The Plastic Lens ~ Words

I‘m at work and can’t spend too much time entering much, but thought I woul’d grab a quick quiet moment to cut and paste an interview sent to me by a local newspaper reporter in relation to a joint toy camera exhibition coming up later this month (Oct 2007) called The Plastic Photo Show – the questions and answers are fairly self explanatory. Yes, it’s all about me, me, me…

1. Can you please explain the type of camera’s you use for your work. How do they make the work different/easier/harder?

The cameras I use are usually manufactured from poor quality materials, usually plastic with little or no quality control. They have simple plastic lenses with questionable optical quality. The degree of control over shutter speed and aperture is usually pretty limited, if it exists at all. The very factors that most photographers would consider drawbacks in these cameras are what work towards making the images produced by them unique and often quite artistic in nature. The poor quality of manufacture leads to edge vignetting and blurriness, light leaks and so on. You can’’t ever be really sure what you will get when the film is developed. Sometimes this leads to disappointment, but more often than not you can be pleasantly surprised. When I collect my developed film from the lab, I often feel like a kid on Christmas day, waiting to unwrap the presents. It’s a continual buzz of anticipation of a “magic” shot that keeps me coming back. I guess you would say I’m addicted.

2. Do you develop the film at home?

No, I mainly shoot colour and the process is a bit more exacting and unforgiving than Black and White processing. Also having a septic system is incompatible with some of the chemical by-products of home development.

3. What made you decide to start using outdated cameras for your work?

I was getting a little bit jaded by all the digital photos crowding my hard drive. I mean they were ok, but sort of predictable and I felt my photography was getting stale. Then I won an online raffle hosted by another toy camera aficionado, Susan Burnstine, from the U.S.A. on her website. She sent me a “toy” medium format camera called an Empire Junior. I shot a roll through, developed it and when I saw the quirky results I was hooked. Soon afterwards I began collecting second hand toy cameras and using them almost everyday.

4. How did you first get into photography and what is it about the medium that you like?

My first memory of photography was having a camera thrust into my hands by my father when we were in the city during the Queen’s visit in early 1970’s – I snapped a photo of the royal personage as she passed by. It was at a bit of an angle but not bad for a first effort. I still have that photo. Photography as a medium is amazingly versatile, it can convey a story, an artistic statement, capture a memory, convey emotions and sometimes help change the course of history. Think of how photography helped change peoples’ perceptions of the Vietnam War, or help save the Franklin River in Tasmania, for example.

5. Are you a professional photographer or is it a hobby? If a hobby what do you do for a living?

It is a hobby, but one that consumes much of my free time, I’m very passionate about it (my wife would say obsessed, thankfully she is very supportive!) I am a Registered Nurse, working in the Emergency Department of my local hospital.

6. What are your favourite subjects to photograph?

I have a fondness for the many varied examples of public art that we are blessed with in Melbourne. I also love people and although initially quite shy, I am gradually becoming more confident asking if I can take people’s portraits. There is a wealth of stories in every individuals face.

7. Explain the main themes behind your work?

My work is very eclectic, but I try to capture points of view of scenes in a different perspective to how we would usually look at them in the normal course of our daily life. In the rush of modern living I believe we sometimes forget to “see” what is really around us, the inherent beauty in everything and everybody.

8. What is it about photography that you think makes it stand out from other mediums?

The ability to capture a unique and definitive moment and mood, never to be repeated in exactly the same way again, makes photography something special.

9. Is this your first exhibition? If not what have been some of the others?

I’ve been in one other joint toy camera and pinhole photography exhibition, called “Lightleaks” at the Kerala Gallery in High St, Northcote, earlier this year.

10. How old are you, any children?

I am 46 and have two children aged 9 and 6 who continually inspire me and help keep my vison young!