I photograph anyone who is interested. I run out of film sometimes because I only have so many 4×5 film holders. Of course, not every person I shoot will make the final edit. Sometimes the photos suck, sometimes there’s a technical problem and sometimes they don’t fit in to the look and feel I want. Photography is about the choices you make on the ground when you’re shooting and then the choices you make in the editing process.

I ask every single person I photograph there; “Do you smoke crack?” There is no delicate way to ask so I just ask. I also tell every subject that a lot of people will see the photo and that their name and image will be associated with the term “crack addict”.

I like to get things straight, whether I’m shooting crack addicts of people in Mississippi or New Jersey or anywhere. I show everyone a portfolio, get a model release and send them a copy of the shot.

As for your inspiration… isn’t that really the heart of it? Being able to be inspired by someone else’s work, but make it your own instead of just copying? And I love that last picture.

Hey - a couple of questions about your USER series, if you don’t mind: Do you choose the people you photograph at the corner, or do you photograph anyone who’s willing and interested? Also (and this one’s been niggling at me for more than a year since I saw your first series), do you specifically ask people if they are crack addicts? Is there a delicate way to ask that?