Australian-born photographer Nick Prideaux currently calls Paris home. Influenced by his father from documenting family scenes, Nick persists the commitment in indulging by using 35mm film as his medium of choice to shoot.
Playing with light, shadow, colour, he has developed an eye for capturing genuine and sensual moments of everyday life. We can’t help but liner on his diaristic documentation on the sprawling minutiae of life that reminds us that we are all living in an imperfect world that is beautiful.
Hi Nick! Would you mind telling us about your photographic background. How did your journey into the world of photography begin?
I started with photography (like many) because of my parents, particularly my father. He was always taking photos on family trips and I was curious about the idea of documenting something in this way as I was always such a ‘visual’ kid. When I had the chance to take photography classes in high school I really took a shine to it and started shooting my friends and my life. I went on to work at a Kodak film lab as a part time job before deciding to study Film and Screenwriting in university. I found my way back to photography after moving to Tokyo in 2011 and it’s been a full time part of my life since.
You devote your shootings exclusively in 35mm analogue film. How did your passion for analogue approach begin?
It began with darkroom classes in high school. The process of film photography really interested me and I thought the idea of seeing the journey from film to print was interesting. I switched to digital photography when I moved to Japan but could never really find my ‘look’ within the work I was producing. It just seemed really flat and uninteresting. At that time though I was noticing a few photographers I really admired were still shooting film so I switched back and a new world of possibilities opened. I suddenly had my own little voice within each frame.
You once said that your photography is about subtraction. Your works represents a certain visual storytelling that captures daily life moments. Would you tell us the importance to include such idea into your works? And are there other things that you look for in your content?
I think it is just born from the original idea that I was shooting everyday to remain inspired. I subscribe less to that concept nowadays but I still try and glean moments from my day to day life that stick out and steal my attention. For me, I have to be on the lookout – I have to be curious because as soon as I stop seeing those little fleeting moments it’s because I’m in some kind of creative rut. I’m taking much less photos lately and I’m OK with that because I hate to feel like something is being forced out of me – it just has to come naturally and mindfully.
What type of film camera(s) do you normally use? And do you have a favourite one?
I mostly use simple point and shoots, but mainly a Konica Hexar. Is there a photographer that you admire and would like to collaborate with? I’m a huge fan of Wolfgang Tillmans.
Show us your favourite work. Can you tell us the story behind it?
This is one of my favourite shots I took last year. France was in an 8 week lockdown during spring and this photo was taken just after it lifted and we could go outside again. It was a beautiful moment in an empty field about 1 hour outside of the city, I felt free again and happy to be taking photos.
Check Nick Prideaux’s work here!
