Jeremy Calow is real life film photography inspiration. His work – a striking interplay of light, shadow, and emotional depth – stems not just from his choice of cameras but from a philosophy that embraces slowness in an era of instant gratification.
The Philosophy of Slowness
Calow’s most frequently used camera is the Chamonix 45F2, a large-format wooden field camera that demands both technical precision and unwavering commitment. “The first reason I use this camera so often is the quality of the imagery and the flexibility of movements that it offers,” he explains. But there’s something deeper at play. “The speed at which I don’t get to work is a huge thing for me,” he says. “It forces me to slow way down and really make that hard call that the image is worth taking the effort and setting up the camera.” When he hikes, he carries only two film holders – just four sheets of film in total. Every frame is a decision, an act of conviction.
Embracing Mood and Imperfection
His choice of film reflects a similar philosophy. “I usually shoot Fomapan,” he says, citing its affordability and the way its contrast and grain align with his artistic vision. “I’m a contrasty, moody photo maker,” he admits. “I love using a deep red contrast filter while shooting and really embrace the drama that poor weather and interesting light bring.”
This drama is not just aesthetic – it’s personal. Calow’s photography has evolved alongside his own struggles with depression, and his images often reflect an intimate dance between isolation and beauty. His process is less about capturing a scene as it is about interpreting it. Mood dictates not just how he edits but how he chooses his subjects in the first place.
Storytelling Without Telling You What to Think
Though he acknowledges that his work sometimes tells stories – like his triptych “Passage of Time,” which metaphorically depicts the stages of life – Calow generally lets viewers interpret his images on their own terms. “More often than not, I tend to dump my vision of the subject into the final image, influenced by my mood, musical choices, relationships, but leave the interpretation to the viewer.” Titles offer a nudge, but not an instruction manual.
His journey into photography began unexpectedly. Hiking and exploring were new to him, and at first, photography was merely a way to document those adventures with his wife. But he quickly realised his lens wasn’t interested in memories – it wanted metaphor. “While my wife was capturing a fantastic representation of the day and area as a true representation of the hike, I was taking a more creative, ‘artsy’ approach.”
Seeing the Same World, Differently
Over the years, photography has not just influenced how he sees the world – it has changed how he understands it. “The biggest takeaway and influence to me is knowing that not everything is as it seems on the surface.”
His ongoing projects, “Fairy Tale” and “Nightmares,” exemplify this. Both series were shot in the same woodland near his home, yet they feel worlds apart – one is whimsical, the other ominous. “A lot of the images are taken from the same place… but the feelings and final imagery are completely different.”
Of course, shooting film presents its challenges. There’s the time he fell into a sinkhole while hiking near a black bear, or the moment he accidentally fogged his black-and-white sheets – or worse, when he lost an entire set of colour film to a zipper mishap in the field. But for Jeremy, that’s all part of the process.
“Honestly, if you had asked me ten years ago what I hoped people would feel when they saw my work, I’d have given a pretentious line about capturing the beauty of the world,” he admits. “But now, I think I’d answer that I use my photography to translate my feelings about struggles that I have gone through, and that viewers of my work can use the imagery to help them process feelings and impacts they are dealing with.”
That, and, he concedes, “I like to make pretty pictures. Pretty pictures that I like to look at.”
Jeremy Calow
Loop Zine Contributor
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Instagram: @jeremy.calow
Website: www.jeremycalowphotography.com
From the Loop Zine
Jeremy Calow featured in the second issue of Loop Zine and the accompanying photo exhibition at Loop. His work was some of the most talked about images since. And thus, we reached out again and asked him 20 questions. This is the result. We hope you enjoyed the read and film photography inspiration.