Honest. Advocate: Daniela Pastere

Daniela Pastere

Jurmala, Latvia - 2015
Zenit 11 camera, Kodak Ultramax 35mm film

Daniela Pastere is a twentysomething, born and raised in Riga, currently living in the beautiful city of Hamburg.
Fascinated by all things visual, whether it is photography, sculpture or illustration, she tries to capture life as she sees it.
She often wishes her camera would be light as a feather and a bit smaller, so she could never leave home without it.

Kemeri, Latvia - 2016
Zenit 11 camera, Kodak Ultramax 35mm film

The most common theme in her work is most certainly the relationship between human and nature.

Daniela talks about escaping to the wilderness, the dramatic change from our fast-paced environment with a constant exposure to stress and a never-ending information flow to the state of complete silence and stillness.

Hamburg, Germany. - 2012
Zenit 12xp camera, Kodak Ultramax 35mm film

“I like to portray the feeling of smallness and fragility of people in the face of Mother Nature: Their intimate, honest relationship with it while no one is around as they turn inward, look outward and enjoy the silence.”

— Daniela Pastere

Riga, Latvia - 2016
Zenit 11 camera, Kodak Ultramax 35mm film

“My biggest challenge is to capture the atmosphere in every photo, to deliver feelings even to those who do not hold any memories of the happening.”

— Daniela Pastere

Riga, Latvia - 2016
Zenit 11 camera, Kodak Ultramax 35mm film

“Film photography with its exquisite warm colors adds the nostalgic feel to the photographs and seems to fit my aim perfectly.”

— Daniela Pastere

Riga, Latvia - 2016
Zenit 11 camera, Kodak Ultramax 35mm film

In 2014 her work was featured in the RIGA SELF/PORTRAITS exhibition as part of the Riga 2014 European Capital of Culture programme.

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Honest. Advocate: James Haitchwai

James Haitchwai

James Haitchwai is a photographer, mixed-media artist, musician and writer. "Jack of all trades, master of none," as he likes to put it.

A product of Washington DC's punk scene, he approaches his photography with a do-it-yourself ethos. It is his firm belief that trial and error and a willingness to learn from one's mistakes are the best ways to develop as an artist.

James uses manual film cameras exclusively. His favorites are a Pentax K1000 and a Nikon FM3A with a broken light meter.
Kodak Portra and Tmax and drugstore color Fujifilm are his go-to films.
James prefers the simplicity and immediacy of this format over digital. He finds that without the option of digitally tweaking pictures later on, he experiences a more direct connection with his subjects.

These pictures were taken while aimlessly wandering around DC and Baltimore, MD 2013-2015. They are good examples of his spontaneous, instinctual approach to photography. 

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Honest. Advocate: Luisa Hübner

Luisa Hübner

Luisa Hübner was born 1988 in Germany.

She studied at the Friedl Kubelka school for artistic photography in Vienna / Austria.
Luisa alsp participated in several workshops led by international artists like Rinko Kawauchi, Antoine d‘Agata, Jessica Backhaus, among others.

She currently lives and works in Vienna / Austria. 

“I use my camera as a tool to explore my subconscious mind. Introspective, capturing visual associations.
Picturing contrasts of absence and presence, of hiding and revealing.

What I am showing is part of an alienated reality. The atmosphere conveyed is not concrete and thus providing space for own projections. Non-obvious, introverted and vulnerable.

I use the medium Polaroid as it adds something abstract and unpredictable to my photographs. Image errors as well as the fragility of the medium are integral parts of my work.”

— Luisa Hübner

Her work was displayed in a variety of exhibistion: Viva Polaroid [Fotoquartier Vienna / Vienna]; Sind im Vesch [Vesch / Austria]; Text:Bild / Bild:Text II [Fotogalerie Vienna / Austria]; Pas de deux [Kunst Haus Vienna / Austria]; Les ateliers [Les ateliers / France]

Luisa is also working on some book projects.

Website

Talking Analog with Li Hui

If you are into analog photography you have probably already seen Li Hui's work. We met up with the self-taught talent to find out more about her early days as a photographer and what inspires her work!

@ Li Hui

Since when do you remember yourself taking photos? What were your first impulses?

I grew up in Hangzhou, China. My father gave me a film camera when I was 10, but I didn’t take it seriously. I was really into video games and Japanese comics. Finally I picked up my film camera again in 2009 when I visited a friend in Germany and we started traveling together.

What excites you the most about being a photographer?

