Georgia has some great photographers.  Despite being competitors, we all can learn a great deal from each other in one aspect or another. This is the second in a series of interviews with Atlanta area photographers.

As with my first interview, the photographer I selected to interview was one that I barely know.  I have only met Otto once on a photo stroll.  Prior to meeting Otto I had stalked his Flickr stream on a more than regular basis.  Sure, he uses a wide array of cameras, shoots film, and that is all impressive.  What captivated me the most was his control of composition, creating mood, and seeing what other people would not see. It was only natural to shoot off a couple questions his way.

Above: “The asylum series: 4″; Emory Asylum Briarcliff Campus in the solarium, Holga 120N with Fuji PRO800Z film

According to your bio, you received your first SLR when you were in high school, but only until a few years ago, you really started to get serious about it.  Did you have an interest in photography before high school or was it something that developed later?

Not really.  Neither of my parents was really into photography, so somehow in high school I decided I wanted an SLR, a Canon AE-1, I think.

For those that do not know, you have in your possession quite a collection of cameras including: Hasselblad 501CM chrome, Pentax 67 camera, Yashica Mat 124 TLR, Ansco Super Speedex folder, 3 Holga 120Ns + Polaroid back, Diana+, Diana #151, Banier, Diana clone, Agfa Clack, Ilford Sporti, Golden Half, Vivitar Ultra Wide & Slim, Great Wall DF-2, Zero Image Multi-Format Zone Plate, Pinhole PinHolga, Lomo LC-A+, Kodak Duaflex, Kodak Brownie Hawkeye, Ansco Anscoflex II, Polaroid SX-70 Sonar, Polaroid 600SE, Mamiya 645 Super, Mamiya Super 23 Press, Canon EOS-3,  and a Canon EOS 20D dSLR.  Am I missing anything?

No, that pretty much covers it.  I already have my eye on another camera though. :)

Above: “Bleeding Light”; Lomo LC-A+ with Fuji Superia 1600 color film

With a collection that large, how do you select what camera (or cameras) you take with you to use?

I don’t really have any rhyme or reason.  I will usually like to take one “nice” camera and then a couple of my basic cameras.  Sometimes I’ll try to pick a camera that I haven’t used in a while or I’ll get into a run with one particular camera and use it often.  I almost never take just one camera…I like to have a choice when I’m out.  That usually means I’ve got two camera bags with me, plus a tripod.

If you had to get rid of your entire collection except for one camera, which one would you keep?

I’d have to say my Hasselblad.

What is it about that camera that you prefer over everything else you have shot with?

The Hassy is a fantastic camera.  The quality is amazing and it takes terrific images.  I just love using it.

Above: “Somewhere a desk is lonely (lith version)”; Holga 120N using Rollei Retro 100 B&W film, developed in Rodinal 1:50, scanned lith darkroom print on Forte warm tone paper.

Why film?

Now that’s a difficult question.  I’m not really anti-digital (although I have ragged on friends about shooting digital but just in fun).  When I shot digital, I enjoyed it, but then I started acquiring some medium format film cameras just to try them.  And I was blown away by the quality and detail in the negatives.  The more I got into it the more I connected with the results that I was getting with film vs. digital.
Given that you are primarily a film shooter, what challenges have you run into because of that?  What advantages do you feel you have over digital?

Challenges?  You don’t get the immediate feedback that you get with digital…well, except for when shooting my Polaroid cameras.  You don’t know if you got the shot(s) that you wanted until you look at the developed film.

I know you scan your work so that you have digital versions of your shots.  How much post processing is done to your shots?

Not much.  There are just some standards steps that I perform (contrast, dodge/burn), usually quick and easy.  What might take the most time is cleaning up a scanned negative.  Some of my old cameras or even the newer plastic ones will scratch negatives or the negatives or scan might show dust, etc.  I had more problems with that with my old scanner.  I just got a dedicated film scanner (Nikon LS-8000) and I’m getting the cleanest scans I’ve ever gotten from it.

Above: “An impression of a tower 4″; Canon EOS-3 using Lensbaby Composer lens with plastic lens insert with Kodak Tri-X 400 B&W film developed in Rodinal 1:50.

With regards to post processing, what are your thoughts on post process work in general? Does it detract from photography and push it into another medium?

I don’t have any problems with post processing.  People have been post processing the whole history of photography, so I don’t really see any issue.  Just the tools have changed.  There are times that it’s taken so far that it doesn’t feel like photography to me anymore, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t art.  Note: I’m making these statements about fine art photography.

What is your biggest challenge with shooting film?

The time commitment.  You have to understand that once you’ve taken the images you have to get the film developed (or do it yourself), and then print the images in the darkroom (quite time consuming, but oh so satisfying) or scan the negatives and process them.  Certainly a different path than just pulling the files off your memory card.

Much of your body of work is void of people. What do you find appealing about the abandoned and weathered locations?

I like finding beauty in the ordinary and flawed.  And looking for the echoes of the people that did inhabit the spaces.

In reading your interview with PetaPixel, your advice for new photographers is to “ learn what I call the art of slowing down. Give thought to each shot; take your time understanding the composition, focal length, etc.”  Some are eager when they hit a location to start shooting.  How do you approach a new spot to photograph?

Unless I’m prohibited due to the nature of a location (like say a walk through the woods), I like to walk around a space (usually with my cameras still in the bags) to get a feel for it.  There have been times where I’ve been someplace for half an hour and not taken my cameras out yet.  And then I start taking my cameras out and just start exploring.  Since I usually shoot medium format, I’ve only got at most 15 shots on a roll, usually 12 in the 6×6 format that is my most common.  That right there doesn’t lend itself to shooting tons of images.  It kind of forces me to be deliberate with my approach, that and the cameras that I’m often using, old manual cameras requiring an external light meter.

Above: “Missing”; South Atlanta industrial area; Canon EOS-3 using Arax tilt-shift lens with Agfa Agfacolor 200 expired color film.

Where do you see your photography in 5 years?

I really have no idea right now.  :-)  Lately I’ve been on a more day-by-day approach.

Have you ever considered compiling your work into a book?

A book?  Yes, I’ve thought of it more than once.  Just need to find the time one day to get my thoughts about it sorted.

Lastly, where can people find more of your work, news, and updates online?

• My photoblog:  http://www.ottokphotography.com/
• My portfolio: http://portfolio.ottokphotography.com/
• Store: http://ottok.etsy.com/
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ottok-photography/38911142444
• Twitter: @ottokphoto http://twitter.com/ottokphoto