Ana Triantafilou is a long time customer, Film Club Member and Student Ambassador! You have probably seen her photos featured on our Instagram and in our gallery. She has been a great presence within the photo and PhotoLounge community so we thought it was time to get to know her a bit more and see what she likes about photography.
PL: What got you interested in film photography?
AT: Both my parents are disgustingly good at photographing their lives and I used to bury myself in their albums for hours admiring their film. I was intimidated by the medium, but my artistically genius friends all started dipping their toes in the film pool of possibilities and encouraged me to jump… I finally did and now I’m hooked.
PL: What type of camera do you shoot with, and what kind of film do you usually use?
AT: I use my dad’s 1985 Minolta Maxxum 7000 and the Pentax IQZoom 900. I gravitate towards saturated colors, so lately my number one honey has been Kodak Colorplus 200, I find it reliable and fun. However, I am no stranger to the sweet temptation of a Portra 400 roll here and there.
PL: Many of your photos are of people. What do you enjoy about photographing people? What is challenging about it?
AT: The most challenging part of photographing people is reminding myself that they do not have the same mind as me. When I give directions I can be vague and say “move there” or “turn like this”, so my models move in a way I hadn’t planned. However, this leads them to their instinctual pose. Where does their body feel comfortable taking them with the subtle guidance that I can provide? When my models and friends have the ability to pose in a way that makes them feel the most confident, that glow reflects in the shot- that creative collaboration is why I love shooting people.
PL: There are a mix of candid as well as posed/planned photographs. What do you enjoy about both approaches to taking pictures?
AT: I love candids because I can capture the energy of my surroundings that spoke to me in that moment. It’s really exciting to feel that spark of impulse when capturing a candid moment. Posed/ planned photographs are exhilarating for me because they allow me free range on the creative process. I get to brainstorm sets, hair styles, make up, clothing, and overall creative direction with fellow artists.
PL: Many of your photos also have a strong composition. When photographing, what are you thinking before you click the shutter?
AT: The shot needs to pass an intuitional vibe assessment. Good feeling? Press it. Not so good feeling? Change it up, move around. Film has allowed me to form a fresh and intimate relationship with my instincts. I am the only one who knows what I like, so I have to trust that feeling.
PL: Out of all of these photos, which one is your favorite and why?
AT: My swimmerinas, the 50s inspired pool shot with the flower swim caps. This shoot was an idea we had had for so long and it really scratched a creative itch. The vibrancy of the shot mimicked the vibrancy of that day, playing dress up with my best friends in the summertime. What more could a girl ask for?
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