I'm talking with photographer Douglas Friedman over the phone. He's driving, but not just down any road, ‘it's the road from Tom Ford's Nocturnal Animals,’ Douglas says with a chuckle. He pulls over, and I stress I won't take up too much of his time. He laughs again and says he has all the time in the world. This is far from true coming from a man as in demand as Douglas, but it speaks to his laidback demeanor and infinitely kind soul.

You began your career as David Fincher's assistant; what an education that must have been!

I was a kid in my early 20s. I'd just graduated university and wanted to be a documentary filmmaker. I got some reception shifts at Propaganda Films, then one day, Spike Jonze needed an assistant! I was passed around some incredible directors and ended up with David Fincher while working on Seven. After we did Fight Club, all our lives changed completely.

Working with David was incredible. I learned so much. But ultimately, I realized I would never be as smart as him; so, I sold everything I owned and moved to Nepal for a year!

You must've loved Nepal to stay there so long?

I did almost a year backpacking around Southeast Asia; a good chunk of that was trekking around India and Nepal. This was before cell phones, before the internet. There was an incredible sense of getting lost, being alone, and having a clear head.

You returned from Nepal and built a remarkably successful career as a photographer. What is the key to capturing the essence of a place on camera?

I'm purely driven by instinct. When I was young, I'd constantly devour photography magazines. I would try and take pictures like Terry Richardson or David LaChapelle; I was continually aspiring to other people's ideas of what the world should look like. Eventually, I stopped looking at references and started trusting my eye.

Would you consider yourself a craftsman, artist, or something else?

I'm a commercial photographer, so I don't necessarily refer to myself as an artist. Instagram is my artistic endeavor. It's an incredible platform where I can choose to show something that's not driven by the dollar behind it!

Do you have a favorite shoot from your career?

When I think back, I have fond memories shooting, but they're all from before social media and the iPhone. Back then, subjects respected photography and the photographer. Now, everyone knows how to take a selfie, their best angle, and how to pose. Portraiture used to be revered.

I think spending a few days with Giorgio Armani at his house in the Caribbean is up there. Not only was it hysterical, but we got some great work. I had three days with Giorgio. Nowadays, when you take a portrait, hair and makeup take three hours. You get two minutes to take the portrait, and then they've got to create social media video content and Boomerangs!

Who are your favorite interior designers of the moment?

I'm lucky to have become quite close to some of my favorite designers. Steven Gambrel, no one does a bathroom or a kitchen like Steven. So luxurious, beautiful, but so approachable and livable. You never walk into a Steven Gambrel room and feel as though you can't sit on something or touch something.

Also, Ken Fulk is a brilliant designer and creative director. His perspective is so broad and utterly unique. We're working on another book together. It's a wonderful responsibility to curate someone's work, to see, capture, and document it.

I must also mention Nicole Hollis. It's a real privilege to work with designers at the top of their game.

Where are you hoping to travel to this year?

There's a tiny old fishing village nestled at the very tip of Cape Cod called Provincetown, which is a magical little place. I'm trying to find the time to buy a house there as my next project, so that will be on my list.

A few summers ago, I went to Sardinia. It really spoke to me. The landscape of the islands to the north and east reminded me of the West Texas desert... except flooded with seawater!

A third spot... I would love to go to Japan. I want to see Tokyo.

Where do you feel most at home?

For the first time, Marfa, Texas, finally feels like home. Spending Thanksgiving there this year was simply delightful. Marfa offers so much—it's one of Texas’s top art destinations. I suggest taking a leisurely stroll through the town center, where you can discover artisanal shops filled with exquisite handcrafted boots, furniture, textiles, and ceramics with a unique local aesthetic.

You mention Marfa; you shot for a book entitled Cooking in Marfa. Are you a foodie?

I get my love of eating from my father, but it could be just from an incredible hot dog vendor rather than a steak that's been cooked over six different flames! That cookbook was a wonderful experience, working on a project in Marfa with friends, Rocky and Virginia. One of the reasons I moved to Marfa was how Virginia tells stories. She's a beautiful woman who wanders around Marfa with diamonds and a cigarette telling stories.

You spend a lot of time in LA. Where do you spend your evenings?

The bar at the Sunset Tower. It's a bit of a clubhouse. Whether with friends or by myself, it's always an incredible night.