35mm Compact Photographer #17 – Sean Fisher

First, a bit of background? As much or as little as you are comfortable sharing… Name, Where you are from, what you do, What else in life do you enjoy? that sort of thing?

Hey,
I’m Sean Fisher and I’m from Aberdeen, Scotland. When I’m not working I enjoy to do many things in my free time, such as travel to new environments and places; it’s here where I take most of my photos. I enjoy having multiple different interests as you can always blend them together to get unique results by concocting different virtues. A few of my hobbies are designing, leather craft, woodturning, floorball, cycling and fixing bicycles.

How long have you been taking photos?

I’ve been taking photos for around 4 years now it started when I would borrow my families cameras to document occasions. Then my dad got me a compact digital camera for christmas, and I’d record what my friends and I got up to. I used to volunteer at Becycle a bicycle repair/recycle workshop and a few of the older guys would shoot film and I guess I wanted to as I thought it was cool. I bought my first SLR second off Gumtree, I slung it around my neck and off I went. Then I did some research online and bought a cheap compact, it was an Olympus XA2. I loved it; it could go everywhere and was super reliable.   I used to use photography as a medium for documenting what I had been doing and liked film because it was a surprise every time I got the film back. But then I took some night classes in darkroom photography and looked at as more of an art form. It was at this point I became slightly obsessed with gear and bought a lot more cameras. Now I’m starting to look up to photographers and read more on photography theory.

What sort of photography do you enjoy or partake in the most (street, landscape, etc)?

I take mostly travel photos when travelling I seem to find everything more interesting so it’s a mixture of street and landscape.  I’m very interested in all areas particularly documentary which is what I’ll hopefully be focussing on this year. However I feel like I don’t have enough time to truly dedicate myself to a focused photography project. I plan on reviewing my photos from 2015, and seeing what area I seem to shoot most and working on it.

Which is/are your favourite 35mmc compact/rangefinder cameras?

I use the Contax T2 and Leica m6. I’ve had the Contax T2 for over a year and I recently just got the Leica M6 around a month ago.

How big a part of your photography life are 35mm compact cameras/rangefinders?

The cameras I use vary but it probably goes something like this  20% SLR, 25% iPhone, 20% Compact, 25% Rangefinder and  10% Medium Format. However this is beginning to change as the Leica M6 is the only camera that I carry around with me.

What about the experience of shooting with these cameras appeals to you?

The ability to pull it out from your pocket and snap in under 5 seconds is great in terms of the Contax T2 . But the electronics just make me wary as it seems delicate.  To have the Leica slung around your neck and take hip/waist shots on the sly is also wonderful the quietness of the M6 is what appeals to me the most. I love the process of developing your film and then making prints from it. Physical motions are much better then virtual ones.

How do you feel they have effected your style? become part of it? or are the reason for it…?

I don’t believe that the cameras have really effected my style. I still take the same style of photos, but maybe these allow me to be more elusive, unseen and not to be looked at as a photographer.

What is it specifically about these cameras that appeal to you so much?

Using the Contax T2 is great, the sharpness and colour is so good and the automatic flash is amazing. The design is also wonderful to look at and use. The Leica m6 is a joy, fully mechanical, except from the light meter, it is amazing you’re at one with it and you trust it fully. The design is awesome too.

What was the path to this shooting habit? How did you discover it appealed to you?

I love 35mm compacts as I guess there always there and can shoot with them whenever as it’s always in my jacket pocket. Recently I got a film back that was in my Contax T2 for 5 months remembering all these little moments were great. Rangefinders are great too, the ability to slyly take photos of your friends in the moment without them knowing. You have a connection with the camera, it’s an extension of your arm. You become at one with it, knowing what and how it will perform, it’s such great feeling.

Instagram- @aseanfisher Tumblr- seanalexanderfisher.tumblr.com

Show us your favourite/best images taken with a compact or rangefinder camera?

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