Dan Busta's Newspaper Promo

Dan Busta, one of PIX's customers came in the other day to drop off a stack of his promo piece ... printed on newsprint ! We eagerly partake in flipping through the newspaper looking at Busta's images. Makes perfect sense in today's digital world. I doubt I would get so same enjoyment from a computer screen.

I email him for an interview plus more photos from the presses after the jump....





PIX : Dan, when I saw your newspaper promo, I thought it was such a great idea for this time ! In the past few years, everything seems to be more about the online experience but when I flip through your paper, I love the fact that I connect with it at a different level than just onscreen. Can you tell me more about how you decided on this, and what was the goal of it ?

DAN : I decided to do a newspaper promo a very long time ago. About six years ago I was studying graphic design and I learned of the famous contemporary designer Stephen Sagmiester. At the time he was making very extreme design and using a variety of media to communicate. One of his clients was a clothing designer and he produced a look book printed on news print in black and white. This look book was designed and ment to be hung on a hanger, it was a very interesting way to showcase the fashion. When I saw that newsprint book instantly thought of my black and white work published as a newspaper promo. So that was the inception of the idea.

Through out the years I have been searching for a press, broke or didn't have the right work. So finally all the stars aligned and one day I was driving by a newspaper office and I thought to myself.. "WTF.. why don't I have the paper done yet this is crazy I have been wanting to do this for 6 years." I called the newspaper office, got the printers contact info, called the printer, set up meetings and then made the paper. It took about a two weeks to build, retouch and make the press ready pdf. Luckily my design experience really helped execute it in a professional manner.

The goal of the paper is to showcase this project as an on going series. I feel like this body of work is best as a series not just as individual shots. It is this reason why I feel like the newspaper is perfect as a promo rather than individual postcards. This is a series I have been doing for the past 5 years, I have hundreds of people on this brackdrop. The goal is to showcase these interesting people. I like to photograph more than what is on the surface, I strive to photograph personality. Some are celebs which makes people other than photographers, and artists interested in the work, however Some of the most interesting images to me are the people from the midwest.

PIX : So are you originally from Los Angeles ? How did you get into photography ?

DAN : I'm originally from the suburbs of Chicago, I have lived in LA for the last 3 years and starting to get a handle on the scene. I have been very excited about the range of work I have been making here. I really feel like "Hollywood" is effecting my work in a great way. I love the scale of productions I have been making recently and I love the access I have been getting to celebs in my uniform series. Its my goal to bring some of the celebs into my bigger productions and communicate a concept.

I got into shooting in high school, I photographed my rollerblader friends. Though rollerblading photography I was quick to learn various photo techniques and basics. I would experiment with all kinds of processes with the skaters and eventually got published in some rollerblading magazines.

From there I kept shooting rollerblading and became staff photographer for Daily Bread Magazine and went on to shoot most of the covers for the next 5 years. The mag eventually folded and I went on to design work for a few years. Although I loved the creative process of graphic design I eventually got board sitting at the computer all day. So in an effort to bring more photography back into my life a moved up here to LA and right away started carrying sand for David LaChappelle.

PIX : As a working photographer, what's the past few years like for you especially in these times ? Also got any advice for folks starting out in the photo business ?

DAN : Well working photographer is a loose term. I have shot a few jobs here and there, but I could definitely be shooting more. I want to be shooting more of my large productions and my portrait series. Its funny too because the tests I shoot can cost a ton of money but some how I always find time and cash to make it happen.

My advice to people starting out is to just keep shooting, I strive to shoot images that other people can't shoot and get images that are high risk. I'm always trying to push the boundaries. I have flooded a set with 200 gallons of water in my studio for 100 bucks. I've had a publicist tell me indirectly I should have gotten punched for my direction and I have climbed fences to get the right skate shot.

I'm not sure the photo business will make make me famous or rich, but its my passion. If you have that mentality I think you'll be ok.

If you want to get a copy, there's a stack of them here at PIX as well as Larchmont Newstand, The Mandrake bar, The Forge, Bergamont Station Cafe, Family Books on Fairfax, Driftwood in Silverlake and Skylight Books in Los Feliz.

Busta mention he'll be dropping off more copies next week. He has signed 500 of the limited edition of 1,000 copies so if you wanna copy, email : busta (at) danbusta.com

See more behind the scenes on his Tumblr