The haunting Kolor photo featured in May of our now sold out revolog calendar was taken by Scott Cairns. Find out more about him and his work in our interview.
Where are you from, how old are you?
I am from Vermont in the US originally but I currently live about an hour outside of London UK. I have been fortunate to live in many places. around the US, the Bahamas and now England. I am 51.
Would you like to tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to be a photographer?
I wasn’t too serious about photography until a few years when I was living in Hawaii. I had a Canon Powershot and I made the move out of Auto Mode…it opened up a whole new world for me. I had been looking for a creative outlet and…the outlet found me through photography. I read and experimented as much as I could with that camera before graduating to other gear. I found that I had this huge passion in me to make photographs. So I shot (and still shoot) as much as I can. I have tried my best to learn from my many mistakes. I try to create photographs that are either beautiful or make the viewer feel something.
Do you professionally work as a photographer?
No, I am a Special Events Director for a luxury hotel. I had gallery placements in Hawaii and sell pieces but not as a profession.
Why do you like to take analog pictures? Do you shoot digital as well?
My father was a very good photographer. I remember growing up and seeing the slide shows of Kodachrome that he would put together. I loved the colour and I can still smell the heat of the bulb from the slide projector. A few years back he passed away. My wife and I went back to the US and were sorting through some of his things and came across his Canon Elan7 and an Olympus Stylus Epic. My lenses fit on the Canon so once I was back in England and shot a few rolls, I was completely hooked. Film has personality built in…while with digital you have to bring the personality to it. I don’t love to do loads of digital manipulation so that the photograph feels like something to me. Film just feels better to me. I do shoot digital on occasion but most of what I shoot is on film.
Do you have a favourite subject to photograph? If so, why?
Landscapes and my family. Growing up in rural Vermont I spent a lot of time outdoors…and I still do. I love having a camera with me while walking outside and connecting with the environment.
What’s your favourite analog camera?
Hard to say…I have a number of them and usually have different purposes for them. But I do carry my Pentax K1000 with me the most. It is such a reliable, easy camera that is great to carry around. I have recently gotten a Pentax 645 which I love…but that is not a walk around type of camera.
Do you have a favourite revolog film?
I have three….460nm, 600nm and Kolor. There is such a personality to these films…especially the 600nm. Kolor is fun to shoot because the results can be very unpredictable. I think one aspect of shooting with film is to embrace the unpredictable.
Could you tell us the story behind your calendar photograph?
I love sunset time when there is a mix of clouds and sun. I was out walking with my camera as I love to do and there is an area with an open meadow and some really great trees. I love photographing trees and the light was great so I was able to get the shot. It was taken outside of Dogmersfield Village in the UK.
Any advice for other aspiring photographers?
Shoot as much as you can. Accept that you will mess up far, far more than you will nail it. But if you learn from your mistakes and keep shooting, it will bring you a lot of joy.
Do you have any future projects you’d like to talk about?
I am a natural introvert, which is why most of my photos are landscape or street. I really want to do a lot more artful photographs of people so I am working on overcoming my shyness to ask others if I can photograph them. And I find that every time I ask people, they are happy for me to take their pictures…so I guess I have to keep overcoming my introversion.
To see more of Scott’s work head on over to his website or follow his instagram.
