You can’t talk about the alt scene without mentioning photographer and Vivid-Alt director Dave Naz. A former member of punk bands Chemical People and Down by Law, Dave has made a name for himself as a premiere alt porn & fetish photographer. With five published books with Goliath and three Vivid-Alt films under his belt, Naz continues to capture his subjects with a rawness and sincerity that’s personal yet voyeuristic and sexy.

You spent many years in the punk scene as a member of Chemical People and Down by Law. Are you still recovering?

I had a lot of fun playing music and had a great time touring with my friends, but I could never live that lifestyle again. Traveling an average of 8 to 10hrs a day and sleeping in a van or someone’s floor for 1 or 2 months at a time is better suited for someone in their 20’s.

We’re you exploring photography back then as a musician?

Not really. I took a lot of photos, but I never really put much thought into it. It wasn’t until 1995 that I knew I wanted to take photography seriously.

Did the punk rock movement inspire your aesthetic as a photographer.

The best analogy I could give is: The New York Dolls & Descendents are to commercial rock what Larry Clark & Nan Goldin are to commercial photography. These are some of the artists and bands that inspired me to play music and do photography.

You credit photographer Richard Kern as giving you you’re big break.

I assisted Richard when I was getting started. This gave me a better understanding of how to produce sets for adult magazines and get the in-between shots that fit into books and galleries.

What were some of your early assignments as a photographer?

My first paid jobs were for Leg World & Barely Legal. All the work was on spec, so I had to make sure I nailed it. There was and always will be a lot of competition.

Explain your move into Vivid Alt and directing Skater Girl Fever.

I saw the movie “Kill Girl Kill” at the Hustler store and it really stood out, so I bought it. I sent Eon McKai an email and told him I really dug it. We kept in contact and when he started up Vivid-Alt, he asked me if I’d be interested in directing a movie for them. He said he’d surround me with the right people (since I didn’t really know what I was doing). He just told me to make the movie I wanted to make. I put the girls in skate clothes and kept the make up light (the way I like it). I used music from the Dwarves and Andre Williams. The Chems used to play shows with the Dwarves back in the 80’s and my friend Larry Hardy owns In The Red Records, who puts out Andre Williams.

Are you planning on doing more alt porn films?

I’ve Directed three: Skater Girl Fever (2006) Circa ‘82 (2008) - Punk Rock Themed. Music by Circle Jerks Sugar Town (2008) - Blaxploitation themed. Music by The Dirtdombs I hope to do more in the future.

Was the experience satisfying enough to explore film on another level outside of alt porn?

I’ve Directed five fetish movies for Private: Bondage & Perversion in L.A. (2007) L.A. Lust (2008) House of Sex & Domination (2008) Prisoners of Sodomy (2008) L.A. Girls Love Big Cocks (2009)

I had dinner with Eon the other night at a restaurant that you first took him to. Your name came up and he said the best thing about you is that you are a true fan of the culture. Is this correct?

I am a fan of all the Alt-Porn themes I’ve shot for Eon. Having the freedom to shoot what you you’re really into is great.

You have 5 erotic photography books published through Goliath that are mainly fetish based. How active of a participant are you in the fetish communities that you cover?

I’m not really active in the fetish community other than my shooting for Taboo Magazine and contributing photos to various Fetish themed art shows or events.

Are you working on book #6 and can you tell us the premise?

I have few projects I’m working on at the moment. I usually do a few at a time and see what comes together first. My favorite is the project I’m working on with Oriana, my soon to be wife. There are scattered pieces of it on her blog.

Being someone who is entrenched in the lifestyle and fan of alt culture, does it burn you when you see other photographers come into your world and try to monopolize on it.

If they do it right, I like it. For example, Joanna Angel & Jack The Zipper. When it’s done wrong, it’s phony and most people (I know) just laugh at it. After Eon started up Vivid-Alt, companies tried to cash in on “Alt.” I saw a trailer where they even used the music of The Dwarves and put the girls in thick awful make up. I think Playboy put that out. Christ, what a joke.

Going back to Richard Kern, I’ve read that he isn’t a fan of the SuicideGirl movement. He was quoted in a VICE interview stating “To me that stuff is all fashion. It’s a whole part of fashion that hopefully will go away.” With the rising popularity of both SG and Gods Girls, do you consider it fashion or a lifestyle that has longevity?

SuicideGirls was very popular for a while. Now, I think some girls are regretting their SG tattoos and looking into laser removal treatments. That said, I do think there will always be people that want to see girls with tattoos and piercings in porn. I’m glad it’s out there because it represents something different from the norm.

How accepting of the digital revolution have you been and has it changed your process or work in general?

I wasn’t very accepting at first, but had to adapt to survive. Digital doesn’t look as good as film, but you must have a lot of money to keep shooting film and magazines want digital because it’s easier for pre-press.

With an economy in dire straights and print publications shutting doors left and right, what advice would you give to a young photographer trying to get their career off the ground?

There’s nothing encouraging I could say about shooting for magazines. On the other hand, there are many ways to show your work online for free. This wasn’t available when I started. The problem is there’s so much to weed through.

Taste it:
www.davenaz.com