Montgomery, Alabama; Leica M6 TTL 0.58, 35mm summicron, Agfa APX 400 © Doug Kim

Reeve's Drug World, Tennessee © Doug Kim

Scumbags, Nashville, Tennessee © Doug Kim

Broadway, Nashville, Tennessee © Doug Kim

And plus I knew Nicky Katt’s work. It was only after recently talking to a friend about him that I realized Nicky is a cinemaphile’s actor. You really have to be a nerd about American cinema to know who he is. I know that he’s been on TV but I’ve always known him for his small but memorable roles in independent films. Think about it. You might know him as:

• the smart ass hit man in The Limey
• the Nazi in a 50s greaser uniform in Dazed and Confused
• the guy with the tongue boil in Planet Terror
• one of them cops in Insomnia
• the rocker dude in the van in School of Rock
• the tough in the bar inSecondhand Lions
• the cynical tough in SubUria

I showed up at the house on Fairfax and we got along instantly because we somehow started chatting about Monte Hellman films. It turns out Nicky was collaborating with Monte on a screenplay. Much to the annoyance of the writer, we wouldn’t stop talking about Two Lane Blacktop and Cockfighter.

The challenge for this shoot was the fact that Nicky was obsessed with Sam Peckinpah and recently saw this interview with him where he wore his sunglasses the entire time. So I sat Nicky in this big chair by the fireplace with the dog and his sunglasses and his glass of bourbon and I started taking meter readings. The room was so dark that I had to push my meager 400 speed film to 1600 just to shoot wide open. I couldn’t even focus as the viewfinder for the Mamiya is pretty dark. I literally had to lock in on the wall of the fireplace behind him and walk my camera backwards to put him in the focal plane.

After suffering some anxiety about pushing my film three stops and my inability to focus, I picked up my film a couple of days later from the lab and it all turned out fine. Not stellar images but I really enjoyed that afternoon.

Nicky Katt, shot with a Mamiya Pro II, 85mm, Agfa APX 400, for Metro.Pop Magazine © Doug Kim

Nicky Katt, shot with a Leica M6 TTL 0.58, 50mm summicron, Agfa APX 400, for Metro.Pop Magazine © Doug Kim

Nicky Katt, shot with a Leica M6 TTL 0.58, 50mm summicron, Agfa APX 400, for Metro.Pop Magazine © Doug Kim

Five Points, Birmingham, Alabama © Doug Kim

I was born in Alabama, but I only lived there for a month before I’d done everything there was to do.

-Paula Poundstone

Offutt talked big about Lincoln as a wrestler and Bill Clary, who ran a saloon 30 steps north of the Offutt store, bet Offutt $10 that Lincoln couldn’t throw Jack Armstrong, the Clary’s Grove champion. Sports from miles around came to a level square next to Offutt’s store to see the match; bets of money, knives, trinkets, tobacco, drinks, were put up. Armstrong, short and powerful, aimed from the first to get in close to his man and use his thick muscular strength. Lincoln held him off with long arms, wore down his strength, got him out of breath, surprised and “rattled.” They pawed and clutched in many holds and twists till Lincoln threw Armstrong and had both shoulders to the grass. Armstrong’s gang started toward Lincoln with cries and threats. Lincoln stepped to the Offutt store wall, braced himself, and told the gang he would fight, race or wrestle any who wanted to try him. Then Jack Armstrong broke through the gang, shook Lincoln’s hand, told them Lincoln was “fair,” and, “the best feller that ever broke into this settlement.”

-Carl Sandburg, Abraham Lincoln – The Prairie Years

Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC; Leica M6 TTL .58, 35mm summicron, Agfa APX 400 © Doug Kim

Balance is the gift of the Creator.

-B.K.S. Iyengar

Alexandra, 31 mos., Virabhadrasana III “Warrior III Pose" © Doug Kim

Perhaps my favorite image in my book Born Yogis is this one of Alexandra, a firecracker of a girl. I was at her home in Point Mugu, north of Los Angeles, getting to know her, warming up and playing around with her. Many times the greatest comfort zone for babies or toddlers is their parents bed so we went there, the light was good so I encouraged her to play around.

She began jumping around on the bed with little encouragement. We were laughing and both taking turns bouncing around. And then that was it, the window closed, her time performing and playing with me was finished. Shooting babies and kids is the greatest lesson in taking only what is given.

A couple of days later, looking at the contact sheet, this image popped. The fraction of a second, catching Alexandra in that perfect moment of grace and balance, joy in her face, play in her body, hands ready for flight, that moment of pure magic, filling the room with light.

I absolutely love this image. Still.

Alexandra continues to be a firecracker and lives in France now with her family.

Shot with a Nikon F5, Agfa APX 400, 28-70mm Nikkor.

Tuskegee Elementary, Montgomery, Alabama. Leica M6 TTL .58, 35mm Summicron, Agfa APX 400 © Doug Kim

Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.

–Imogen Cunningham