Hamburger Eyes head honcho Ray Potes on barfing and the things he’d do for lust

Hamburger Eyes head honcho Ray Potes on barfing and the things he’d do for lust
The Spiel Sesh: No. 2 — The Spiel Sesh is a new quick-fire Q&A series with Huck's indie culture heroes. This time, photographer and Hamburger Eyes mastermind, Ray Potes.

Now, a word from the man who created the most epic publishing project around, Ray Potes. Starting as a small Xerox’d zine, Hamburger Eyes is heavily influenced by old school Life Magazines, film, surf, skate and classic street photography. He’s been publishing the unseen and iconic moments of everyday life from both up-and-comers and established photographers since 2001.

On Friday February 5, Slow Culture gallery in LA’s China Town is presenting CYBERNETICS a retrospective of 15 years of his handy work. Don’t miss this one!

And, take a looksee at his latest project Zine Kong, if you’re a photographer get your shit out there! Send it to Ray, check him on Instagram.

HamburgerEyes-LO

Describe your last perfect day
Woke up and went to the beach

What’s been done to death?
Instagram

Who is your hero of fiction?
The Terminator

Earliest memory?
Barfing

What is selling out?
Selling through an entire edition

What advice would you tell your 16-year-old self?
Surf more

If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?
More surf

Last time you lied?
Right now

Have you made it?
Not yet

What’s wrong with kids today?
Spoiled

Weapon of Choice?
Butterfly knife

Scan

Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time?
I haven’t made a sci-fi movie yet because my writing still needs work.

Growing up what was the most embarrassing thing you did to fit it?
Vocals for a punk band

Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die?
Not really. I don’t think it will be by accident though

What is your most treasured memory?
Waking up on a beach

When did you last cry in front of another person?
In my teens, when she told me she was pregnant (it turned out not to be mine though)

Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make a final dash to save any one item.
Any camera, to start documenting the new life

Been caught stealing?
Never

Best joke?
Two peanuts walk into a bar, one was a salted

When did you realise you were up to something different?
In elementary school, when I started skateboarding

Do you have any rituals?
Starbucks, sometimes twice a day

Who gave you your first break?
Still waiting for it!

Most discouraging moment?
Every time I talk to a girl!

First memorable subversive act?
Skateboarding

First celeb crush?
Winnie Cooper

Do people in your neighbourhood know your name?
I just moved to a new city, so not yet

If you could master any craft what would it be?
Guitar

As a teen what film or book had the biggest influence on you?
Akira

When you were a kid where was the first place you sneaked off to?
Random parking lots or beach lookouts

Do you prefer the past, present or future?
Future

Growing up what was the most important record to you?
Misfits – Walk Among Us

Scan 2

If you could freeze time what would you while they slept?
Go to Disneyland

Who do you admire that’s under the radar?
Feature filmmakers using phones

Any vices?
Starbucks

Have you ever been fired?
Yes… the hotdog truck!

Scan 1-LO

How do you drink your coffee?
Iced

Last time you went to great lengths for lust?
Rented a car and drove four hrs, stayed two hours, drove back

What do you collect?
Zines

Last superstitious thing you’ve done?
No seatbelt

What should Obama’s last act of clemency be?
Arresting cops

What comes to mind you look at the images below?

Psychologists say this image is purposely confusing, but if you see monsters or men fighting it could indicate poor social development!

Psychologists say this image is purposely confusing, but if you see monsters or men fighting it could indicate poor social development!

Psychedelic shrimp dance

Stay tuned for more Spiel Sesh, coming soon. Next up, pro surfer Sterling Spencer.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Latest on Huck

My sister disappeared when we were children. Years later, I retraced her footsteps
Photography

My sister disappeared when we were children. Years later, I retraced her footsteps

After a car crash that saw Magnum photographer Lindokuhle Sobekwa hospitalised, his sister ran away from their home in South Africa. His new photobook, I Carry Her Photo With Me, documents his journey in search of her.

Written by: Lindokuhle Sobekwa

Inside New York City’s hedonistic 2000s skateboarding scene
Photography

Inside New York City’s hedonistic 2000s skateboarding scene

New photobook, ‘Epicly Later’d’ is a lucid survey of the early naughties New York skate scene and its party culture.

Written by: Isaac Muk

Did we create a generation of prudes?
Culture

Did we create a generation of prudes?

Has the crushing of ‘teen’ entertainment and our failure to represent the full breadth of adolescent experience produced generation Zzz? Emma Garland investigates.

Written by: Emma Garland

How to shoot the world’s most gruelling race
Photography

How to shoot the world’s most gruelling race

Photographer R. Perry Flowers documented the 2023 edition of the Winter Death Race and talked through the experience in Huck 81.

Written by: Josh Jones

An epic portrait of 20th Century America
Photography

An epic portrait of 20th Century America

‘Al Satterwhite: A Retrospective’ brings together scenes from this storied chapter of American life, when long form reportage was the hallmark of legacy media.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Bobby Gillespie: “This country is poisoned by class”
Culture

Bobby Gillespie: “This country is poisoned by class”

Primal Scream’s legendary lead singer writes about the band’s latest album ‘Come Ahead’ and the themes of class, conflict and compassion that run throughout it.

Written by: Bobby Gillespie

Sign up to our newsletter

Issue 81: The more than a game issue

Buy it now