Danielle Levitt's Squatter Series

It has to be said that squatters are not the first things that spring to mind, especially during our recent heat wave, but for photographer Danielle Levitt, their presence are seen and felt as soon as the temperature is turned up. In particular she was drawn to two couples, their dogs and a pet rat that resulted in this series of photographs. Born in California, Levitt started her photography career with her mother's 35mm Canon and later in life, moved to New york where she cultivated a unique approach in documenting popular culture, most poignantly seen in her monograph We Are Experienced where she travelled around the States photographing teenagers. In addition, Levitt has shot for Arena Homme Plus, New York Magazine and Rolling Stone. We speak to Levitt to find out more about her people-watching imagery and how she got on with the squatters.
 
Dazed Digital: What is your background as a photographer?
Danielle Levitt: For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be a photographer. Upon my first opportunity I moved from California to NY in order to pursue that dream. I never assisted, instead worked tirelessly teaching myself how to take photos. I was awful, but soon I figured it out.

Dazed Digital: How would you describe your style?
Danielle Levitt: I like to think of my self as a realist, perhaps a hyper realist. I enjoy documenting what I see, sometimes Ill play with angles and the like to really emphasis a point. My work is direct and bold, aware and celebratory of my subjects.

Dazed Digital: How did you embark on this Squatter series of photographs? Who was your favourite squatter character?
Danielle Levitt: I have started a new youth project whereby I approach people that I see, that peak my curiosity . There are many reasons I may approach as subject but in the cast of the squatters, I reached out to them because they are emblematic of summer, their presence seen and felt with the introduction of the warm weather. They are nomads, they are anarchists, they chose not to assimilate. They function according to their own rules, set forth by them. I was drawn to two couples, Melissa and Sethary and Brandon and Acacia. Brandon had a pet rat which made him infinitely dynamic!

DD: In your book We Are Experienced, you explore football stars, tanorexics, wiccans, punks, prom dates, snowboarders, and baton twirlers - what attracted you to these both maligned and mainstream groups?
Danielle Levitt: I noticed a definitive shift in the way that American Youth seemed to exist, and the way the  expressed themselves. Through "We Are Experienced" I was able to explore how and why. I needed to meet all different types of kids to get the best understanding of how youth culture had shifted and how it wanted to define itself.

DD: Who would you say you look up to in terms of photographers?
Danielle Levitt: Geese, look up to... I love so many photographers, I am better after seeing shows and looking at books.