Interview with RAFFAELA FEHREKAMPF, GERMANY

I always prefer film over digital.

I'm excited to have you here, Raffaela. Please share with us a bit about yourself and your exciting journey into film photography.

Raffaela: My name is Raffaela and I'm from Germany, but am currently living in the Canary Islands. When I got to school my parents got me my first point and shoot camera and since then I always liked to capture moments and having a camera with me.

What type of film do you use and what camera do you use it with? Why do you prefer these?

Raffaela: For the medium format I usually use Portra 160 for colour and for black and white Rollei RPX 400. For my 35mm camera i use whatever I can get in my hands. I also have a lot of expired films, like this you never really know how the results end up. pretty much always with me I have my Cnon A1 and my absolute favorite to use is the Hasselblad 501cm, which I could use before from my university. So at the moment I usually just shoot 35mm.

What do you think film has that digital doesn't have?


Raffaela: It has another depth, more structure. Makes the moments look more special a lot of times.

Do you print your own photographs or are you comfortable having them printed in a lab?

Raffaela: Did both, but I am actually not printing too much. When you print on your own it's always great that you can get exactly the result you want.

What motivates you to continue making photographs with film? Have you learned anything about yourself through film photography?

Raffaela: Always preferred it over digital and still always excited for the moment when you finally have the negatives in your hands to see first results. I think everything you like doing helps you to learn about yourself, so I probably did.

Are there any photographers that influenced your way of making pictures?

Raffaela: Not in particular, always liked to watch film photographers and went to a lot of exhibitions but to be honest I'm also pretty bad with names and just try to make the pictures in my own way and how I see the moment I want to capture.

Do you see any value or merits shooting with film?

Raffaela: Maybe choosing more wisely what you take a picture of and collecting these special moments.

What do you think your future is like with film photography?

Raffaela: As long as they are sold I will always prefer film over digital, but for some work projects I also combine it.

Do you have any dream film photography project?

Raffaela: Not in particular, but having time to travel is always a good inspiration and the time I'm taking most photos.

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?


Raffaela: I would just start with an easy model, maybe get a camera from the flea market, read about it and try out! Will always get better and you can discover it.

Plenty of photographers around the world are finding ways to keep themselves busy during this lockdown, and coming up with activities to make self-isolation a bit more interesting. What are your ways to keep busy while you have to stay at home?

Raffaela: Cooking a lot, watching movies, trying to do some sports and experimenting with the beamer and some lights in the nighttime with some photos and videos, but mostly digital. My flat unfortunately doesn't have a lot of sunlight and in Spain we cant go out yet.

Anything you want to add, Raffaela? Future exhibits, projects you're currently busy with? Anything…

Raffaela: Unfortunately, the project and jobs I had planned are all cancelled for now, so anything is waiting for the virus to stop and hopefully some new projects.

Pleasure having you here sharing your thoughts with us. Looking forward to your project, Raffaela. Keep safe!

Follow Raffaela on Instagram and let's go check her work here as well.

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Be considerate. All photographs shown on this page are the sole property of Raffaela Fehrekampf. She devoted her time, and worked hard making these photographs. You know very well it's wrong to copy, download, reproduce, reprint, modify, distribute, publicly display, license, transfer or sell content retrieved from this page in any way, for any public or commercial use or to any commercial source, including other websites, without prior written permission of Raffaela Fehrekampf. Be good. 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 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