The Sunday interview: 5 questions for Razlyn Lysaught

Today I will present Razlyn Lysaught the author of Finding Whimsy. Razlyn is a digital and film photographer.

1. Why photography?
Simply put, to remember.
Life is a vapor, and you never know when all you'll have left is a picture of someone or something that no longer exists.
I became fascinated with photography when I was ten. My uncle always had a camera on him during family gatherings, and he seemed to love taking pictures, which intrigued me. So, I asked my mom to buy me a camera, and she did.
From then on, I was "the girl with the camera." No one in my immediate family cared to take pictures, so I became the photographer documenting every moment in our family's life.
When my dad passed away in 2006, photography became my purpose when I witnessed its power to freeze memories of the people we love most. All the pictures I took of my dad became pivotal in the grieving process for me and my family. Many of those photographs held memories I completely forgot about. I was fascinated by the finitude of my memories and how much I had forgotten, but I was so thankful I had photographs to help me remember.
Since then, I've made it my mission to document as much of my life as possible, not just for myself but also to share with others. Photography is my way of creating a visual archive of everything I love, my experiences, and all the important things I don't want to forget.

2. What is your favourite gear? (camera, lens)
If I could only choose one, it would be either of my Rolleiflex cameras.
I have a Rolleikin conversion kit in my Rolleiflex 3.5 F that allows me to shoot 35mm film. Using the camera in this way is a new thing I've been experimenting with. If you know me, you know I love pushing my gear's boundaries and limits. I guess I am a rule-breaker in that sense.
My Rolleiflex T, which remains a medium format camera, has a close-up lens attachment that has revolutionized how I shoot.
I love using Rolleiflex cameras because they are so inconspicuous, and they help me capture life in the most authentic way.

3. What are your favourite subjects to photograph?
I have this thing for flowers! I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder during the gloomy months, and flowers have always reminded me that Winter doesn't last forever.
In addition to flowers, I enjoy capturing life in quaint, charming towns. I love exploring the little towns that most people haven't heard of, where everyone knows each other, and the streets are lined with local shops with cute facades. In those little towns, I shoot whatever colorful, whimsical thing catches my eye.

4. Can you name a few of your favourite photographers?
Fred Herzog is at the top of my list. He had an uncanny way of capturing the spirit of urban life with an empathetic and observant eye.
Nakahira Takuma's "Circulation" work.
Vivian Maier
Robert Frank
Louis Stettner
Helen Levitt
Robert Doisneau
and my most recent favorite is Lara Porzak

5. What can Substack community expect from you/your publication in the future?
I approach life with a lot of curiosity, which bleeds into my approach to photography and my Substack.
So, you can expect to see me experimenting with different films and cameras and constantly pushing the boundaries of camera gear.
I have several trips planned within the United States, so those adventures will make it into my Substack.
I'm also on a black-and-white film kick, and I don't see that slowing down any time soon. So, you can expect more black-and-white photography from me.