Does The Camera Matter? - ISSUE 37

Dave Mclaughlin aka Sorbet Weather on iPhone photography, keeping it simple & putting yourself out there!

A kind of self portrait by today’s interviewee Dave Mclaughlin aka Sorbet Weather.

There’s a hole in my heart where a podcast used to be…

So some of you may have noticed that my podcast kind of came to a grinding halt last year after 2 seasons of fun conversations with fellow photogs. The reason for this was not that I didn’t enjoy it, rather that I simply didn’t have the time or the bandwidth to keep at it in the way I wanted to.

You may have also noticed that I like to ensure I am showing up consistently for the community with my content and this requires dedication and discipline, both of which I wasn’t able to ever get going with the pod!

Since then I have made a promise to always show up here on Substack in the form of a Friday morning newsletter. 36 issues in and I have managed to keep my promise but also managed to still scratch that itch I have to pick the brains of other creatives and share it with the community. I am obviously referring to the interviews I sometimes conduct and share on this platform. It’s filling the podcast shaped hole in my heart and is a much more achievable way for me to bring you this kind of content.

Today’s guest was meant to be on the podcast but for all the reasons stated above has now become a newsletter guest instead! Dave is not only a stand up guy but also a dad, a fellow Aussie and a photographer with a keen eye for the mundane everyday detail, bringing it to life with sharp wit and pleasingly minimal compositions.

Dave is a legend and I love his open attitude to putting himself and his work out there. This is reflected in his awesome achievements and the opportunities that come his way. I hope todays interview pushes you to let people know you are here and start choosing yourself for the things you want, rather than always waiting for it to come to you!

Let’s get into it…

An absolute banger of a shot from Dave - Love finding these kind of scenes!

Hiya, can you tell us the who, what and where of Dave McLaughlin?

I’m a photographer from Perth, Western Australia. I’ve only been big on it for five years, but I did take photography as an elective in high school. All I really remember from back then was the eerie lighting and knockout stench of the darkroom. Pretty sure I assumed I’d pass out in there some day and remain undiscovered for hours or maybe worse.

I have been dying to ask this so let’s go! You use your iPhone quite a bit and I find that kind of almost punk rock and a total statement considering how snobbish photogs are about gear nowadays. Talk me through that choice of camera?

I’ll take that! It always being on me is part of it. I think mostly though it’s that I’m not particularly interested in the technical side, so I’m consciously trying to eliminate additional variables like experimenting with different cameras and film stocks. I’m 100% the type to get bogged down in details. I think if I do go down the film path, I might chance becoming overwhelmed by the intricacies.

I’m also similarly protective when it comes to minimizing process. I like the idea of putting in almost all of the effort at the scene, so once snapped it’s very near to the end product. I think that mindset might lead to a little self- imposed pressure, which manifests in me being quite particular when I’m out there. I’ll often get a totally irrational, but strong enough feeling that this is my only chance to get something out of it. That sense of urgency and finality makes zero sense, as I mostly shoot completely empty urban scenes - but it’s still there!

I never do anything in post-production other than add some brightness if needed. One slider or bust! Again, if I start messing with the settings, I’m sure I’ll be up editing at all hours of the night. I hope to only direct energy towards creative vision and getting out there regularly.

With all that said, a bunch of my fave photographers are film folks, like Lawrence Hardy @lawrencexhardy, Nat Meier @softboifilms and Kate Hulett @impatientdeveloper. I actually also know a top guy Alex that runs silverhalidestudios, a local film lab here in Perth. Although I only shoot iPhone right now, I’ll likely get in there sometime to have a go again with a roll or two.

Image courtesy of Dave

How does making photos with an iPhone affect your actual photography? I can’t take a photo with a smartphone to save my life!

I’ve never really thought as much about how it affects the resultant images. The obvious might be that I can take unlimited photos at a scene. That makes it seem super simple, but I think it’s entirely possible to take infinity photos of something, and still not get much. I achieve that amazing feat often! Snapping liberally doesn’t guarantee an image you’ll be happy with, or one that will connect. I prefer to really slow down, with the aim of being measured and precise with it.

As far as technique goes, I think I usually compute reasonably quickly what elements of a scene that I want to include, and maybe draw the eye to. If I can eliminate anything that’s superfluous, distracting or somehow takes me out of it, I will. Ideally, I’d like everything in the final image to have an obvious purpose and sit confidently within it.

I enjoy putting some sort of spin on the geometric elements, where possible. You might also notice a deliberate flattening effect in a lot of my images, as a 2D or poster-like quality appeals to me. I’ll often reach up high, or bend around obstacles while trying to smoosh the perspective.

There’s sometimes a touch of adrenaline at the scene when shooting with an iPhone, as it can be understandably conspicuous in certain locations. People don’t necessarily assume the guy contorting himself around their fence with a camera phone is a photographer! I’ve been queried a fair bit, and I just tell folks exactly what I’m up to. I’m yet to be tackled, so that’s a win.

I love how Dave spots these scenes and frames them up! Chefs kiss!

Since we are talking about iPhones we may as well touch on AI and all the talk around its place in photography? Spill the tea on your thoughts Dave!

I haven’t thought about this lots. I’m fine with AI technology being used in cameras for the purpose of image processing and enhancement. Images that are completely AI generated aren’t to be filed under photography, I don’t think. I might just opt to head back under my rock on this one though!

