8 years ago, I took a B&W darkroom film course in college & fell in love with photography. I found it almost magical, that I could capture a moment/person in a split second, in a way one might so quickly miss.
My photography teacher at the time was Justine Kurland; she is known for her Aperture book, Girl Pictures, where she “offers a radical vision of community and feminism against the masculine myth of the American landscape.” In class, I found her to have the air of… a true artist. The whimsical nature in which she taught, where there were few boundaries on what one could photograph (she shared one of her nude projects in class and another about her, with her son in tow, traveling and photographing by car across the United States), it created the space for me as a photographer to think expansively about what types of stories I wanted to tell through my photographs.
Out of the class, I created a photobook, When You Did Nothing: Chicago Blues. In the introduction, I write:
After I graduated, I would not pick up a film camera for another 6 years. (Which sorta makes me sad, because oh the things I could have photographed at the time! Returning home and moving back in with my dad. Starting a job downtown for the first time. Going out at all those nights at Blind Barber. Surviving a pandemic.)
I would not pick up a film camera for another 6 years. But I took a trip to K&M one December day (now one of my LEAST favorite camera stores… if you know, you know), picked up a Nikon FG, and have not put down my camera since.
My love for photography has only grown over the years, and that love stems from a desire to use it to document my life and the people around me and to tell stories (about people, about the environment, and about the issues I care about). Also, as someone who has to create with the intention of making the world a more livable place, there is power in a photo (& there is a lineage of such photographers such as Gordon Parks, LaToya Ruby Frazier, Sebastião Salgado). A photo can make the invisible visible. A photo can reveal and remind us of who we are. And also show us who we could someday be.
So, my love for photography has grown over the years, and I'd love to share a bit of that with you. And I’ve gone through cameras, books, and photo events/talks. I'm currently in school at the International Center of Photography in a Documentary Practice and Visual Journalism Program, and so, though absolutely no expert, I think I’ve learned enough to put some of my thoughts and reflections down on the page.
So below are some of the big questions I get or think would be helpful for both new photographers and people already deeply committed to the craft.
What gear do you use?
Cameras & Lenses
Snapic A1 (35mm film): I don’t actually use this as much (I keep it in case I can’t carry my Nikon F3), but it’s a great point-and-shoot camera that takes pretty nice photos
Nikon FG (35mm film): My first film camera in NYC and I absolutely love it; it’s small/compact, and takes beautiful photos (with the right lens! Which I’ll share more about below). My second ever film camera, and it is now broken, but I LOVED it, very compact
Nikon F3 (35mm): After my Nikon FG broke, this is now my go-to camera. On the day-to-day, I try to keep this with me! I LOVE this camera.
Nikon F100 (35mm): Had to upgrade to an autofocus lens, especially for shooting events. I also LOVE this camera and would recommend it if you're looking for an autofocus film camera.
Mamiya 645 (120mm): My first medium format camera (has a larger negative, use 120mm instead of 35mm film); I’m still learning how to use it! But it’s not small, but light enough that I can carry it around.
Nikon D780: My first digital camera! It’s a DSLR, not mirrorless, and is one of Nikon’s older cameras, but I recently got it because I needed a digital camera (I took a studio lighting class and want to shoot more in studio), I heard great reviews, and I can use a lot of my Nikon F100 lenses with this camera
Lenses
Nikon Film
Manual: 35mm f/2.8, 50mm f/1.8, 100mm f/2.8
Autofocus: AF-S 50mm f/1.8, AF-S 85mm f/2.8, AF-S 24 - 85mm f/3.5 - 4.5
Mamiya 645: 80 mm f/2.8
Other Gear
Flash:
Nikon SB-28: it’s heavy and bulky, but a great older Nikon flash
Reflx Lab Simple Flash: It was the first flash I bought; it did the job but was slower/took a long time to load before shooting another photo. I think there are better flashes at a similar price point and probably would not buy again.
Camera bag: PGYTECH OneGo Lite Backpack Matte Black 16L. I can fit 2 film cameras and my medium format camera in here. It’s also super light.
Shot on Ektar 100
What film stocks do you love the most?
Kodak Colorplus; most of my color film is shot with it
Kodak Tri-X 400 (Black & White)
I also love Ektar 100 for landscapes! (See bridge image) The colors are beautiful, and the image is very crisp!
I’ve shot with Portra 400 and actually don’t love the images; it’s also super expensive (but recently bought another roll and giving it a try again)
I recently bought a medium format camera, so I’m still learning which film stocks I like on 120mm
I recently got Portra 160 and 400, so excited to try shooting on those! I don’t like Kodak Gold that much; it’s a little too gold for me
If you could teach a beginner photography class, what are the core things you’d teach about photography? (aka things I found helpful to get me started)
A brief history of photography (history of the camera, evolution of cameras, influential photographers, etc.)
How to use the camera (digital or film)
The exposure triangle (ISO, aperture, shutter speed) and how that impacts your photos (I won’t go too in detail; there are a ton of YouTube videos you can watch!)
Understand what makes a good picture (this is from my perspective; lots of people have thoughts or written about this!)
Composition (rule of thirds, leading lines, balance, layering, etc.)
Strong exposure / effective use of light
Story (subject, moment, feeling, emotion)
Who are some of your favorite photographers?
