John Dwyer is known mostly for his musical projects, from Thee Oh Sees to Coachwhips to his most recent, Damaged Bug. Way back in 2013, though, Dwyer published a book of photographs called Vinegar Mirror, which has been largely unavailable in recent years. To celebrate the book’s new edition, we asked Dwyer to comment on a few of the photographs, which you’ll see below. Vinegar Mirror can be ordered via Dwyer’s label, CastleFace, right here.
— Josh Modell, Talkhouse Executive Editor
Annie and the Pretzel
The first photo is of our old booker and our dear late friend Annie Southworth.
She and I were drinking on a plane together, some flight that I don't recall, but I do remember
having some laughs and Annie somehow ordered a fucking hot pretzel on a plane?!
This was classic Annie, and I appreciate having the memory of her having a laugh.
I think she appreciated the double exposure of laser lights emulating the shooting of good vibes out of her brain here, too.
This is the love of my life
I take so many photos of Heidi that I am always impressed that she doesn’t just run away.
I want to photograph our every moment together but then I would never be in the moment.
So I pick and choose my battles looking at her through a lens.
Candid seconds
My buddy said to me when I first started shooting film, “Any camera person worth their salt can shoot at night without a flash.”
True, but not shit like this photo.
I love slow exposure, and often shoot slow, but flash photos when people are having a laugh or in a dirty dark club can't be beat for these weird little vignettes.
Bleeding Light
I really love old cameras with dried-out, shrunken seals, or cheap toy cameras for this reason.
You never really know what you are gonna get. Same goes for expired film.
Some real magical eye fuckery can happen when bleed occurs.
Blowing these photos up huge and they look like chemical reaction oil paintings, love it.
Also, rest in peace, Bone, my friend Leah’s dog that’s in this photo
Vinegar Mirror, is out now via Castle Face Records.
