Randall Phenning, 20
1. What made you get into large format photography? and how many photos, that you’re happy with, are you hiding from everyone?
I guess I started LF because of the way the portraits look and since I’ve always liked photos of people it seemed like a good plan to try and get into it. On top of that there really is no better way to learn than to get a LF camera. No electronics, no reminders to do anything, just me and a lens and some film. As far as the photos that I am happy with, it changes day to day but I have a few projects that will have 4 or 5 photos each that are going ok so far. I will put those up on a site in February I am hoping….but I have a binder full of negatives that nobody will see while I am alive. ha
2. Have you always lived in newbury park and has that made any impact on what or how you shoot?
Yeah unfortunately I fucked off in high school too much and have had to stay in NP for all 20 of my years, not ship off like most of my friends. Not to be corny but it changes the way I look around a lot just because I really cherish when I am away. I love my town though. There are always golden moments in many more ways than one.
3. What was your first photo? (show us?!?)
Ha my first photo. I’ll get it in a sec from my dad. It is from a trip he my sister and I took to Maryland to go look at colleges for her. I was 15 or 16 I think. It was some Olympus digital that had a 3 second shutter lag and was 4 or 5 megapixels. My dad is really the one who motivated me to try it out more. His dad was an excellent photographer. Had a Mamiya tlr and a nikon. I have all of his old slides in two giant bins in my room.
4. What are YOUR future plans?
My future plans are to get up tomorrow morning.
5. What do you do when you aren’t taking photos? And what’s the weirdest place you carried a camera?
When i am not taking photos I am taking orders at chili’s bar and grill. I have eaten there twice in my life. when people ask me what is good there I always just say the water. I’m in love with one of my coworkers and I don’t think she knows. She has a lip piercing. Weirdest place I have ever carried a camera isn’t really that weird to me but to some it could be odd I guess. I used to have a surf housing for a canon 6-something and I shot a bunch of rolls with it before I sold it to pay credit card bills. I paddled out with it at 8 foot zuma one day on a good south swell. the current on the inside was really shitty so it was a chore to try and stay in position to take good photos of my friends when they caught waves. good fun though.
6. Who or what are you influenced most by? And how many photo books do you have?
I would like to say I am not influenced by anyone or anything. I have my own feel for things and I just go by that but I’m not sure how accurate that is….I don’t really know though. It depends on what kind of mood I am in when I walk outside. I used to like Nachtwey a lot. Flickr is insane for how many talented kids are out there too. I have a few photo books, maybe six or seven. The ansel adams ones are really good for learning.
