Define intimacy. w/ Sam Penn

The shutter clicks, and the moment freezes—right when intimacy and revelation begin their dance. Through the lens, we glimpse Sam Penn capturing real moments, real stories, as if each shot were a page in a personal diary written for the world to read.

Penn’s work pulls us into spaces of unfiltered connection, transforming the everyday into quiet, radical statements. “I usually have close relationships with my subjects. If someone is in my life, chances are I will photograph them.” he says, piecing together fragments of friendship, love, and change. Each photograph in Bad Behaviour stands strong on its own, yet together, they resonate louder as parts of his story—an open invitation to see life as it is and as it might be.

DUYGU Let’s go back to the time you said photography is “it” for you. How did it all start? Could you tell us more about your creative practice? 

SAM I started taking pictures on disposable cameras that my mom would buy for me when I was very young. My first photos were of my parents and my two younger sisters. My mom took a lot of photos of our family with her film camera and we had stacks of photo albums that I always loved to leaf through. My grandmother and my father’s mother, was the same way. She had an Olympus Stylus and would let me shoot a few frames whenever I asked. 

My practice of taking photos continued on from there, and my subject matter, my friends and family, has remained constant. I shoot when I’m spending time with other people and I like to think of my practice as a social one. When it comes time to make a show or a zine, I do my selection from my archives. 

DUYGU Could you please tell us the story behind “Bad Behaviour”? 

SAM The show is titled after Mary Gaitskill’s 1989 collection of short stories called “Bad Behaviour”. I read it this past year while I was going through some significant life changes. The stories about people living in the Lower East Side of New York, dealing with heartbreak and disappointment and trying to survive through it all reminded me of my own life. 

In the collection, Gaitskill uses a device to reconstruct memory through flashes of connected imagery, and I found that I could use something similar to sequence my photos. The show depicts a reminiscence of the end of a relationship and the beginning of another, in the lifespan of nine photographs. 

DUYGU What inspires you the most about New York? 

SAM I moved to New York because of the city’s history. I loved the work of photographers like Nan Goldin, David Armstrong, and Peter Hujar and thought I could get a glimpse of what their lives were like if I came to the city myself. The friendships I’ve made here are the reason why I stayed.

DUYGU How important is storytelling in your photography? How do you ensure your shots communicate a strong narrative? 

SAM I like to think my photographs can stand on their own when they are shown separately, but with this collection of photos, they are stronger together in sequence. In the show and zine, I tried to establish a narrative based on the progression of the photographs. 

DUYGU The “Bad Behaviour” series; feels super “brutal”. What does the word “brutal mean to you? 

SAM I would not categorize the series as brutal per se. I was going through a lot when I took most of the photos, and I think the range of my emotional states, wants, and needs, were all over the place… Though I’m happy that people feel however they want when engaging with my work. 

DUYGU How do you choose your subjects? 

SAM I usually have close relationships with my subjects. If someone is in my life, chances are I will photograph them. I shoot some people more than others based on their willingness to participate in the work. 

DUYGU What is the feature that separates photography from other art forms? 

SAM I like how taking photos of people requires social interaction. It seems like with other mediums, production tends to be more solitary. 

DUYGU A confession about yourself? 

SAM No.

DUYGU Any advice for creatives? 

SAM Figure out the art you like and the art you don’t like, and try and have an understanding of why you like them or not. Be wary of other people’s advice…You have to figure out what works best for you!