What pieces or projects have you been working on lately?
Lately I have been working on a lot of Film Photography, Digital Video & Short Film–based projects in my hometown of Newcastle, consisting of work both personal and professional. The film side forces me to slow down my workflow approach and to take more meaningful shots. The video side is something I've been leaning into a lot; coming from a love of cinema, I wanted to show off how cinematic my hometown is. I love to showcase the stillness and beauty in Newcastle.
These projects include a contemporary menswear store, The Rake, a fine dining experience, Scotties, a ’70s-inspired cinema, Tower Cinemas, and our local ocean baths. And for my short films, I am both writer and director. These films deal with themes of emotional spirals and the reluctance to change. I aim to have these projects ready for premiere by the end of the year. Although these pieces are in nature both professional and personal, they pair perfectly together to showcase how good life is here in this coastal town. It's made me appreciate taking a slowed-down approach to my work.
What did you learn (or unlearn) while working on them?
This is something I ask myself at the end of every project. I always learn something new with film Photography. A lot of it is learning from mistakes but there is beauty within imperfection with film. With this current project I learnt to trust my gut more. I am someone who second guesses myself far too much, so learning to let go of that has improved my work.
What words, ideas or emotions were going through your head?
I hope this is something my wife Kelsey and my peers will love. And a rather new quote I picked up by talking to a local director "Don't Say hopefully, say I'm going to" he offered me advice that I cherish daily. It's the first thing I see when I open up my journal.
Were there any conversations, movies, music, or books that made their way into that work?
I am constantly using cinema for inspiration in my work. Watching old B&W films like Night of the Hunter and In Cold Blood influenced my most recent B&W work. Directors like David Lynch, Denis Villeneuve, David Fincher, Akira Kurosawa and Martin Scorsese, and cinematographers Roger Deakins and Greig Fraser, are just some of my influences. Music is also something I draw inspiration from; music artists like Matt Maeson, for example, are always with me on my photo walks.
What was the most difficult thing you faced this month in your creative process?
Realigning with myself and prioritising my creative work, and curating a selection of video and stills for my latest collection that made sense to the theme of a coastal town. I found it hard selecting pieces; it was like a jumbled-up puzzle for the majority of the project.
If you could have dinner at any restaurant in the city tonight, where would it be and what would you order?
¡Scotties! A beautiful blend of everything that makes Newcastle so good. And I would order the lobster tortellini every day of the week.
If your life were a movie this month, what would its title be and who would make the soundtrack?
A quiet and harmless living, soundtrack by Matt Maeson.
Recommend us an artist you follow, someone who inspires you, and tell us what you like most about their work or their way of working.
GrainyDays, AKA Jason KummerfeldtHe is a photographer that inspires me daily. Whenever I doubt my approach or work, I watch one of his videos or view his portfolio, and that pushes me to pick up my camera.
Born and raised in Newcastle, I am a 29-year-old photographer and director with a passion for screenwriting and shooting film. My work consists mostly of cinematic-looking visuals from my trusty Leica.