I was never told, "Fags are going to hell." You just didn't talk about it.

My dad was in the Korean War. He got shot seven times. He had seven bullet holes in him. And out of his troop of 35 guys, he was one of nine guys that came back. And when he came back from that he had seven kids in seven years.

Most of the e-mails I get nowadays are from students who ask me how I got my start. In truth its from having a really supportive family but also having a good patron who will help you - like financing all those early trips I took.

I'm going to put every aspect of myself out into the world and try to convey it through photography.

All I do is make photos. It's my life.

There was no luxury. I never got on an airplane until I was 18. We drove everywhere. My dad was like, "Waste not, want not."

I couldn't wait to come to New York to reinvent myself.