Continuing our interview series, next up is Iain Maclachlan:
“View to Point Nepean”
Please introduce yourself: Hello, I am Iain. I am reasonably new to photography having taken a break for many years. I work as a bank executive building financial models so getting away from a computer screen now and then is essential. Photography has given me an opportunity to get out and about and express myself artistically; now I can’t imagine it not being a part of my daily life.
What is your “style” of photography? Eclectic! Not that I intend it to be like that, it’s just that I am experimenting with different approaches. I once read that a good photograph, like any art, should cause an emotional response even if we cannot explain it. My style has historically been about strong composition with an emphasis on form, shape, texture, and line; tending to landscapes or abstracts, mostly in black and white. More recently I have been exploring colour abstracts and bokeh. The themes you will see in my work tend to be about people lost within their environments, the abstract nature of reality (bodyscapes or buildings), feelings of timeless space as reflected by landscapes.
How long have you been shooting film and what do you get out of it? My first experience with film was as a teenager in the 70s when I used to turn our bathroom into a darkroom. Way back then, all camera stores stocked film, chemicals and even enlargers. I took a long break with family and career and decided to pick a hobby up after completing my PhD in 2007. I have now been shooting film for about 12 months and developing and scanning my own film more recently. Film is a different experience than digital. I find that the process of choosing a film, deciding to push or pull, apply filter or not and what developer to use makes me consider the feel and style of the result before shooting. The experience is more creative and the results better. It is also a richer experience to learn the craft. The other aspect I find is that my film cameras (Oly OM20 and Arax 60 medium format) are better designed for photography than my digital “toy” Oly E-410. Real film cameras are designed to help get the best image at the start of the process.
“Come Stand By Me”
With regard to the above photo, tell us about it. How did you take it and what did you take it with? This is an example of abstracting reality. It is landing steps descending from a breakwater into the see taken at dusk at Point Lonsdale beach near the RIP. I used a long exposure of around 60 seconds using Pan F+ film with a yellow filter attached to avoid blowing out the highlights (Pan F is uncompromising with highlights). Camera is an Olympus OM20 with Zuiko 28mm f3.5 wide angle lens. The sea becomes cloud-like which contrasts with the solid stone of the steps and concrete of the wall. The viewer is invited into the photo but challenged by the danger of stepping into the uncertain. There is a classic yin-yang tension of contradictions – light and dark, solid and ephemeral, motionless and still.
How would you take it/arrange it differently if you had the chance? It was a very difficult shot requiring a wet shoe in the process. More light on the right would have helped so before printing it I re-cropped it to trim some of the sea to the left, and opened up the shadow on the right concrete wall with masking and curves in PS to give it better tonal balance. I was really impressed at the fine grain achieved even at 14 x 10 inches. I sold it recently at a fundraising art auction for the benefit of the bush fire victims.
“Mystery”
Do you prefer color or black & white? Mostly black & white. It fits with my preference for viewing the world in a way that’s not just an exact representation and I enjoy self developing and experimenting with film types. It is also enjoyable to look back on the great masters of photography and relate to what they were doing. More recently I have been exploring colour in its own right but I seem to be better at digital colour than film.
Do you have a favourite film? I wish – it would make life so much easier. Eventually I want to settle on a particular film and explore it deeply. Currently I am looking for wide tonal range, good detail, and low grain – but with a classic feel to it. That tends to be slower films usually Kodak Tmax 100, Neopan Acros/SS 100 or Ilford Pan F+ but I have some FP4+ to play with. Of the lot Neopan has given reliable results but I am impressed with Pan F+ when conditions suit it. There must be a good reason these old films survived so long.
“Dans le Miroir”, by mrs scatteredimage.
What do you like to see in other people’s photos in the MSM pool? Is there a particular photo that demonstrates this? There is a real cross section of styles and levels of experiences. I enjoy seeing new work and being challenged by it. There are some very talented people in MSM and the opportunity to exhibit in Unsensored08 I found to be an important learning experience.
This photo impressed me the moment I saw it. What is more Melbourne than lunch at an inner city pub and what is more MSM than doing it with friends.
Do you have a question you’d like to see the next interviewee answer? Yes. What do you think about when you are preparing to take a photo?
Thanks for your time, Iain!
You can find Iain on flickr as riskyman, and will be able to see his work on display as part of the UNSENSORED09 exhibition in August.
Enjoyable read, Iain, thanks for sharing.