Taking pictures was more of a hobby to me. I never thought I could become a photographer. I think photography helps me to be more open to my surroundings, allowing me to explore the world in my own way.

Why do you prefer analog photography?

Experimenting with the natural reflection of light, the natural colors and the final surprise when you see the result!

Tell us about why you never photograph the faces of your models!

I used to be a very sensitive and shy person, which is one of the reasons I don’t take pictures of the faces. But it’s interesting that I found my models' body language often telling their true feelings.

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What do you want to say through your photographs?

Part of my work shows a world that stems from my own imagination. I compose the entire picture in my mind before I take it. I think my whole work is much more like a very long and silent movie. That’s what I thought of my work. People always say that good pictures tell stories. I rather prefer this approach.

Which camera do you use to take pictures?

Nikon FM2 is my main camera. It’s also my favorite camera.

How do you imagine your future?

Things are always changing. I’m not good at planning ahead. I just follow my heart. I’ve started a book project. My first one has sold out already. I’ve been busy with preparing the next one.

-Anastasia

© Li Hui

© Li Hui

See more of Li Hui's work on her website and Instagram!

HONEST. Advocate: Urizen Freaza

Urizen Freaza - Dobles

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Emulsion lift of color polaroid on monochrome polaroid
'Doble Luisa' - 2015

Urizen Freaza is a self-taught filmmaker and photographer, born in Tenerife, Spain in 1982.
Since 2010 he is based in Berlin, Germany.

In the past years Urizen took part in a variety of group exhibitions in the UK, as well as the United States. 2010 his work was featured in the ARTE documentary "Polaroid - magische Momente".
Urizen is no stranger to the Impossible Project and has won their "Face the Impossible" contest in October 2014. 

Some of his work can also be found in Filmshooters Collectiv's  "Fading From Memory".

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Emulsion lift of color polaroid on monochrome polaroid
'Doble Evelyn' - 2015

“To say an image consists of many layers sounds very obvious, but i do believe instant photography has one extra layer, which is the physical one.
Even more than film in general, polaroids are objects that you can hold.
When you see a polaroid you know the photographer, and most likely everyone appearing on it, touched it.
They passed it around and looked at it and reacted to it. It’s a fetish in the animistic sense of the word.”

— Urizen

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Emulsion lift of color polaroid on monochrome polaroid
'Doble Pablo' - 2015

“For the ‘hidden’ picture in the background only UV light was used.
This light found in the part of the spectrum invisible to the eye, was meant as a tool to look behind, to see what was hidden.
A portrait is by definition superficial, a two-dimensional representation of a person.
In order to show the person, one layer doesn’t suffice.”

— Urizen

Website

HONEST. Advocate: Victor Chen

Victor Chen

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Victor Chen, originally from Taiwan, has developed a passion to capture various moments, feelings and enthusiasm of people through his experience from traveling around the world.

He is taking advantage of his adept and wide perspective skills to project his creativity through his New York based photographs focusing on fashion, portraiture, and other documentaries. His adventurous yet attentive personality has granted him the privilege to notice details in nature and beauty that people often overlook around them. 

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Victor believes that through his unique and stylized work, he is able to deliver and share the remarkable and momentous moments of his life to his viewers while inspire them to recognize positive virtues and changes people can make through the lens of his camera.

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Currently attending Parsons the New School of Design majoring in Design and Technology, he is constantly obtaining knowledge to enrich both his personal and professional career in photography and film.

Website || Instagram

HONEST. Advocate: Soi Park

SOI PARK - Where Are We Going?

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2010 - Las Vegas, Nevada
4x5 large-format film camera

A native of Korea, Soi Park received a BA in Visual Information Design at Ewha Women's University in Seoul, Korea before earning her BFA at SUNY / Purchase College in New York.

She holds a MFA from the Yale School of Art where she was also awarded the Alice Kimball English Traveling Fellowship.

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2009 - Mashantucket, Connecticut
4x5 large-format film camera

“I often find myself in transient places, waiting for people to share those moments of awe and wonder, or silence.
My persistence act of taking pictures might remains a fundamental question of human being and surrounding.

However, I believe that photographs itself surpasses of my intention.”

— Soi Park

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2010 - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
4x5 large-format film camera

Soi Park has been featured in Art Chicago NEXT 2011, New Insight by the Renaissance Society, and Spectra 2010 by Silvermine Art Center.

Since 2011, she has exhibited widely - Including a solo exhibition at the CUE foundation in 2013. This year she has been awarded an Engaging Artist Residency from the Mort Art, New York, NY.  

