photographer spotlight: michael

i have been doing photographer spotlights for a couple months now and just realized that i have not been shining enough light on the many talented male photographers that are out there on flickr. so today i would like to share with you the work and words of michael (a.k.a. buttonmoOon) who resides in the south of wales.

michael's work has a fantastic vintage quality to it. i love photography that makes me feel like i have stepped back in time. the tones and textures of his work are fantastic. i especially enjoy his diptychs and beautiful portraits.

now let's meet the man behind the camera!

1.) what draws you to photography?  

So many things – expression, documenting, experimenting. Although it’s essentially capturing what’s around us, I sort of see it as another world, things are often seen differently when my eye’s up against a camera. It’s kind of an escape too, I’m not thinking about the tedious things/worries that may have been on my mind all day.

A big part of it is also a memoir thing. I’ve often said that taking photos is my diary. I don’t need to write, I tried, but it lasted a few months when I was about 18. A photo I’ve taken in the past could be very abstract, but I always seem to remember where and when it was taken, who was there, even what was on my mind at the time (although certain images may interpret quite obviously what mood I was in!) Memories just flood back.

2.) do you prefer digital or film? why?  

Film. No Digital…
I’m torn. They behave so differently, so I find I do too. If I was to take photos of the same thing with different cameras, they will look different just because of the unique and variable qualities film delivers compared to digital, but also I wouldn’t shoot the subject in the same way.

I guess I started photography the wrong way around – with a cheap digital 1.3 mega pixel camera at around 18 (maybe that’s why the diary writing stopped?) This camera was very basic – it didn’t even have a screen, which made it a little like a film camera, as I never knew how they were going to turn out!

I started a Graphic Design Degree and found I was using my little camera more and more. New friends, fun and marvelous memories, I wanted it all recorded. However, with the type of projects set in college, such as brochure/magazine layouts, I found I never wanted to use images that weren’t my own (whether it was to be a photo or illustration). It just didn’t seem right as it was a creative course, I thought it should just be my creativity in my work, and using other peoples images was just too easy (although for my job now it’s a necessity to use other peoples images (legally) … if we need to show a picture of, I don’t know… a young doctor with a stethoscope, I’m not exactly going to drag someone off the street and get them dressed up … nope it’s straight to stock library websites!). So I would do my best to deliver.

Okay I’ve gone off on a tangent a little…

Anyway, during college I upgraded to a Canon Powershot A80 campact, which I thought was amazing at the time – it had loads of settings for that type of camera, though I didn’t really understand all the digits on the screen such as f4.5 at 1/500, ISO 200 etc.

I didn’t try a film camera properly until after College – which was probably my L166b. I wouldn’t have had a clue how to use it without reading the manual (and chatting to the nice old man at the local photo shop), but those mysterious digits from that digital canon soon started to make sense! That Lubitel taught me a lot and essentially taught me the basics of photography. It even made me realize that the gadget that had been in my parents living room cupboard for as long as I can remember was in fact a light meter … so after decades of being in the dark I let it out to measure some light and help me use my Lubitel properly. I loved that I didn’t quite know how a photo was going to turn out – and when it came out well, I’d feel a big sense of achievement after all that hard graphed light metering, shutter speeds, apertures, focusing!

I guess people with both film and digital cameras can relate to the differences. With film, capturing an image is often a little bit more thought out, as you know you have a limited number of shots on that roll, and if it’s manual the settings need to be right (ish) so its not over/under exposed etc. Also you know you can’t review the image on a screen until it’s developed.

I must admit I can get a bit trigger-happy with digital. I’ll think, “It doesn’t matter, it’s free! I can take as many as I like and delete the worst ones later.” …but I’ve noticed this can make a photo less special to me, after browsing through thirty-so of the same thing, one slightly blurry, slightly sharper, slightly brighter … when it’s film I just accept it for however it turns out. If there are errors, I will try and remember and learn from it – or just love it as it is.

I find film prints more exciting and precious, my digital photos don’t find their way to paper enough. However I do really like digital for it’s efficiency (as I seem to get more impatient with age), and I guess it’s ease of use is what got me into photography in the first place.

… I knew I wouldn’t have a short answer for that one.

3.) what is your favorite camera to shoot with?  

That’s a tricky one.

I enjoy using my Zenit E – its weightiness, and the strong, clunking, mechanics. Though it does tend to leave a dent in between my eyes from the wind-on arm!

Lubitel 166b is probably my most loved film camera – it’s taught me a lot and its results can be really amazing! The focusing certainly blew me away when I had that first roll developed.

Overall though my Canon 400D is the most used now and most loved – I’d say I’ve come on a long way since using this and it’s just so versatile.

Just recently I bought two iconic cameras ... particularly in the realms of flickr.
I’ve seen many amazing, inspirational images from both of these cameras:

A Holga and a SX-70 (*many of those inspirational images are taken by the blog master herself and her SX-70, sacredlotus). I can’t wait to get some free time and use out of these.

4.) can you share three favorite photos you took & why you picked them?  

- A recent one that I’m fond of – mainly for the memory.

- Thought I should include one taken with the Lubitel after mentioning it … and how the mistakes of film can surprise and turn out into something totally different to what you expect. (Photo shoot for the Ethical Fashion company si:su.)

- The description tied to this on flickr kind of explains why this is a favourite.

5.) can you name a few photographers that have influenced your work?

I feel a bit ignorant that I don’t really know many famous photographers, the one’s that inspire me the most are those on flickr – there’s so many talented people on there. I like that you can see someone progress over the weeks and months (depending how strong their addiction to flickr is of course). I think it’s a bit harder to follow the work of high-profile photographers.

I see a lot of great images in the design magazines we get at work whilst browsing over lunch. Although the artist’s names don’t always stick in my mind, the inspiration does.

michael, thank you for taking the time to answer my questions and letting me share your lovely work. you can see more of michael's photography over on flickr. now i will leave you with a few of my favorites from his photo stream!