Dana Scruggs, Tyler Mitchell, Sarah van Rij, Gordon Parks, Sebastião Salgado, Carlos Idun Taiwiah, Alex Webb, Mélanie Mauro
I also love the IG page @club35lab for film
Who are some of your favorite photographers on YouTube? Photography videos?
Ejatu Shaw, Teo Crawford, Hunter Creates Things, Luke Cleland for wedding photography
B&H also has some GREAT videos online. My favorite is the intro series by Derek Fahsbender!
Image pulled from MEP
What are some of your favorite photography books?
Photo Books
Alex Webb: Dislocations
Tyler Mitchell: Wish this was Real
Sebastião Salgado: Workers
I don’t have it, but I’d love to buy Sally Mann: At Twelve, Portraits of Young Women
Photography
Dawoud Bey on Photographing People and Communities: The Photography Workshop Series
Alex Webb and Rebecca Norris Webb on Street Photography and the Poetic Image: The Photography Workshop Series
The Photography Storytelling Workshop by Finn Beales
Read This If You Want to Take Great Photographs of People by Henry Carroll
Old School Photography by Kai Wong (good for people interested in shooting film)
The Photographer's Playbook: 307 Assignments and Ideas (for ideas and inspiration)
I also recently just bought Why People Photograph by Robert Adams (from skimming in the bookstore, it seems pretty good!)
Readings
A conversation between LaToya Ruby Frazier and Rujeko Hockly, Assistant Curator of Contemporary Art, Brooklyn Museum
The Creative Process by James Baldwin from Creative America
I also took an online course, Matt Black: The Documentary Commitment on Aperture that I felt to be amazing for anyone think through how to make a long form documentary photography project
What projects do you want to shoot?
I have too many ideas! I have a few documentary photography project ideas. One following several recent college grads as they navigate life post-college (touch on themes of job, unemployment, AI, climate change, cost of living). One on senior citizens living in NYC. Another on the impacts of climate change on Black communities in North America and the Caribbean. Another on capturing African American rituals/traditions (e.g., family reunions). One documenting Dominica, a Caribbean island I’ve been to twice that I really love, over the next decade. And another project, in the format of a time capsule, that’s a photo essay and letter to young people in 2050, about how young people are navigating a world at the brink of collapse, now. Too many ideas and not enough time!!
Where do you get your photos developed?
I have a membership at Photodom and get all my photos developed there! In NYC, I’ve also gotten my photos developed at Photoreal, picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom, and NYC Film Lab.
Some other places I’ve gotten film developed, outside of NYC, that I liked are: Bellows (Miami & Chicago), 1 Hour Film Lab (Austin), Essential Photo Supply (Salt Lake City), Latitude (Chicago)
What have you learned most from photography?
It is NOT a cheap hobby (cameras, lenses, film, other gear like flash)
Start by photographing what you love and what is nearest to you; it will be much easier to build a consistent practice when you enjoy it and are having fun
Don’t overthink it, just shoot. After classes in school, for a month or so, I got too caught up in the technical (e.g., is the lighting right, is this good composition) that I wouldn’t take as many photos. I had to let go of all these rules and just shoot what I thought was cool or interesting, even if it wasn’t in the perfect conditions
People are nice and typically say yes! I’ve been working to get over my fear of street photography/taking photos of strangers, so I’ll spend some days walking around NYC, finding cool people and photographing things. Nearly 95% of the people I talk to say yes!
What’s your portfolio and website?
I’ll drop them both, but they’re still a work in progress; I’m learning how to do all of this!
Website: https://dejahpowell.com/new-gallery
Portfolio: Regular (https://canva.link/qn0zbjim6xz6j2f) and Wedding/Engagement (https://canva.link/mpqgwivhyb7yi8d)
Final thoughts?
Photograph… a lot. And reflect on your photos (e.g., how is the photograph, what would you do differently). I reached out to a photographer (Alison, amazing!) on IG to assist with weddings and engagements and shadowed her over the summer! It was a great way to learn her process and build my portfolio. I’ll walk around NYC and find people I'd like to photograph. I also will photograph at events for friends or weddings to get as much experience as I can.
Always learning: I try to spend 2-3 hours on photography each day; that includes reading books/photo books, going to classes in NYC, watching YouTube videos, writing ideas for projects in my photo journal, and most importantly, getting out and photographing.
Goals: My current photo goals? Work on a photobook (mostly to get better at curating and bringing my photos together into something) and learn studio photography (e.g., using strobe lights, setting up lighting).
Take classes! In NYC, Penumbra Foundation, Photodom, and the International Center of Photography (ICP) have great classes. I’ve taken a B&W Darkroom and Studio Lighting course in person at ICP.
Keep a photography journal! I have one, where I put in my favorite photos, my photography goals, quotes, fun tips I see on Instagram, and my own photos.
Mentorship: Since I’m in school, I have a mentor (Sara Hylton). She has been so helpful at giving me feedback on photos, helping me set goals, and helping me through my school photo essay project.
Print your photos!! I use mPix, but there are a ton of places that print.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading! There’s so much I wanted to touch on (my digital workflow, editing, my daily practices, thinking through a project, my experiences in school) that I couldn’t, but maybe a post for later!
