The Essential List: Chantal Anderson
Well established as a leading photographer consistently documenting the cutting-edge of pop culture for the likes of The New York Times and GQ, DOMO director Chantal Anderson infuses her projects with people-focused storytelling, exposing the realness of her subjects within a sculptural, artful frame.
As a creative filmmaker, Chantal brings a rare fusion of focused direction to whatever beautiful thing decides to make itself known.
Lifestyle
o Place of birth: Washington
o Hometown: Los Angeles, California
o Staycation: Driving up north early in the morning to go tide-pooling and surfing.
o Vacation: Greek island with no cars at the end of tourist season. Pistachio gelato every day. Hikes to swim spots and lots of time spent floating and thinking.
o Pets: Dusty, a scruffy terrier friend rescued from a hole in the ground outside of Tijuana.
o Place of work: For writing / brainstorming any 24-hour diner where people are present. I also love writing on trains. For editing / making prints / emails etc I have an office at home.
o Place of workout: Random fire roads throughout LA for early morning hikes before it gets too hot.
o Side project: Growing flowers and vegetables in our backyard and making teas for friends with herbs from the garden every year.
o Mode of transport: When I’m most idealistic- an 80’s robin egg blue Seikai road bike.
o Bonus travel essential: Mississippi Records Casette’s digitised playlist like this one here
Culture
Helen Frankenthaler, Small's Paradise, 1964, acrylic on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of George L. Erion, 1967.121
o Artist: I’d love to live in a Helen Frankenthaler painting.
o Musician: Impossible to pick one, but currently listening to a lot of Alice Coltrane.
o Commercials / music video director: Hype Williams
o Film director: Agnes Varda or Billy Wilder
o Photographer: Roni Horn or Sophie Calle
o Film: Could not stop thinking about Happy as Lazarro by Alice Rohrwacher for weeks. Sunset Boulevard is up there.
o Series: Pen15 was perfect.
o Commercial: I hope everyone has seen the Burberry - Open Spaces commercial directed by Megaforce, it’s super cool.
o Music video: Fatboy Slim - Praise you by Spike Jonze with Roman Coppola
o Video game: Donkey Kong Country (best soundtrack ever)
o Board game: Rummikub, always
o Book: The last series I really loved was the Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante
o Graphic novel: Wish I had one!
o Podcast: I fully devoured Dolly Parton’s America.
o Newspaper (off or online): New Yorker in print, lots of different sources online.
o Magazine: The Smudge (RIP) lovingly run by two friends of mine- Liana Jegers and Clay Hickson.
Food and Drink
o Breakfast: Cornflakes
o Restaurant: Thai Tom in Seattle - legendary!
o Cheap bite: Woon
o Working lunch: Tabbouleh
o Favourite dish: Cappellacci di Zucca
o Signature dish: Kale caesar salad
o Snack: Arugula with lemon and avocado on a piece of seaweed
o Guilty pleasure: Oreo mint blizzard
o Bar: Permanent Records Roadhouse
o Booze: Mezcal negroni
o Not booze: Kombucha Dog
o Bonus food: Dried persimmons
o Bonus beverage: Tepache
Kit
o Phone: iPhone
o Computer: MacBook Pro (14-inch, 2021) + Studio Display
o TV: BenQ projector
o Headphones: Airpods
o Camera: The first camera I really fell in love with was the Hasselblad 503cm
o Soundsystem: Sonos
o Pen / pencil: Ohto Needlepoint pen / any pencil I can find
o Where you document an idea: Usually into a hardcover Moleskin notebook with no lines
o Casual clothing: Utility pants, a white tank top, sambas
o Smart clothing: Pleated high waisted pants, suit jacket, loafers
o Footwear: worn in and well loved leather sandals or sneakers
o Watch: a tiny vintage wrist watch from a flea market in Berlin
o Collection: Photo books, plants
o App: Kexp or Duolingo
o Website: Ebay
o Favourite social media feed: @mignettetakespictures @peoplestanding
o Work program: Photomechanic! OG and best for culling images, sifting through photos and curating images.
o Digital work tool: Sunseeker app and Dark Sky app
o Analogue work tool: Paper cutter
o Morning grooming / makeup essential: Rosewater mist - wakes me up after washing my face.
o Bonus kit essential: The LightBridge C-Go Reflector Kit
