We’re very excited to feature another member of the Negative Supply community, this spotlight featuring the wonderful work of Gabe Vega! Gabe has been shooting film for just over 3 years and has been creating exciting triptych style imagery, as well as some unique panoramic photography with his XPAN. His panoramic images were shot on a Hasselblad XPAN, scanned using the Film Carrier MK1, and stitched together in Photoshop. Check out the interview and his amazing photos below, and feel free to comment if you have any questions!

When did you start making photos with film?

“I have always had a passion for photography and have been shooting digital for over ten years. In just the past 3 years I rediscovered film and it has been my preferred form of photography since.” 

What or who inspires you to make your work?

“My inspiration has evolved over the years. For a long time I enjoyed taking photographs at concerts, which stems from my love of music and the industry. I have also travelled a lot and being exposed to so much has made me want to share these adventures through my eyes. As of recently, due to the social distancing requirements, my inspiration comes from capturing what I can find in isolation, such as old cars and abandoned buildings.” 

What formats do you use?

“I use all formats, however my favorite is medium format. My go to camera being the Pentax 67 and I love all the detail I am able to capture in my shots. I also really enjoy shooting half frame and panoramic.” 

Color or black and white, and why?

“I prefer shooting color because one of my favorite aspects of photography are the tones and colors. Some of my favorite films to shoot with are Portra 400 and Lomo 800. I do enjoy shooting black & white as well, especially on foggy days or if I’m trying to portray a certain mood. For black & white I typically shoot with Ultrafine Extreme 400 and HP5.”

Stylistic decisions (half frame, triptych, panorama)?

“I love all styles of photography, but recently I have really been appreciating half frames and creating triptychs. I enjoy being able to take into consideration the flow of each frame. Depending on my location, it can challenge me and make me push myself to see my surroundings in a new perspective.”

Do you develop yourself?

“Not at the moment, but I want to start soon! I have always wanted my own dark room and studio.” 

Are you working on any longterm body of work or photographic series you’d like to discuss?  

“I am still in process of experimenting with different cameras and film as I build my portfolio before I jump into any large scale projects. A small series I just completed was called “Beach Closed” which is in reference to the lockdown we have been experiencing.” 

What Negative Supply tools do you use, and how have they changed your workflow?

“I use the MK1 Film Carrier to digitally scan photos from home. Using the film carrier has been a game changer for me; I used to spend so much time setting up my negatives to properly scan, but with the MK1, it’s so easy and effortless. I can’t wait for the 120 Film Carrier to be released!”

We would like to thank Gage for allowing us to feature his fantastic work, and for using Negative Supply tools when scanning his images. If you’re interested in being featured on our blog, please send us an email via contact@negativesupply.co We can’t wait to see and share work from more of the Negative Supply community! Click the link below to learn more about the Film Carrier MK1 Gabe is using to digitize his work, and feel free to reach out with any questions you may have!

Warmly,
The Negative Supply Team