Website

HONEST Advocate: Fritz Lichtenwagner

Fritz Lichtenwagner

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Fritz Lichtenwagner is a photographer born in Vienna, 1994.
He prefers mechanical cameras without any batteries. To Fritz the process of developing film is more honest and authentic.
Using his Leica M2 (with Tri-x 400) or his little mju, he went from Austria to Romania, Croatia, Slovakia and Switzerland, bringing back this wonderful captivating photographies.

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“The human, lost in his environment and in the perception of others, fuses with his surroundings.
Lost in billion of humans, I like to capture the essence of his own.
Cut off from others, the illusion of isolation.
Just them, the humans on their own given priority.”

— Fritz Lichtwagner

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“I like giving focus to the people - with a clean and composed background.”

— Fritz Lichtenwagner

His next project is a book called "Kabelwerke".

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HONEST Advocate: Johams Leguisamo

Johams Leguisamo

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On the top. November 2013 - Panama 

Johams Leguisamo is from Panama City, where he works as graphic designer - but on weekends it's a different story: He tries to go out of the city to new places as often possible, where he gets inspiration for new projects. Johams started shooting film in 2009 with a toy camera and since then he has not stopped, it's second his nature now! When he goes skating with friends or travels around the country, his camera is  always with him - as well as some film rolls.

Cameras & Films Johams uses: Seagull 4a-103 and Fuji GW690ii || Kodak Portra 400 and Ilford HP5+

Los cajones. February 2015 - Panama 

“It is the best feeling in the world!
Shooting and not knowing what will be the outcome of it, cause it does not matter how much effort you put into getting the best out of your frames.
Film will always make it look even better!
It’s always Christmas when I get my negatives back.”

— Johams Leguisamo on why he chooses analogue photography.

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La Fortuna. February 2015 - Costa Rica 

Johams's work was shown in London, Rome and Panama as well as published in books and magazines in Australia, Mexico and Guatemala. Future projects will include a set of nude people in landscape with his 6x9 camera. We are excited to see more of his work!

Portfolio || Blog || Instagram

HONEST. Advocate: Oleg Koval

OLEG KOVAL

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Oleg Koval, was born in 1989 in Dier, Hungary, while he spent most of his childhood in Truskavets, Ukraine and is now living and working in Lviv, Ukraine. He started photographing in 2011, his main focus being documentary projects about the city he lives in and the ordinary life surrounding him. 

Oleg uses different cameras: Contax G2, Mamiya 645, Yashica T*, and a variety of color films: Provia/Velvia/Ektar.

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“Film photography is a great process of transferring the world on a physical, analog medium - not fixing it in a digital way.”

— Oleg Koval

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Oleg spent a lot of time in Poland and has published a photo book called '4,2km' in 2013.
In 2015 he published another photo book called 'Sicily'.

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HONEST. Advocate: Jakob Maul

Jakob Maul

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Budapest, Hungary 2013
Nikon F501, 50mm f/1.8 Tri-X 400

Jakob Maul is a 26 year old photographer from Vienna, Austria. He is no stranger to our HONEST. Tribe as he has filmed our videos and took our team photos! Here we want to show you the analogue side of his work. 
Jakob is mostly a portrait photographer, his favourite cameras are the Mamiya RZ 67 (with a 110mm f/2.8 lens) and the Yashica Electro 35 GSN.
 

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Vienna, Austria 2013
Nikon F501, 50mm f/1.8 Tri-X 400

“People feel less intimidated when being photographed with an old camera.
I don’t know if they take you less seriously or if it’s just a moment of adoration for the beautiful camera, but I feel like people open up way quicker and more easily when they’re being photographed with an analogue camera.”

— Jakob Maul

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Bratislava, Slovakia 2013
Nikon F501, 50mm f/1.8 Kodak Tri-X 400

Jakob grew up almost exclusively with digital and just began to explore analogue photography a couple of years ago. Analogue photography (despite being the older technique) is a new field for Jakob. A field he considers his playground, where he can experiment and explore more, because for him, a film camera is easier to handle.

Right now Jakob is working on a (digital) project about Burma. He was there for a month and really wants to go back to continue his project, probably taking his Yashica with him! 

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HONEST. Advocate: Vai Yu Law

VAI YU LAW

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Iceland - September 2014
Camera: Nikon FM2 ||  Film: Vista 200 / Vista 40 

Vai Yu Law is a fashion, portrait and travel photographer based in Toronto, Canada. She has been shooting professionally for 4 years.

