Our next In Focus interview features Justin Lockey. As well as being  the lead guitarist of the indie rock band Editors, Justin is also a photographer, writer, director and producer. When he’s not doing any one of those things he’s asleep, or messing around with cameras, or reading about lenses and optical formulas.

SECTION 1 - BACKGROUND

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

I took this in Venice last year, I was playing around with a rolleiflex 3.5f. I’d never used one before but saw this infant of me and just went for it. Yea, its out of focus, yea, the shadows are totally crushed (pushed ILFORD FP4+) and yea the highlights are blown… but! there’s something about it that I love. And that’s photography really, much in the same way there’s happy accidents in music, its the same process in photography. So whilst its not the most technically great photo, its definitely one of my favourites I’ve ever taken.

Favourite Image from Justin Lockey

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

Hello, I’m Justin Lockey, a producer, musician, writer, director, photographer (in no particular order). I’m primarily the lead guitarist of Miserable indie rock band - Editors. I also direct a lot of music videos and things with my brother James as handheldcineclub (handheldcineclub.com).

HOW AND WHY DID YOU GET STARTED SHOOTING FILM?

I got into shooting film mainly because of my directing… Looking for that texture of trapped air and life inside a frame, that sometimes is impossible to get digitally. I think also because when I was learning how to make records I was taught on magnetic tape, so the idea of recording something ephemeral and trapping it onto a tactile medium  has always been there for me. I kinda see the two things as the same, magnetic tape and film.

WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST PHOTOGRAPHIC INSPIRATION TO DATE?

Looks wise, probably Lars Tunbjork, Sally Mann, Josef Koudelka.

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

Never received any! I never took a lesson in music nor photography. I kind of approach them both in the same way as I approach everything -  I have an idea of what I want to create or capture, then try and fail endlessly. At some point over time your body catches up with your brain and your imagination and you learn how to get from idea to something tangible that resembles the initial idea in a way where they work together. I guess over time then they’re in sync and more immediate.

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

Currently gearing up to start work on an album. Albums take sizeable chunks out of your life, and a lot can change in the world and personally over the time from the first note in writing to the last note played onstage touring that album. They’re like chapters. I’m planning to capture the whole process this time on film.

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

It will be pretty much around the world! And I’ll drag my case of cameras and lenses along for the ride. It will be my Leica M5 and 35 Summicron (v1), my plaubel Makina 670 and my Xpan.

WHAT ARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC GOALS GOING FORWARD?

Photography for me is a way to combat the severe anxiety of touring and life. So I guess I don’t really have a goal as such, just to keep making, documenting and enjoying the process. There’s something highly meditative in photography that I don’t even get close to in any other medium or skillset I have. Also there’s always something else to learn, so you can’t conquer it or complete it. I like that.

Reading - Fish tank Shot by Justin Lockey on ILFORD film for In Focus interview

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.

Jean Francois Campos (@jeanfrancoiscampos) Because his portraits are incredible and he gets eyes like nobody else. Remarkable.

Fukukawa Takashi (@fukukawatakashi ) because his black and white Xpan work and his triptych’s are just great.

Marcus Ubungen (@yourpalmarcus) Because his large format stuff is just awesome.

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHY YOUTUBE CHANNELS.

@steventanno because he hasn’t got a mad teal and orange mini studio lighting set up.  He’s not shouting about the latest and greatest and why you should buy this or that to make your photography better. It’s just a dude who really loves his old Leica stuff and you can tell how much it all means to him. Its lovely.

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHIC RETAILERS.

Have to say The Latent Image in Shrewsbury as I’ve had quite a bit of gear via them over the years. Will’s always been really super easy to deal with. (til-processing.com).

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE LAB SERVICE.

My favourite lab just closed down (make it easy lab in Nottingham!) But, if I’m at home (Yorkshire) then I’ll pop in and see Jimmy at jandaphotography.com in Sheffield to get rolls developed. I scan my own stuff mostly now. So its mostly just Dev.

SECTION 3 - FAVOURITE KIT

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

My favourite is my Leica M5. I got it fully overhauled last year and its just smooth as silk and the meter is always pin point accurate for me! Aside from that my recent addition of the Plaubel Makina 670 (which I adore!) I also shoot a Hasselblad 203 FE but its not the sort of thing you take on tour as its an unwieldy monster. But iodo love the fact I can swap the film back and just latch on the digital back whenever.

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

Spare batteries (its always those obscure batteries you cant find in a shop or at a garage)! Lens cloths. That rocket blower thing which I’m always losing! Usually a couple of filters in there too depending on what I’m doing.

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

An old man down the street saw me walking around the village in covid times and gifted me his Petri Flex slr. I keep it in my studio with a troll of HP5+ in it in case I forget my camera bag.

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?

HP5+ is my top ILFORD product! Followed boy FP4+ (which I adore when pushed) Delta 3200 when I need it.

AND FINALLY…

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

Fukukawa Takashi

Wonder -Shot by Justin Lockey on ILFORD film for In Focus interview

Images ©Justin Lockey