You have a minimal style that focuses on composition which I absolutely love - can you talk more about your deliberate choice of leaving people out of the frame and what you are looking for when you are out shooting?

You’re right, it is a considered omission. Every so often something living makes an appearance. The preference even then is to insert them into a scene that could already stand on its own, as opposed to the person being the subject per se. I do quite regularly capture reflections in windows, and with those I’ll also purposely duck out of view, so that they remain empty too. Working with people is towards the outer reaches of my comfort zone. I’d like to challenge myself to find my style within portraiture. That could be a fun diversion. It astounds me how some photographers like a Jeremy Paige @eatenbyflowers or Jesse Pretorius @goofy_jpegs can connect with such frequency when capturing people.

More broadly speaking, what I am interested in exploring creatively is the challenge of presenting familiar scenes in a way that makes them seem somewhat strange or surreal. I’d say there’s probably a subtle thread of wit that runs through some of my work too.

Images courtesy of Dave

I read in the Photo Books Now feature that you find comfort in familiarity by watching the same tv shows and going back to places to shoot - I’m interested to know more about the reasoning behind this as I relate a lot!?

I actually read about that little phenomena in a TIME magazine article last year. Apparently re-watching the same TV shows can help people unwind and provides that sense of comfort and security. Knowing what will happen next helps the viewer to chill. I think that does kind of work for me a bit.

Generally, I don’t like to revisit scenes to redo a particular shot, but there are a couple of eternally interesting places that I’ll circle back to, like a certain seafood restaurant that’s just down the street from me.

Side note - what are the TV shows you go back to or any that you really love? I judge people harshly on their taste in television Dave so no pressure…

I’ll likely never stop ritualistically going back over a few series in particular. Peep Show and Curb Your Enthusiasm are among those.

Red and a shopping trolley? Yes Dave!

Can you share some of your achievements within photography Dave? I know we have talked on IG about putting yourself out there more and I think it’s good for the readers to hear about people doing that and experiencing both success and failure as they are both part of it.

I want more people to see my stuff, so I have no problem with letting them know what I’m about. The most random example of that leading somewhere was the photo I had used as album cover art for The Hold Steady. I love the band and was following their frontman Craig on IG. He started following me back one day, which I had noticed, so I messaged him saying if he happened to like any of my images for anything to shout out. Some months later he got in touch to say a certain image of a laundromat had stuck with him, and he asked if they could use it for the cover of their record Open Door Policy.

The whole thing around the album release was super fun to be attached to, and they were the nicest. The best part though was seeing snaps of it in other fan’s houses - that was wild. Steve @sss_film_pix, who plays guitar in the band is also a mint film photographer, so we’ve stayed in some touch around that connection since.

Mostly I’ll just chat with lots of other photographers because I’m genuinely interested in what people have been working on. I’ll also submit to select magazines and open calls that interest me. In the last couple of years there’s been a bit more interest from various folks around my work, which is nice.

I’ve been featured a few times recently by some magazines like NOICE & BROAD, whose curation I definitely admire. Seeing how new people react to my images is an enjoyable offshoot of exposure.

Speaking of BROAD, I can’t wait to see your work in the Reppink’s Selects Print Issue. I have a few photo friends appearing alongside you as Andrew Lack @andrew_lack, Frank Crosby @frac_by and Paul Sawyers @paulsawyersphotography are going to be featured in there too. That should be a great one!

Last year I was featured in a collaboration zine called Unnoticed Victory, with eight other artists from around the world. It was a project from Tum Wuthipol @wuthipol.designs / @aperturebroughtmehere who is a photographer and self-publisher from Bangkok. Tum’s attention to detail is crazy, and he makes some really great looking zines.

I’m also going to have some of my images included in a new book called Urban from Photo Books Now, which is due in the coming months, so I’m pretty excited to see that when it lands.

Another nuts thing that eventuated after The Hold Steady album came out was a couple of local fans that also dig photography said g’day, and we’ve since become mates. Ben & Shan run a small batch vodka & spirits distillery @alligator_labs just a few suburbs across from me in Bayswater. They liked Sorbet Weather as a name for a certain bottle release, so if you live in Australia I can now also be drunk thanks to them!

The shot that ended up on the cover of The Hold Steady album “Open Door Policy”

What are your goals for this year, what are you hoping to achieve creatively?

Just taking more photos that I like is the main goal. Later in the year I’d love to exhibit some printed works here in Perth if I can. That’d be a first for me.

Lastly, where can people come say hi and see more of your work?

IG @sorbet_weather. Hopefully I’ll exist in a few other places shortly. No one, including me, really knows where Sorbs will pop up next. That was fun. Thanks for having me Double L!

This was super fun Dave and I want to thank you buddy for taking the time to answer the Q’s and share your work with us all. Be sure to check out all the amazing people, publishers and of course Dave himself linked throughout the interview and if you like these kind of creative talks then be sure to sign up so you don’t miss out on future issues!

In the coming weeks I am bringing you underwater photographer extraordinaire Katharine Kollman, plus a little interview with Chris Sturm of The Photo Dept. who has recently opened a film lab in Milwaukee!

Thank you for reading Love Lucy I’ll see you in the next one.

xx