Interviewing Australian Film Photographer, Patrick Clelland

Patrick Clelland’s work is one-of-a-kind in the film community. His ability to capture nostalgia and passion can be seen throughout his photography. Shooting on 35mm film on his Olympus OM-2N, Patrick captures everyday objects and environments that most people tend to overlook. His photos draw out indescribable emotions of bitter warmth as you get lost inside the beauty of film. 

Why did you start taking photos?

I first started drawing and making pictures on a flatbed scanner many years ago. I don't really remember why—I was probably just bored and felt like creating something. At some point, using a camera just seemed like an easier and faster way of making pictures, and the possibility of doing this out of the house was pretty exciting to me.

From your photography, I see that you have travelled to a variety of different countries and areas. What aspects do you look for when you shoot in these new environments?

I don't plan trips too much. It's mainly about exploring a new place and seeing what I can find. But I am intrigued by broader visual cues mainly around built environments: architecture, colour schemes, textures, transportation, empty places, the old and abandoned, the weird, and so on.

How would you define the style of your photography? In other words, is there a common theme or concept to your photo collection?

Aside from a focused collection of images like a book, there isn't any overarching concept behind my work. My only aim is to create something visually intriguing. This often leads to dark and moody places, quiet moments, an attention to light and colour.

We live in a digital age. Why do you think film is important today and in what aspects does it differ from digital photography? 

Digital technology has made it much easier and faster to create images, as well as enabling a scale and speed of distribution that I'm not sure anybody twenty or thirty years ago really expected. Film itself might not be especially important, but there are reasons why it's on the rise and why so much digital photography attempts to imitate the characteristics of film. Images are what really matter; it's great that there are still plenty of ways we can create them.

What are you working on right now?

I'm working on a photo book covering my home town, Sydney. [I am] also [working on] some other projects shooting in people's houses, as well as in some creepy abandoned places.

Last question: Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers?

Spend time learning the basics from videos or user manuals. Spend more time finding out what interests you visually. Look at books, learn about photographers, watch movies, look around your environment and see what catches your eye. If you can, travel to other countries or even just other towns. And most of all, take photographs.

Patrick Clelland’s instagram account can be found here.

Here’s a sneak-peak to Patrick’s Sydney photobook project:

(Photography by Patrick Clelland)