He’s been chasing moments ever since he was handed a disposable camera for a school trip nearly three decades ago. These days, you’ll find him behind a film camera, capturing cars with character and stories to tell. His photos blend nostalgia, personality, and that unmistakable warmth of film — the kind that makes you wonder if you’re looking at a memory from yesterday or 30 years ago.
Age (or age range): 38
Where you live and/or where are you from?
New Zealand born and raised!
What is your earliest memory with a camera?
My mum bought me a disposable camera to take on a school camp trip almost 30 years ago. I still remember a lot of the photos I shot on that trip. My favourite was a photo of my friend, who was in the midst of taking a photo of me with his red Coca Cola camera. I was super chuffed with that one!
What drew you to photographing cars?
Back in the early 2010s I was part of a car crew here in NZ, ZeroFighter. We ran grass-roots level drift days at the local race track, and I'd take photos of the boys gettin’ sideways!
Did you learn photography through formal education or on your own? If you studied it academically, was it worth it and what was the most valuable thing you took away from it? If you’re self-taught, what has been your biggest challenge in the process?
I took photography for 2 years in high school, at a time where film was still somewhat prominent but digital SLR photography was becoming more affordable and mainstream. My class was the last (at my school) taught to shoot/develop film and create prints in the darkroom. The following year they went digital, so I consider myself lucky to have had that experience.
Is there a particular shoot or collaboration that you would like to make?
I'd love to collaborate more with photographers when I travel. I was recently in Thailand and went to a car meet in Bangkok, where I met some local Thai photographers. More of that would be cool!
What do cars represent to you beyond the machine itself?
As cheesy as it is, I think for myself (and probably most car enthusiasts), the car somewhat becomes an extension of its owner. You can see parts of a person's personality reflected in their car of choice, how they style/modify it and how they drive.
What’s your go-to film camera for shooting and what would be your dream film camera to shoot with?
My favorite is my 1984 LA Olympics Canon F-1, but I don't actually reach for it all that often. My go-to, funnily enough, is the cheapest camera I own, my Canon T70. It's got a great grip, settings are quick to adjust, the viewfinder is big and bright, takes AA batteries which are obviously available everywhere, and the film advance makes a hectic sound. Dream camera would have to be a Rolleiflex 2.8F, I wish I bought one when they were cheaper!
What challenges have you faced shooting on film?
Honestly, it's been pretty smooth sailing. I think it's much more accessible now than it was say 10 years ago so I'd have to say the biggest challenge now is that all the cameras I want are 10x the price they used to be 😅
How has your approach to photography evolved since you first started shooting film?
I just shoot what I like to shoot. Always have. My style has evolved over time, my compositions have improved etc, but I think my approach has remained the same.
How do you stay inspired when creativity feels low or stagnant?
This is something I'm actually dealing with right now! I went to Thailand in May and shot 12 rolls of film over 2 weeks. Since arriving back, I've only shot 1 roll, and haven't even finished it yet. I would say that motivation/creativity isn't constant, and it's fine to take a break. If you're passionate about the thing, you'll find your way back to it.
Which car have you been waiting to shoot and have yet to encounter?
New Zealand probably has the biggest range of cars in the world. I was fortunate enough to grow up surrounded by most of the JDM hero cars back when they were cheap and plentiful. I was never much into supercars and feel like I'm only just starting to appreciate them a bit more nowadays but it's the old school ones that tend to catch my eye. I'd love to shoot some 80s-90s Ferraris. A Testarossa, F355, 348 etc.
Have you ever completely messed up a roll? What happened and what did you learn from it?
I've never had a blank roll, but I once shot around 30 frames before realising that the sprocket holes didn't catch and the film wasn't advancing 😅 Always watch your film rewind crank (if you have one) as you advance your film, if it's not spinning, something is wrong!
What’s the boldest experiment you’ve done with your gear or style?
I don't know if this would count as an experiment as such, but I've always had a fascination with Kodak Aerochrome. It's notoriously unforgiving, very expired, and insanely expensive these days, but I just had to shoot my R32 GT-R on Aerochrome. Unfortunately I took around 5 shots of the car but only 1 developed.
f you could shoot only one film stock for the rest of your life, which one would it be?
Tough question. Probably Lomo 800. It's just so versatile!
What do you hope to transmit with your photographs?
Being a film shooter, I like the idea of evoking nostalgia, taking people back to a simpler time. My favourite photos often end up being photos that could pass as being from the 80s-90s
Is there anything that you'd like to promote? I.e. Your business website and what you do, other social channels, or projects you wanna promote?
Just my IG - @grainofmyexistence
