Hi Alicia, loving your substack! I was wondering what camera do you use for personal work while on holidays? I love shooting on film and have always taken my Nikon FG with me, but lately (I often travel with my small kids) I have been finding it a little too big to be using it spontaneously while out and about...
Hi Kasia, thank you so much! I know that feeling - two kids and a camera is 🫠. Ive recently gone back to my Contax G2 for holidays and casual shooting. And i tend to stick to a 28mm lens. I take another lens with me but rarely end up changing it because… kids. I have a Contax T2 as well for v low key travel shooting and the pics are amazing for a point and shoot but the focus is too hit and miss for me to use it regularly. I have taken my medium format before and just felt it was so bulky it didnt really work with kids around when youre carrying so much other stuff for them as well
That's great, I have a G2 as well and love it but always too scared to take it out with the kids in case I drop it or the sand gets inside! But I think perhaps I should also invest in a good camera case when with them :)
Hi Alicia, loved listening to this episode and very insightful navigating partnerships. Do you shoot most of your commissioned work on a medium format film camera? I've been using a Mamiya 645 and wondering if a jump up to 6x7 makes sense. Thanks in advance.
Hi Kendall, am so glad it was useful :) I shoot on a mixture of medium format, 35mm and digital. It depends what it's for, what the client wants etc. I personally don't shoot film unless I'm shooting personal work, or I want a specific frame for my portfolio, or if the client specifically wants film, as it just feels like a waste. Mamiya 645 is a great camera - a lot of my work is on the Mamiya 645 AFD ii and the 645 Pro before that. I would say the jump to 6x7 is not a necessity, but it's a lovely thing if you want more detail, so if you're printing your imagery in the dark room, or into large scale prints. I personally would love a Pentax 6x7 ii but am on a camera-buying ban currently as I invested so much in kit last year I need to just buy nothing for a while!
Appreciate the quick reply! So so helpful, thanks for sharing. The auto focus on the AFD 645 looks so nice. I hear you on the gear freeze though..excited to see more of your dark room printing. Cheers
Hey Alicia, loved this listen! I was wondering what film you use to shoot interiors? I’ve been struggling with low light and sometimes 800 Portra doesn’t cut it. I’m considering pushing it to 1600 but not sure if that’ll look funky. Also, how do you manage low light settings?
Hi Atorina, glad you liked it. I shoot with Portra 400 always - with interiors there aren't any moving parts so I put the camera on a tripod and use a very long exposure - it means you can get plenty of light in but there'll be no blur so get yourself a tripod and a good light meter and you're good to go :)
Hi Alicia, loving your substack! I was wondering what camera do you use for personal work while on holidays? I love shooting on film and have always taken my Nikon FG with me, but lately (I often travel with my small kids) I have been finding it a little too big to be using it spontaneously while out and about...
Hi Kasia, thank you so much! I know that feeling - two kids and a camera is 🫠. Ive recently gone back to my Contax G2 for holidays and casual shooting. And i tend to stick to a 28mm lens. I take another lens with me but rarely end up changing it because… kids. I have a Contax T2 as well for v low key travel shooting and the pics are amazing for a point and shoot but the focus is too hit and miss for me to use it regularly. I have taken my medium format before and just felt it was so bulky it didnt really work with kids around when youre carrying so much other stuff for them as well
That's great, I have a G2 as well and love it but always too scared to take it out with the kids in case I drop it or the sand gets inside! But I think perhaps I should also invest in a good camera case when with them :)
Hi Alicia, loved listening to this episode and very insightful navigating partnerships. Do you shoot most of your commissioned work on a medium format film camera? I've been using a Mamiya 645 and wondering if a jump up to 6x7 makes sense. Thanks in advance.
-Kendall
Hi Kendall, am so glad it was useful :) I shoot on a mixture of medium format, 35mm and digital. It depends what it's for, what the client wants etc. I personally don't shoot film unless I'm shooting personal work, or I want a specific frame for my portfolio, or if the client specifically wants film, as it just feels like a waste. Mamiya 645 is a great camera - a lot of my work is on the Mamiya 645 AFD ii and the 645 Pro before that. I would say the jump to 6x7 is not a necessity, but it's a lovely thing if you want more detail, so if you're printing your imagery in the dark room, or into large scale prints. I personally would love a Pentax 6x7 ii but am on a camera-buying ban currently as I invested so much in kit last year I need to just buy nothing for a while!
Appreciate the quick reply! So so helpful, thanks for sharing. The auto focus on the AFD 645 looks so nice. I hear you on the gear freeze though..excited to see more of your dark room printing. Cheers
Hey Alicia, loved this listen! I was wondering what film you use to shoot interiors? I’ve been struggling with low light and sometimes 800 Portra doesn’t cut it. I’m considering pushing it to 1600 but not sure if that’ll look funky. Also, how do you manage low light settings?
Hi Atorina, glad you liked it. I shoot with Portra 400 always - with interiors there aren't any moving parts so I put the camera on a tripod and use a very long exposure - it means you can get plenty of light in but there'll be no blur so get yourself a tripod and a good light meter and you're good to go :)