Customer Showcase #6

Customer Showcase #6

Hi everyone, 

It has been a while since I have done a showcase showcase. But Alex was such a fan of the Noir collection, I had to get him to complete one. If you would like to be featured, do reach out. 




1. Firstly, who are you and how long have you been shooting film? 
My name is Alex Hayes, I’m an analogue and digital photographer currently based in North West London. Over the past twenty years I bought and sold essentially every mirrorless digital camera on the market, searching for a meaningful and authentic photographic experience, and it was this search that brought me to shooting film. I started shooting film about three years ago, and in that time have also worked for a film development and processing company which has been an awesome experience. 
2. What camera/s do you use? 
I have four main film cameras, all of which serve slightly different purposes. My main and favourite camera is a Nikon F3HP. I also use a Nikon f100 when autofocus is required, Olympus Mju Panorama for when I need something pocketable, and a Yashica Mat 124G for when I want the medium format look or boost in IQ.
3. What is your photography style or what is it you like taking photos of? 
One of the major bonuses of photography is that you can have creative flexibility across both style and subject. I started as a landscape photographer, trying to find the most beautiful parts of the world lit by the most amazing light, but slowly my interests and style have evolved to include street and urban photography, portraits, and sport and action.

4. What made you want to shoot This Is How I Roll Noir film? 
I first came across This Is How I Roll at the Photography Show, a great place to see photography companies and put a face to a business or brand. After an awesome chat at the stall, I purchased a few rolls of Noir in different ISOs to take away and try. At the time, I wasn’t sure if anything would beat Kodak 400TX in terms of my personal tastes for black and white 35mm film, but I was blown away by the beautiful tonality with just the right amount of contrast, whilst retaining sharpness across the frame. The film is also very reasonably priced given the quality. 
5. What tips would you give to people shooting Noir 400 for the first time? 
Noir 400 is my personal favourite of the Noir series, and it’s a fantastic street and urban photography film. It retains enough detail in the shadow and highlights to allow for the diverse lighting you find in cities, but has great punch to add drama to your images. As with any black and white film, composition and layering is even more important as you can’t rely on colour to draw the viewer’s eye. 

6. What is your next photography goal or experiment? 
One of the great benefits of photography as a pursuit is that you get a little bit better with every roll you shoot. At the moment, I’m still experimenting with the square format of the Yashica Mat 124G alongside the different depth of field of the medium format format. 
7. Tell me about the images you have included, how were they shot, where, what made you want to shoot them? 
The first image is of Kip, a beautiful Goldendoodle puppy who is actually the brother of my own dog. In a week of traditional English Summer rain, this was the one afternoon we got out to the beach and you can see the joy in his face at being in the great outdoors. Taken on Burton Bradstock beach, Dorset, on Noir 200. 

The second image was taken on Noir 400 in Central London. One of my favourite activities is walking through London early on a Sunday morning as the city starts to wake. I love the Union Jack which gives the image place along with the traditional London buildings and the empty streets. 

The third image is the front of Buckingham Palace, taken in bright sunlight on Noir 400. I love the symmetry of the image, with the single guardsman breaking the pattern. I also feels it shows how Noir can work really well even harsh light. 

The fourth image was taken on the London Underground on Noir 400. I love the shared isolation of the two passengers, along with the graffiti that gives the image some addition depth. 
The fifth image was taken at the side of a canal near Watford. I’m not much of a car photographer, especially when you see the amazing work of specialist car photographers online, but I love the way that film can render old or run down vehicles. I love the contrast between the car and background, and the sharpness of the film allows you to see all the grunge and dirt. Shot on Noir 400. 


8. Where can people see more of your work?
My main instagram account is @alh00020 but you can also see my film work at @ah4_film 

 
9. What's one thing you wish you knew when you first started that you wish you could tell your past self? 
Stop worrying about the gear you have! Another camera or lens won’t suddenly fulfil your photography dreams or make you amazing photographer. It’s fine to be interested in gear, that’s as much a part of photography as other aspects, but spend you time thinking about how to create innovative and unique projects and ideas and working out why you are drawn to them. You’ll create much better and more interesting images this way, rather than because you bought an f/1.2 lens…
10. Which thisishowiroll film stock are you next thinking of shooting? 
Can’t wait to shoot more of the Noir 400; it is such a versatile and beautiful film stock, and it helps me to create the images I want to make. 
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