Since we announced our 2009 First Edition Hot Shots a week and a half ago, we've been busy getting to know the photographers behind the images that will grace the gallery walls at a yet-to-be-determined date. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be bringing you interviews to introduce you to this season's Hot Shots.

Today we start with Mike Sinclair, a Midwestern photographer we've had our eye on for a long while. He takes large ephemeral portraits of crowds at sun-soaked fairgrounds, beaches, and baseball games capturing a sense of nostalgic Americana that many of us get lost in, but hardly look at with any distance. Crowds gather around the rodeo and the smoke of fireworks stirs up a halcyon haze over a grassy field -- all eyes are fixed in a stare at the spectacle before them, while Sinclair is focused on the people doing the staring. Sinclair composes his photographs as a quiet observer who has snuck his way into the hullabaloo of American celebrations and rituals: a street parade, day at the beach, a backyard barbecue. We invite you to peak at more of Mike's work, read the interview below, and stay tuned for more Hot Shot news.

Without further ado, a Q&A with Mike Sinclair:

From:
Kansas City, Missouri

Formal and/or informal education and training:
In High School I worked with my father selling men's clothing. Learning to sell clothes was a great experience for a shy teenager. On his business card was written "See Sinclair for style". I've always wanted to put that on mine.

I got my undergraduate degree at Southern Illinois University. I was lucky enough to study with Chuck Swedlund, a teacher and photographer whose passion for photography is a big reason why I'm a photographer today.

I also spent one Year in the MFA program at University of Illinois.

How you pay the bills:
Primarily Architectural photography but I also do editorial work and teach occasionally.

Best advice received (as a photographer and/or human):
From my wife: "You don't know what you don't know."

From Ezra Stoller, the foremost photographer of modern architecture, when asked at a workshop I attended what was his most important piece of equipment, his answer: "a good pair of shoes."

Top 3 Favorite Artists:
Louis Armstrong, Fairfield Porter and Walker Evans

Photograph (or other work of art) that you can't get out of your head, ever:

Family, Times Square by Louis Faurer, 1948

Photographers/artists you are looking at right now:
Rackstraw Downes
Art Sinsabaugh
David Goldblatt

Reading now:
Under the Gowanus and Razor-Wire Journal: The making of two paintings by Rackstraw Downes. This is Downes' almost-daily journal describing the process and problems of working on location from inaccurate weather forecasts, cars parked in front of your subject, to finding a public restroom and kids throwing rocks at you.

Last Night at the Lobster by Stewart O'Nan. This is a sensitive and at-times comic novella about the last 12 hours at a failing Red Lobster. It changed how I experience eating in a chain restaurant.

Top 3 photo blogs/websites:
1. T.A., Timothy Archibald's blog—It's interesting following someone whose work, both commercial and personal, is so different than mine.
2. The Year in Pictures
3. 5b4—I don't know how he finds the time to look at and post about so many books.

Top 3 non-photo blogs/websites:
1.Reference Library
2. Design Observer
3. Bitten Blog