FilmNeverDie Shooters - A Black&White interview with Marty Umanski

So, where do you come from & what do you do for a living?

I am originally from the Western Suburbs of Melbourne but now live in Torquay. I am a full time Primary School Teacher.

How did you become inspired to shoot on film?

I have always shot film on and off since I was a kid. I wanted to take photography as a subject in my final year of highschool but decided against it. I guess ever since then it was always at the back of my mind. A few years ago I decided to get properly set up and buy a Nikon F2 and some good glass and haven’t looked back since.

I am inspired by the work of the Photo Journalist, Don McCullin. I love the honesty of his shots. Nothing is set up, he just captures a moment of time as it happens.

How long have you been shooting films for?

I’ve been shooting film for quite some time. Not sure of how many years. I have been processing my own black and white and also colour film for the last 5 years.

What format do you shoot? 

I shoot 35mm only. Mainly black and white. Only Ilford fp4+.

Why do you like this format?

I tried 120 film once and got the craziest sweats in the dark bag trying to get the damn thing on the reel. I think I gave up in the end and binned the roll. I like 35mm because it does everything that I need it to do. I find that I stick to the same methodical processing routine and I get consistent results. It took sometime but I am happy with the Ilford/Rodinal combination.

I also make my own prints in the darkroom and find that for 8x10 prints, the 35mm negative gives me more than enough detail.

What is a dream project that you want to work on?

Kickstarter for a Melbourne film producer…Anyone interested?

Where do you see the future of analogue photography?

I would love to bring Ansel Adams and Richard Avedon back from the dead so they can share their printing techniques with me. Really though…not sure….Warzone? Magnum? Nat Geo? Exhibition? Retire Early.

Where can we find out more about your work?

I usually post anything of interest on my Instagram @marty_r_u I’ll be adding lots of new stuff soon. Feel free to drop me a line if you want a print of anything.