On the Dog and Bone with... William Abranowicz
It was the photos of huge bright red dahlias, the pale pink tulips and a giant cactus shot in front a huge piece of fuchsia silk (somewhere below) which led me to the wonderful world of William Abranowicz. After delving further I discovered an overflowing porridge pot of photography of interiors from beautifully lit dusty attics to swish design interiors. Turns out Abranowicz is the modest definition of prolific and has been the go-to photographer for nearly every major publication for about 25 years. “William Abranowicz is a photographer best known for his poised and meticulous still life, landscape and lifestyle photographs. With a deep affinity for the classical forms of interiors and exteriors” - Art and Commerce. William seems to have the ability to capture a moment in time that feels longer and slower and more atmospheric - even in hyper styled sets he brings something natural and humble. I was so pleased to discover that Abranowicz is also a falconer (among many other wonderful interests unearthed below), there is something raptor-like in Abranowicz - skilled, meticulous, powerful and successful yet rugged, wild and raw.
I was thrilled when he said he would answer our questions for our third ‘On the Dog and Bone’ interview.
Enjoy!
What’s a GOOD breakfast for a great day?
Full fat, greek yogurt with honey and fruit and eaten next to the Aegean.
Where is home for you at the moment?
The Catskill Mountains, Margaretville, NY
What’s on your wishlist for your own home?
Time. I do it all myself and I have been building stone walls and stairs with my new tractor.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Wake up before sunrise, read, write, correspond, then I usually am editing, packing for a trip to photograph, hiking our property.
What’s your favorite type of shoot?
I do many things. Interiors is one of them. And I guess my favourite types are the ones I do for my books.
What artists / writers / poets / product designers have made you go WOW and stop you in your tracks lately?
ABBR Projects, a really cool little branding and design firm that happens to be a partnership between my two sons, a designer and writer. I always ask, Where did they come from? So good!
Where have you been recently that you loved?
Greece, Always, Greece.
What have you been pleasantly surprised by recently?
My daughter, Maxie’s being sent to work in Sicily as a project manager for her job. A dream for a 26 year old.
What are you excited about?
My new book about The Hudson River Valley and Catskill Mountains which I am working on with my son, Zander
What’s on your studio playlist?
Yo Yo Ma, Bach Cello Concertos, New Brian Eno, always Springsteen—once a Jersey boy, always a Jersey boy. Japanese Breakfast, and Pete Seeger’s Fifty Sails on Newburgh Bay
What’s on your traveling playlist?
Anything quiet and relaxing….eno ambient music
What’s on your calendar that you’re most looking forward to?
Two months working in Mexico in the late winter!
How would you say the year has gone - any highs or lows?
Sigh. It has been a wonderful year but my mom died in September and that has, well……you know….but today it’s magnificent outside.
If you could wake up tomorrow with a new skill what would it be?
Speaking Greek, welding, piano playing
What’s your favourite colour // what’s your favorite animal?
A cat with green eyes is the dreamiest.
What’s your spirit animal?
One that drinks coffee and is quiet and funny
We smell a lot of leather, varnish, books and old oil paintings working with antiques (all great smells)… Near our house in Wales in the summer there is a honeysuckle bush and the smell takes you to another place. If someone bottled it and sold it as perfume, I’d buy the lot. It’s cheesy but…What’s a great smell that noticed recently (I am surprised no one has made a joke of this one yet)?
In the mountains where we live, there is a new smell everyday. After being away this week, I came home to the leaves falling, it is raining and the smell of moist earth and the beginning of a new season are in the air. Bottle that one!
What’s really important to you right now?
My family, toujours!
Check out William’s website here or explore more photography on his instagram @wabranowicz
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