Vai loves the colours, the mood, the grain and the rawness that analogue photography gives to photographs. During her trip to Europe, she wanted to remember the moment she took a photograph so she chose her Nikon FM2. 
Because it takes a few extra more seconds to capture a moment in film Vai feels that analogues are more memorable and that a story is attached to each picture. 

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Iceland - September 2014
Camera: Nikon FM2 ||  Film: Vista 200 / Vista 40 

“Iceland. I had grown interest in Iceland mainly through the influence of a band I adore, Sigur Ros.
I had dream of visiting there but never did, until last year in September.

In 2014, it was a pretty un-inspiring year for me as a photographer. Many things around me seemed tedious, and I felt my life was monotonous. The harder I sought out for inspiration, the further away I was from producing work that would make me happy.
I felt lost and I essentially wanted to leave Toronto, to go somewhere, anywhere. I booked my flight two months before flying, not realizing what I was doing to be honest. Was this the right time? I was going to be away for a month. ”

— Vai Yu Law

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Iceland - September 2014
Camera: Nikon FM2 ||  Film: Vista 200 / Vista 40 

“I was extremely busy up until the day of my flight. I still wasn’t sure what I was doing. I was unprepared and all I booked was a hostel in Reykavik, Iceland.
I planned most of my trip while I was on the plane. I was planning on travelling England, Spain, France and Denmark (but I made changes and went to Austria instead of Denmark), as well.

My trip changed me.
I found myself, again.
Once I had stepped foot on Iceland soil, my heart was filled with excitement. I felt I had made the right decision. Iceland is such a beautiful country and I know many people would agree. I wandered around a lot, finding beauty walking on silent streets in an unknown territory. The feeling of bliss trickled through my entire body. I felt revived, refreshed and ready to explore the world, and importantly, learn about myself again.
There’s never a right time to stop learning about oneself.
Always be true to yourself, go with your gut feeling and time wouldn’t be a factor when you’re living fully in the moment. ”

— Vai Yu Law

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Iceland - September 2014
Camera: Nikon FM2 ||  Film: Vista 200 / Vista 40 

Via Yu Law's but next analogue project will be shooting a lingerie and portrait editorial story.

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HONEST. Advocate: Tia Leino

TIA LEINO - MEMORY LANE

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Used in this project: Camera: Minolta XD-7 - lenses used were Vivitar 28 mm f 2.8 and Minolta MD Rokkor 50 mm f 1.4.  
Various color negative films: Kodak Ektar 100, Kodak Potra 800 and Fujifilm X-tra Superia 400.

Tia Leino was born in Lahti, Finland in 1977. Her interest in photography started during her first trips around Europe.
Tia has done various courses of photography in Italy and the UK. In 2009 she started a 3 years degree in photography at GrisArt, “Escuela Internacional Fotografia” in Barcelona, where she specialized in creating fine art projects. 

Tia currently works as a freelance photographer and is still passionate about film photography and old-school techniques. She lives and works in Barcelona.

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Used in this project: Camera: Minolta XD-7 - lenses used were Vivitar 28 mm f 2.8 and Minolta MD Rokkor 50 mm f 1.4.  
Various color negative films: Kodak Ektar 100, Kodak Potra 800 and Fujifilm X-tra Superia 400.

“Time flies and waits for no one. This is a retro-perspective and very personal photography project about my father, who passed away too early – from a stroke at the age of 53. It is my last words to him.
This series is all about time, life and death, and how the present meets the past. In this project I go back to my roots and construct my memory all over again, in order to not to forget, reflecting it to this moment and trying to make it remain forever.

“We exist as long as somebody remembers us” (Carlos Ruiz Zafón). The human memory is fragile and we do not have clear memories from most parts of our lives at all. When someone dies, one story is gone, only the interpretation remains. To be able to remember we need to tell a story.”

— Tia Leino

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Used in this project: Camera: Minolta XD-7 - lenses used were Vivitar 28 mm f 2.8 and Minolta MD Rokkor 50 mm f 1.4.  
Various color negative films: Kodak Ektar 100, Kodak Potra 800 and Fujifilm X-tra Superia 400.

