Folio: Kiernan May

In architectural photography, I’ve always found the primary challenge is balancing technical accuracy with mood and atmosphere. I eventually moved to a view camera because it provided a natural bridge between these two. There is a fascinating juxtaposition to me between the ultra precision of a view camera and the organic and somewhat loose nature of film’s chemistry.

I’ve found the setup offers the ability to chase a stillness and dimensionality that you just can’t replicate elsewhere. There is a rounded softness when it comes to rendering objects, almost like the image is coloured in on paper. Film also really helps take the edge off the harsh Australian light. In a world moving more and more towards convenience, I find it refreshing to lean into a more deliberate, physical process.

While I send my film to a lab for processing, I handle the digitisation myself. I’ve been working on a custom setup that uses a modified precision rail on a copy stand, a custom-built, colour-specific light source, and 3D-printed parts to get the results I’m after. It’s an ever-evolving system, much like photography itself. I’m constantly learning and tweaking things to see how much further I can explore this balance.

All work captured on an Arca Swiss 6×9 F-Metric with 6×7 Film back.