorcycle that’s sitting in my garage. Barely ridden. Collecting dust as a garage trophy. Can’t sell it…who knows…I might want to ride it tomorrow!
In what places are you happiest?
Next to water…an ocean or a lake. In a deep forest. Home.
What ambitions do you still have?
Ambitions? How about living the rest of my life to the fullest! I like that one.
What drives you on?
Life is too short to waste. There’s just way too much left to be discovered and experienced. Why quit now!!
What do you find most irritating in other people?
I don’t put up with fools. Period. I guess that’s why I’m irritated with many people…too many fools in the world now days.
If your 20 year old self could see you now, what would he think?
What the hell have you done with yourself?! Actually I would hope he’d see a wiser version of himself. But remembering my 20 year old self…probably not.
What object that you you’ve lost do you wish you still had?
I can’t really say that I have anything like that. Interesting question…I’ll have to give that one more thought…
What is the greatest challenge of our time?
Ourselves.
If you had to rate your satisfaction with your life so far, out of 10, what would you score?
With 10 being the highest…an 8. Most days at least.
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Joanne Carter
Joanne Carter is a British photography journalist, editor, curator, and the founder of *TheAppWhisperer.com*, one of the world’s leading platforms dedicated to mobile photography and art. Since its launch in 2009, TheAppWhisperer has become an international hub for artists of all levels to discover, learn, exhibit, and engage with contemporary photographic practice.Built on principles of inclusivity, accessibility, and artistic excellence, Joanne has spent almost two decades championing mobile photography as a serious artistic medium. Through interviews, critical essays, exhibitions, competitions, and education, she has helped shape and document the evolution of mobile art on a global scale.Her work has taken her internationally, lecturing on photography and mobile art at institutions and events including the Museum of Art in Seoul, South Korea, alongside appearances in the UK and Europe. She has served as a juror for international photography and mobile art awards across Portugal, Canada, the United States, South Korea, Italy, and the UK.Joanne is also the founder of *TheAppWhispererPrintSales.com*, one of the first online galleries dedicated exclusively to collectible mobile art, connecting artists with collectors across Europe, the United States, and Asia.Before founding TheAppWhisperer, Joanne worked extensively in print journalism and photographic publishing, including roles at a paparazzi photo agency and as deputy editor of a leading photography magazine. Her freelance journalism, criticism, and commentary have been published widely in both the UK and the US, with bylines in *The Times*, *The Sunday Times*, *The Guardian*, *Popular Photography*, *NikonPro*, *DPReview*, *Which?*, *Vogue Italia*, *LensCulture*, the *BBC*, and more recently, the *Financial Times*, where her published letters on photography continue to contribute to wider conversations around the medium.Alongside her editorial and curatorial work, Joanne’s own photographic practice has been exhibited internationally across the UK, Europe, South Korea, and the United States. Her work increasingly explores themes of grief, loss, death, memory, and the body.Her current research interests centre on grief, death, and poverty, with forthcoming postgraduate study leading towards doctoral research in these areas.Joanne is currently developing new long-form writing and photographic projects and is available for commissions, editorial projects, speaking engagements, and collaborations.Contact: joannetheappwhisperer@gmail.com)