“I prefer analogue photography for its authenticity.
For me, it has more feeling than digital shots, plus I like the tones and textures better than in digital.
Also, you never know the final result on before hand and it leaves space for surprises, as in life in generally.
I didn´t want to amend the reality with any kind of postproduction, you need to take and accept things as they are.
For this project particularly, I chose analogical method because it made me easier to reflect the past and the nostalgia.
Film grain also reminds me of memory, something very fragile made of thousands of pieces.
As result, the images are not perfect but nor they are supposed to be.
The camera is old and it has gained dust etc, but that suits in the nature of the project.

I welcome casualty and coincidence, which also make a big part of our life. ”

— Tia Leino

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Used in this project: Camera: Minolta XD-7 - lenses used were Vivitar 28 mm f 2.8 and Minolta MD Rokkor 50 mm f 1.4.  
Various color negative films: Kodak Ektar 100, Kodak Potra 800 and Fujifilm X-tra Superia 400.

All images of this project have been taken on film and no kind of digital postproduction is involved. The original and complete work of art is a handmade book. Here selected images are part of it and they have been on display in various exhibitions in Spain. 

This series was created during the years 2011 and 2012 and published in 2012.

Website || Instagram

HONEST. Advocate: Mathias Baumgart

Mathias Baumgart

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Praktica MTL 5B; Film: Fuji Superia 200
Flugplatz Tempelhof - Berlin, Germany
March 2013

Mathias Baumgart is a 26 year-old photographer living and working in Vienna, Austria.
In his work he switches between exploring the digital image creation process, which the 21st century has brought us, and observing his direct surroundings with an old-fashioned analog camera.

Mathias is fascinated by the potential of abstraction in film photography. Using standard methods like framing, exposure control and the development process he creates images that refer to the world in the form of shapes, shadows and silhouettes.
In a sceptical approach Mathias questions the theory of photographs as objective reproductions. He tries to use new ways of seeing reality through a lens and on a flattened, composed and eventually manipulated picture – even without the need of modern post production tools.

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Praktica MTL 5B; Film: Fuji Superia 200
Flugplatz Tempelhof - Berlin, Germany
March 2013

“I like the grip and the textured look an analog photograph has - digital images often look too smooth. Working with “real” photographs, actually holding one in your hand after you’ve developed them has always been more pleasing for me.

The fact that I am limited to only 36 images has also helped me work more thoughtfully and to be more precise.”

— Mathias Baumgart

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Praktica MTL 5B; Film: Fuji Superia 200
Flugplatz Tempelhof - Berlin, Germany
March 2013

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HONEST. Advocate: Mia Berg

Mia Berg - I Looked For You In Every Field 

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Shot on Nikon F-100, 35mm Nikon Portra NC film 
2007

Mia Berg uses photography and video to explore the relationship between the human and the natural environment. Enacting a conversation with light, distance and gesture, Berg and her partner incorporates their bodies into her compositions as an extension of their environment, invoking a dialogue on human coexistence with the natural world.

The two figures create a cinematic space that examines ideas of intimacy and symbiosis in relationships between humans and those with nature. Nature and love are an inseparable dyad- Berg’s introduction of human love into her relationship with the natural environment tests the capacities of the heart to maintain ones innermost desires and needs within a primal and fluid relational context.

Berg received a BFA in Photography from Parsons School of Design in 2007 and currently works and resides in Brooklyn and Springs, NY. 

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Shot on Nikon F-100, 35mm Nikon Portra NC film 
2007

“This body of self portrait work is autobiographical and represents my experience. 
I find myself and my partner to repeatedly be the subject of my work because the process of creating each image requires a very in-the-moment interaction with the environment and each other. 
The image records the experience as it plays out. 
It is not a complete work to me if I am only behind the lens observing and recording, I am also an active participant. 
The creation of the work allows for both thoughtful and unconscious introspection, allowing me to evaluate and internalize what is important to me. 
There is a large emphasis today on living in the cultural and creative facilitator of the city structure, which has left the human need for and attention to nature undervalued and neglected. 
It’s easy to forget how important it is not only to preserve but to experience the elements we came from.
Like the Romantic painters of the late 19th century responding to the Industrial Revolution and social and scientific rationalization, I hope people will again remember the richness and sublimity of communing with nature. 
The heartbreak of destroying so much of our natural world is inversely manifested in a need for human love and compassion- not just romantically but universally.”

— Mia Berg

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Shot on Nikon F-100, 35mm Nikon Portra NC film 
2007

“Working with film affects my creative process in a way that lends itself to a more thoughtful still image.  My digital work has a completely different process, focus and tone.  I have also never found a way to digitally replicate the poetic richness of film.”

— Mia Berg, when asked about her choosing analogue photography

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