Michael Torosian (Part ll) on How to Interview an Artist for a Book The Biblio File hosted by Nigel Beale

Here is Part ll of my conversation with Michael Torosian featuring his soon to be released memoir/bibliography Lumiere Press: Printer Savant and Other Stories (listen to Part l here).
 
This episode gets to the essence of Michael's book writing/publishing practice: the interview. We discuss a list of guidelines Michael has developed based on his experience interviewing some of greatest photographers of the 20th century. It can be found in Savant in a chapter entitled 'Residual Landscapes, The Photographs of Edward Burtynsky.' Here's a summary:
 
1. I educate myself to the fullest extent about the artist's life and work.
2. I make up a question list of at least two or three pages...The I throw the list away.
3. I begin the interview with something plucked from the uniqueness of the day, the inception of our new experience.
4. I listen. It's imperative to maintain situational awareness and stay in the moment.
5. I avoid leading questions
6. I probe for greater detail.
7. I re-ask questions
8. In the editing process I splice answers together from various "takes." There is no improvisation or invention
9. I strive to be self-effacing.