The Sunday interview: 5 questions for SlowChemical

Today I will present SlowChemical, the author of mega pixels don’t matter. SlowChemical is a photographer with a focus on instant photography and portraiture.

1. Why photography?

To preserve instants... Isn't the present just an infinite wave of instant moments crashing on the beach?

My camera and I are out here to capture, memorialize and share those moments with the world, and by extension of the world: Substack.

2. What is your favourite gear? (camera, lens)

As an instant film photographer the Polaroid Now+ Generation 2 i-Type Instant Camera is my favorite and does most of the heavy lifting.

I bought it from a teenager on Facebook marketplace after I broke my last Polaroid camera making TikToks. I do my scanning with an Epson Perfection V600 (the name is misleading, it is far from perfect). I have deep personal connection to the Polaroid medium, which is why I am willing to make the financial and creative commitment to them, instead of to Fujifilm's Instax line. There's a charm to their imperfect nature and I think as I get older I try to find ways to embrace flaws. Life is far from perfect.

The digital photos I shoot are either on my Android phone or my Nikon Z6 ii mirrorless camera.

3. What are your favourite subjects to photograph?

I primarily view myself as a portrait photographer. Of all the folks I have had the opportunity to photograph, by far, would be Ruby and Andy (internet pseudonyms).

I've known Ruby for almost a decade now and count her as one of my closest friends. When I met her I would have said that my life was in a period of growth; I was out and about, meeting people and taking their photos. It was a good time. Creating with Ruby (she is a talented photographer in her own right) was very much a collaborative effort, we shared our inspirations with each other and built our images from there. Eventually our collaboration slowed down as our adult lives got in the way, Ruby would move cross country as well. Though we haven't been able to shoot these last few years, I still count her as a close friend.

My collaboration with Andy syncs up with a rough patch in my life, during the pandemic. She and I came together and started creating after she had a falling out with a mutual friend. During the lockdown part of the pandemic we had a standing appointment to shoot, every weekend. Which we followed through on for nearly a year. We made so much exciting work. Honestly, it was the highlight of my pandemic experience. Unfortunately I see my collaboration with Andy as complete; I landed in the hospital a few summers ago and I stopped hearing from her.

4. Can you name a few of your favourite photographers?

Off the top of my head: Francesca Woodman, Nobuyoshi Araki and Shelbie Dimond. There's been more than a few others that drift into and out of my sight on the internet over the years, but let's go with those three at the moment.

Woodman's portraits are immaculate, both in style and execution. Though her career(and life) were short, her work is quite impactful. She is one of Ruby's favorite photographers as well.

Araki is wild. His work is very diverse; from formal to primal too perverse to candid. I really can't think of a motif he hasn't tackled. His best work definitely tilts towards mature themes but also has some deeply personal points to it ("Love On The Left Eye" for instance).

Another contemporary photographer that I love, and follow on every platform is definitely Shelbie Dimond. Her lore (an ex-mormon living and creating abroad) is as captivating as her work as a photographer. Most of her work revolves around self portraiture, but she has an amazing touch when working with models as well. She shoots a lot of instant film as well.

5. What can Substack community expect from you/your publication in the future?

In the literal sense: Substack can expect a post from me, every Monday, forever. I have more than two years worth of material sitting in my drafts. It just needs to be filled out and polished, before posting.

In the emotional sense: I think the Substack community can expect my unique visual style as well as my candor about all things that are adjacent to photography as well. I mean the process of making photos isn't just about making photos; it is about the people you meet, the techniques that inspire you, the platforms you share it on (who interacts with it as well).

Hopefully my Substack shares my growth as a photographer and as a person.