Tofer Chin is a Los Angeles-based artist and photographer, who recently finished his second photo book Vacation Standards-- the follow-up to his acclaimed book Finger Bang! His work has been exhibited worldwide, and he was recently commissioned by interior designer Kelly Wearstler to produce original paintings for the revamping of the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills, and Miami’s Viceroy Hotel.

Chin received the 2008 Graphis Design Annual Gold Award for Flaunt No. 79, in which he created an original painting for the issue's cover. We spoke to Tofer about the controversial content within his work, and photographers getting laid:

Hey, where are you from?
I was born in LA and raised in the San Fernando Valley. I’ve lived and worked in Hollywood since 1998.

How and when did you first get into photography?
I first got into photography when I was a kid. My first camera was a Fisher-Price Kodak.

Tell us about the inspiration behind your new book Vacation Standards…
Travelling. And lots of it. The inspiration comes from me, my crazy friends and my love for the great outdoors!

Some people have described the content as controversial. How do you feel about that and what would you say to them?
I photograph what I see and the situations I’m in. I’m fascinated with blurring the lines between what individuals consider to be beautiful and grotesque.

Is it hard to choose what images to use in a book and which to leave out?
It took years of organizing and filtering photos to put the book together. In the end it’s just like a puzzle where you have to figure out how and where all the pieces fit.

How would you describe your style of photography?
I’d describe my style as “In-The-Moment.”

Which photographers do you look up to?
Ruben Ortiz-Torres, Ryan McGinley and Andreas Gursky, to name a few.

What are the best and worst parts of being a photographer?
There is nothing I hate about being a photographer.

Describe yourself in three words…
I’m a painter, a lover, and a creator.

What do you feel have been your major accomplishments as a photographer and why?
Definitely all the experiences I’ve had shooting both of my books, Vacation Standards and Finger Bang! I’d like to say thanks to David for believing in me. Without you none of this would have been possible.

Who’s David?
David Quiles Guillo is my publisher.

Does being a photographer get you chicks?
I have a lot of girlfriends whom I love and adore.

Can you name one thing you’d like to do with your life that you haven’t done yet?
I have a really big list. One major accomplishment I need to fulfill is to have my art be a part of museum collections around the world.

When was the last time you got into a fight?
I’m a lover, not a fighter.

What’s your favorite movie ever and why?
I have so many, but three that really inspire me are: The Holy Mountain, Donnie Darko, and Let the Right One In.

Can you tell us about your upcoming projects?
I have a solo show at Cerasoli Gallery in Culver City, CA on March 14th.

~Donald Crunk @ Styleslut