A Conversation with Doug Hall ~ Capturing The Essence of Americana
Introduce yourself, where you’re from/located and what type of photography you primarily shoot.
My name is Doug Hall, I am based in Seattle, WA and was born and raised in Southern California. I primarily shoot neighborhood landscapes on medium format film but I am a full-time wedding and brand photographer.
How did you get into your chosen medium? Do you remember the catalyst that influenced your decision to begin your journey?
Alike a lot of film focused photographers, I found film to help slow down my creative process. Allowing me to immerse myself into the creative side of my brain improved every aspect of my photography from compositions to utilizing lighting just by giving me a slower and more valued approach. Coming from shooting digital and mostly just paid work I grew to not see photography as art and more of a business, film changed that for me and has helped my process in both film and digital, learning to shoot slower, value time and study compositions.
Do you have any photographers or artists who have influenced your creative style when composing or editing your photos?
I'm influenced by a super wide array of creatives. Finding inspiration from outside my comfort zone is what's always propelled me to find original takes on my work. A handful of photographers that have influenced my work are Annie Leibovitz, Gordon Parks, Jean-Marc Bouju and Ansel Adams.
Am I right in thinking you only shoot film? What is the camera and film stock you're currently using while out taking photographs? Can you share what drew you to this setup?
I shoot both digital and film! A majority of my personal work is on film while my professional work is split between the two. My current favorite setup is my Mamiya RZ67 Pro with Kodak Gold 200, being from Southern California I love bright sun and haven't found a better combination for bringing out the true feelings of warm summer days. On the typically cloudy days that Seattle is known for I carry around my Nikon F5 and Kodak Tri-X 400, you can't beat Pike Place and downtown on black and white.
Your portfolio has a mix of lifestyle, street, wedding and landscape photography, but what brought you here creatively? What situation will most likely get you to bring the camera out?
Americana is what gets me the most hyped. Growing up with a family business, an automotive repair shop that my great grandfather started in the 40's, forced me to be around most of the cars we all love to shoot today. Being around them a majority of my childhood has always given me an appreciation for Americana and classics, pairing the vision I have with film has created an aesthetic that I find irreplaceable and couldn't imagine doing it any other way.
Even though Americana is what my current focus is on, I always find myself going back to shooting landscapes and yearning to be in the outdoors. I originally approached photography because I wanted to shoot better photos while out camping or hiking so I always find myself circling back to landscape work. It's been the most constant throughout my love of photography.
Are there any particular locations that inspire you to shoot more than others? If so, where and what is it about these locations that draw you in?
I love shooting just about anywhere, getting to shoot in a multitude of environments makes photography fun and challenging. Finding areas that hold and cherish character well will always win me over though, the sides to cities that most don't venture out into are the biggest draws for me. Venturing through the less traveled areas whether it be in the backcountry or an alley that has never had it's photo taken, that's where you'll most likely find me.
Walk me through your typical creative process when you're out shooting. How do you decide what to focus on or what moments to try to capture?
I try not to think too much before shooting an image, I always try to tell myself to shoot anything that peaks my interest. I start quick when i approach an area and then slow down if the scene allows it, second guessing has left me missing images that happen in a split second. If a scene is complex or surrounded by an environment that has layers, I love to shoot it as I approach. Finding a subject within a scene and capturing what's going around it and how it's interacting with it's surrounding is how I attempt to tell stories.
Do you have any other creative outlets you’re interested in that people don’t see shared on social media?
No other creative outlets but I have spent a lot of my time on my bike, growing up racing both road and mountain bikes throughout North America shaped who I am today. With so much independent travel at a young age I learned to love solitude and people watching which I believe is why I love shooting street photography within Seattle.
Finally, I’ve been looking at the doggo in your profile photo for too long without any introduction so I have to ask, what’s your dog’s name?
Hahaha. The doggo in my profile picture is Willa-Bean, she's a big ole sweetheart and turns 9 this year.
**Shoot more photos and don't compare your work to others. Value social media for getting to connect with so many other creatives around the world and not for competition, strive to see others succeed and stop hating on another's artwork.
