Both Sides of the Lens

Beth Riesgraf - Jason's ex fiance. (photo: jason Lee)

I’m told, that to be a good actor you have to have a head for lines, a genuine feel for the character you are playing and a drive to succeed that would make the energizer bunny look like a slacker. But for some, acting is also having an intimate knowledge of the cameras that are fixed on them, day in and day out.

Jason Lee’s creative outlets come in many forms, but while hanging out on movie sets around people who know them, he took up a love for cameras and photography. At the time of his Fecalface.com interview Jason mentions mainly shooting large format Polaroid – in fact, his only 8X10 Polaroid print of Dennis hopper recently got stolen at an art gallery it was on loan to. There’s a $25,000 reward out for its return.

Stolen Dennis Hopper Shot on Polaroid 8X10 (photo: Jason Lee)

Dennis Hopper in the 60′s he carried his camera everywhere, and documented his industry inside and out. Always the reluctant icon he’s been quoted as saying “In many ways, it’s really these photographs that kept me going creatively.” Taschen recently released a huge collection of hoppers work spanning from 1961-67 which i have noticed is available at a couple local book stores.

(photo:Dennis Hopper)

Martin Luther King (photo:Dennis Hopper)

Jeff Bridges brings his vintage 35mm Widelux on set when he is working on movies, he documents the process and surroundings. Jeff was given the camera as a belated engagement gift from his wife and he’s carried it with him ever since – making albums from set for the people with whom he’s worked. Now he’s publishing his favorite photos from set for all to see. Really interesting work and you check it out over at his impossible to navigate website.

Jeff Bridges on the set of True Grit (photo:Jeff Bridges)

(photo:Jeff Bridges)

On the set of The Big Lebowski (photo:Jeff Bridges)