In Focus - Dominik Friess Posted On 14th May 2024 To Magazine, Lockdown Sessions & In Focus

Join us while we chat with freelance photographer Dominik Friess, who is our 76th In Focus interviewee. Dominik's main focus in photography is portraiture, as it is the form of photography that resonates with him the most because of the uniqueness and depth that each person carries within themselves.

SECTION 1 - BACKGROUND

SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE IMAGE / PRINT SHOT ON ILFORD FILM AND TELL US WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU?

I don't believe I have an 'all-time favorite' as such. I've taken many photos on ILFORD film that I really like and mean a lot to me. I would also say that this changes over time and greatly depends on my current emotional state. One photo that still fascinates me is a picture of Farell that I took in the summer of 2021. I often work very intuitively and sometimes can't even say specifically what I was thinking when taking a photo. As I wanted to portray Farell in the water, I held my camera up and took the shot without even looking through the viewfinder. What fascinates me about the image is that the reflection in the water appears sharper than Farell himself. It lends the photo something mysterious and intriguing. I really like that aspect.

JUST IN CASE ANYONE DOESN’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU DO, CAN YOU GIVE US THE OVERVIEW?

I am a freelance photographer from Berlin. I grew up in a small village in Bavaria and originally did an apprenticeship as a toolmaker. Alongside that, I began taking photographs and increasingly felt the urge to pursue photography further. I decided to move to Berlin as there was nothing keeping me in my hometown. My main focus in photography is portraiture, as it's the type of photography that resonates with me the most. I'm fascinated by the uniqueness and depth that each person carries within themselves. Understanding my own thoughts is hard for me sometimes, so I'm always trying to figure things out. That's why the camera is so important to me. It helps me express my feelings and thoughts in a simpler way.

HOW AND WHY DID YOU GET STARTED SHOOTING FILM?

I've always had a soft spot for old, conventional things and processes, and I've always been fascinated by craftsmanship. So, after I started photography in 2020, it was only a matter of time before I became interested in analog photography. A few months later, my girlfriend's father retrieved his old SLR camera from the basement. I don't think he quite understood my enthusiasm for that old camera and was surprised that there were still people who could actually find value in such an old thing. He gave me the camera, a Canon T70, and I've been using it ever since. After shooting my first rolls of film and eagerly awaiting my scans from the lab, much like a child on Christmas morning, I decided that I wanted to learn the development and digitization process myself. I started developing and scanning black and white as well as color film at home. There are many aspects of analog photography that fascinate me: the timeless look of the images, the limitations, and the charm of old cameras and their handling.

WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST PHOTOGRAPHIC INSPIRATION TO DATE?

Since I started taking photos, there have been many people who have inspired and thrilled me along my journey. However, it's hard for me to name someone specific. For me, inspiration is something transformative and constantly changing. My goal is to evolve and, with a changed perspective, my taste and therefore my inspirations change too. In recent months, photographers like Jack Davison and Lydia Roberts have particularly inspired me.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF PHOTOGRAPHY TIP OR ADVICE YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?

Something I always strive to do is to think less and photograph more. The mind can clutter itself with so much nonsense and sometimes it's better to just act before being paralyzed by thoughts and ending up doing nothing. Even though I myself may not always be the best at it.

WHAT FILM PHOTOGRAPHY RELATED PROJECTS ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON (OR ARE IN THE PIPELINE)?

I am currently photographing for a group project about Berlin in the district of Reinickendorf. Documenting this district is a new challenge for me and requires a completely different approach than I'm used to. While I capture a lot digitally for the project, I also use my 6x6 medium format camera to portray people from the district.

WHAT / WHERE IS YOUR NEXT SHOOT AND HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT FILM / KIT YOU WILL USE?

I’m going to photograph some concerts in the next couple of weeks for different musicians. Therefore, I mostly prefer working digitally because the pictures need to be ready quite fast. But usually, the choice of camera and film for my photoshoots is quite intuitive. I try to minimise the number of cameras I bring to a shoot, but honestly, it's a bit challenging for me. The choice of film is often influenced by the lighting and weather conditions.

WHAT ARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC GOALS GOING FORWARD?

I would like to do some longterm projects and get better in working on specific projects in general. One day I would love to exhibit my work or make a book, but I think it will still take some time. In general, I would like to travel more and push myself further outside of my comfort zone.

SECTION 2 - SHOUT OUTS

We all need a bit of inspiration and love so this is your chance to tell the community about yours – from the film photographers whose work inspires you, the labs you trust with your film, your ‘go to’ film photography stockists, your favourite community darkrooms or just anyone in the community who you feel deserves a special mention.

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR 3 FAVOURITE FILM PHOTOGRAPHERS.

Marina Monaco and Rebecca Kraemer are Berlin based photographers aswell and do amazing work. You should make sure to check them out.

I also love Samuel Bradley’s work and what he created for the 1975 album campaign.

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHY YOUTUBE CHANNELS.

There’s a friend of mine who’s running a great photography channel on YouTube: Tobias Holzweiler.

I‘m also part of a youtube project I started with friends of mine called "analogs finest".

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHIC RETAILERS.

When you’re in Berlin you should definitely check out Bildband Berlin, a great little bookstore with lots of beautiful photobooks and super kind people.

https://bildbandberlin.com

Immanuelkirchstr. 33

10405 Berlin

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE LAB SERVICE.

My favorit lab service is Safelight Berlin. Shoutout to the whole Safelight Team!

https://safelightberlin.com

Schivelbeiner Str. 9

10439 Berlin

SECTION 3 - FAVOURITE KIT

WHAT FILM CAMERAS DO YOU OWN AND WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

I own several film cameras, and to be honest, I don't really get to use all of them regularly. I have a camera for almost every film format, such as the Mamiya 645, Yashica Mat 124G 6x6, Polaroid SX-70, and Olympus Pen-F half-frame. However, the camera that still fascinates me the most is my Pentax 6x7. Ever since I heard about analog medium format cameras, I've always wanted to shoot with one.

ASIDE FROM YOUR CAMERA, LENSES AND FILM, WHAT ACCESSORIES MAKE IT INTO YOUR CAMERA BAG?

It’s always good to bring a lightmeter.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF PHOTOGRAPHY KIT YOU HAVE FOUND OR BEEN GIFTED?

The first thing that comes to mind is my camera backpack, which I received as a birthday gift a few years ago. It has definitely been a loyal companion throughout the years.

AS THIS IS AN ILFORD INTERVIEW IT WOULD BE REMISS OF US NOT TO ASK ABOUT YOUR FAVOURITE ILFORD PRODUCTS. TELL US YOUR FAVOURITE ILFORD FILM, PAPER OR CHEMS AND WHY?

My absolute favorite ILFORD film is the ILFORD HP5+. I especially like that the film is so versatile, allowing for easy pushing or pulling without issues.

AND FINALLY…

NOMINATE ONE OTHER PERSON YOU THINK SHOULD FILL IN THIS FORM AND WE WILL REACH OUT TO THEM.

I would like to nominate a friend of mine called Jakob Stolz. He’s a great photographer and I really love the portraits he takes.

Images ©Dominik Friess