All the way from Los Angeles, our 83rd 'In Focus' interview is with music and surrealism photographer, Laura Moreau.

SECTION 1 - BACKGROUND

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

This photograph features my friend Samira, taken on ILFORD SFX200 with my Mamiya 645. I was in the ocean, hoping to capture the glimmers, as I have an obsession with them. Suddenly, a massive wave came out of nowhere, and I still can’t believe I managed to jump and take the shot of Samira (haha).

Black and white shot of a person splashing in water

Samira Laguna Beach | Mamiya 645 Sekor 80mm | ILFORD SFX 200

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

My name is Laura. I currently live in Los Angeles, CA. I have always been fascinated by music and surrealism. After many years of working in the music industry, I decided it was time to try a freelance career in photography. I mostly work with musicians on album art and press photos. I will say that I’m a portrait/fine art photographer.

HOW AND WHY DID YOU GET STARTED SHOOTING FILM?

So, I have wanted to be a photographer since I was 12. My dad passed away, and I found his Canon AE1 in our shed. It was broken, but I kept it. I was fascinated with this heavy object, and later, I found the same model in a trash can. The camera produced massive light leaks, but I embraced it and started shooting with it (believe me or not, clients would ask me to shoot with it).

After begging my mum many times to go to photo school, I started studying at Etpa in Toulouse, and I realized after 3 months that it was not my place. The only class I was going to was the B&W darkroom with the incredible Jean; I feel bad because I couldn’t stop singing at the top of my lungs, sandwiching negatives, and taking many cigarette breaks, and he was so patient and amused about how happy I was in the darkroom, I felt like it was my home, a place to create and experiment…

Then, three years passed. I was taking photos of what surrounded me until the day my friend Jean Felzine from the band Mustang asked me to take photos for the promotion of their new album Ecran total, I got one roll of ILFORD Delta 3200, sold my photos to Sony, and moved to the USA. Shooting film or not was never a question to me; it was more of an evidence.

Black and white image of a man in a white suit next to a white piano

Lewis Of Man, Honeymoon suite | Canon FTB 50mm | ILFORD HP5+

WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST PHOTOGRAPHIC INSPIRATION TO DATE?

I have so many! Nature is, without any hesitation, mixed with all the surrealist work from the XX century. There are many photographers that I adore and who inspire me to work and experiment more: David Black’s work is beyond beauty and Iconic; Ryan Mcginley and Neil Krug’s colors and compositions are out of this world. Larry Niehues, with his eagle eye, doesn’t spend a day without taking a photo. Masaya Nakamura and Akira Sato for embracing a dark poetic world.

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

Be curious, respectful, and experiment. Brian Brooks, my photographic sensei back in San Francisco.

Black and white shot of a woman dancing in a field

Molly Mount | Washington | Mamiya 645 Sekor 80mm | ILFORD SFX 200

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

So this year is going to be special, as I’m going to take the time to work on my first book. I’m also going to visit my friend Rocky Joe in Tarzana and take portraits of the animals she is taking care of in her sanctuary. I love taking photos of animals, so I’m super excited…. A couple of album covers are coming up as well. It’s going to be a busy year!

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

My next shoot is personal work at a pretty Californian beach. Usually, I choose my shooting kit depending on how acrobatic I have to be (haha). I experiment a lot with film and have a collection of pretty interesting films… I always have ISO 1, 50, 250, 400, and 3200 with me; we never know what can happen!

WHAT ARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC GOALS GOING FORWARD?

The book, the book & the book!

Alexandra Palos Verdes| Canon A1 50mm | ILFORD HP5+

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.

I have 4 right now, haha.

  • David Black. @_davidblack I was lucky enough to meet him, and besides being such a talented artist, he is also an incredibly nice and humble man. I really look up to him.
  • Eloise Labarbe-Lafon, aka Bambivader, @bambivader, shoots black-and-white and then paints with her fingers on her prints. I discovered her work last year, and I’m obsessed. It’s unique and beautiful.
  • Sam Hellmann @hellmannsam. Sam Hellmann’s work is incredible. She captures people in a way that I have never seen before. Go see it for yourself!
  • Valentin Duciel @valentinduciel. Valentin is a magician and a dreamer, and his work really resonates with me
Black and white picture of sheep by a bench

Puy de dome | Yashica T4 | ILFORD HP5+

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHY YOUTUBE CHANNELS.

  • Lucy Lumen @lucylumen: Lucy always questions our approach to film photography. She delivers a lot of education and is so dedicated; she is very inspiring!
  • William Sheepskin @willysheepskin: I got super attached to William’s personality. He’s really passionate. His last video of him trying a fisheye lens on a Pentax 67 is just gold!
  • Attic Darkroom @atticdarkroom: Speaking about experimentation, this person is going wild! And I love it.

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHIC RETAILERS.

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE LAB SERVICE.

La Film Lab (personal shout out to Michael and Trevor): I stopped developing at home last summer, and their work is of the finest quality!

Black and white shot of a woman dressed in black on a rock in front of the sea

Alexandra Palos Verdes | Contax G2 Planar 45mm | ILFORD HP5+

SECTION 3 - FAVOURITE KIT

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

So … I had GAS (gear acquisition syndrome), so let’s list the whole family… A Canon AE1, Canon FTb, Canon A1, Contax G2, Fujifilm Gs645W, Fujifilm Ga645zi, Mamiya 645, Nimslo, Lubitel, Lubitel 2, Olympus XA, Zenit TTL, Canon Sure Shot Tele, I had a Yashica T4, but someone in LA stole it.

My favorite is my Canon A1, with the speed finder, which is a massive kit improvement for my focus.

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

I own many filters from the 1980s, so I always have a couple in my bag, a small ladder, and a 10,000-lumen flashlight.

Colour portrait of a man with palm trees behind

Trichromes | Nick, Echo park | Contax G2 Planar 45mm | RGB hoya filters | ILFORD SFX 200

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

The Canon AE1 I found in the trash and the Canon A1 that my sister and mum gifted to me last year.

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?

I adore ILFORD SFX 200 and ILFORD DELTA 3200. The grain in ILFORD Delta 3200 is just so loveable. Please never stop producing this film!

Black and white shot of a woman driving the car with a shaved head

Naomi Green Angels point Canon A1 50mm ILFORD HP5+

AND FINALLY…

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

Sam Hellman! You are going for a treat; she has much exciting news to share!

Black and white headshot of a goat

Goat Palos Verdes | Contax G2 Planar 45mm | ILFORD HP5+

 

Images ©Laura Moreau