Interview with LÖIS DOROWSKY, FRANCE
I'm not a patient person. Film photography has taught me to become one.
Loïs, mind telling us about yourself and your story on how you got into film photography?
Loïs : My name is Loïs Dorowsky. I was born in France in 1985. I am a socially engaged person and always love observing people. I like to freeze little moments of life on film; taking pictures of people in their diversity is what I am looking for.
What type of film do you use and what camera do you use it with? Why do you prefer these?
Loïs: I do a lot of black and white photo and my favorite film is the TRI-X. When I work with color, I use Kodak. I have no preference. It is all about above all the price. There is not much choice where I live and it is quite expensive. I have a small preference for Agfa vista but they are not found here.
At the moment I work with a Minolta XG9 with a 28mm lens. I love the wide angles. I also have some compacts, especially for the street. I have a small Olympus AF super. I do not really have the means to invest in a better quality camera. One day I would find myself a rangefinder. These are the best cameras for me and they suit me best.
What do you think film has that digital doesn't have?
Loïs: I do not think that film is better than digital, or vice versa. I prefer film, because of its rendering and its imperfections. I also like the grain.
Do you print your own photographs or are you comfortable having them printed in a lab?
Loïs: I develop the photos myself in a small darkroom at my girlfriend's. Except for color. I do not have much choice, I go to a lab next to my home.
What motivates you to continue making photographs with film?
Loïs: I do not want to go digital again. I am satisfied with my latest results. I have the rendering I have been looking for a long time. I learned to shoot less when I'm out in the streets and pay more attention when I frame. I feel more free and calm. I learn to be patient with film. I'm not a patient person. Film photography has taught me to become one.
Are there any photographers that influenced your way of making pictures?
Loïs: Oh yes, a lot. It is quite wide but I love the street photographers of the last century. Moriyama for example. More generally, the majority of PROVOKE photographers. Araki too. Lately Ren Hang or Jacob aue Sobol. I also love reporters such as Patrick Zachmann. His way of working, especially in his series in China, using an old telemetry and black and white while others worked in color and reflex, it speaks to me a lot.
The cinema also influenced me a lot. That's what brought me to photography. Filmmakers such as Tsukamoto Shinya and his film Bullet Ballet made me look like a bomb.
Do you see any value shooting with film?
Loïs: I do not think there is merit to shooting with film. It is a style, a different way of doing things.
What do you think your future is like with film photography?
Loïs: I would continue to shoot with film as long as there are films. And I do not worry about the future of the film. Kodak or others come back into the dance. The future is bright.
What’s your dream photography project?
Loïs: I would like to travel to Asia to do street photography. I love the great megalopolis—Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok. This will be my next step.
Would you like to offer some good words to those who want to try film photography for the first time? What must they learn before venturing into this format?
Loïs: I do not know if I can give advice. We have to get going. There are many cameras on the internet in good condition. There is more to do.
Cheers for sharing your knowledge with us, Loïs. You have an excellent set of photographs as well.
Follow Loïs on Instagram. But before that, you might want to drop by his Behance first and check some of his photographs there.
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Be considerate. All photographs shown on this page are the sole property of Loïs Dorowsky. He devoted his time, and worked hard making these photographs. It's seriously wrong to copy, download, reproduce, reprint, modify, distribute, publicly display, license, transfer or sell content retrieved from this page in any way without prior written permission of Jean-Loïs Dorowsky. You don’t want to go to jail, do you?
Well now, if you are a passionate film photographer and would like to be interviewed? I’d love to hear from you. Send me an email at mapamelvin@gmail.com with the subject, "Interview me", and share everyone your story, thoughts, and work related to film photography. I’ll get back to you as soon as I receive your request for an interview.
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Cheers!
Mel