Edition Fifty Seven

An interview with Berkay from @lightgrain

I recently shared a note about how you find interesting Substacks & photographers by seeing who likes the same things you like.

One of the many newsletters I found in this way is Brky ‘s Light Grain. I tend to gravitate to lesser known reads; IMO here you’ll find something other than the conventional path. You find unconventional ideas, thoughts and some great photography which tends to steer away from the main stream. Join me in today’s interview as I talk to Berkay about his photography.

On now onto the meat and potatoes…

Hello Berkay, I really appreciate you taking time to answer my questions : ) To everyone who isn't familiar with your newsletter and writing, please give us an introduction to yourself and your work.

Hello Richard, thank you so much for having me and for including me among so many inspiring people in your interview series. 😊 I’m a photographer based in the Netherlands.

I mostly shoot on film, focusing on street, portrait, and documentary work. I love telling stories through light, emotion, and atmosphere.

My newsletter is called “Light Grain”, I’m not sure it’s the perfect name, but it feels right for now. It’s where I share stories about navigating the world of photography, pursuing art, and everything in between.

You wrote the following on your Substack page "Film feeds my soul". Where did your passion for film photography begin? How has the process of film photography changed your approach to photography?

When I was a kid, I always loved photography and films, too, back in the day. Later, during my university years, I drifted away from it. After some time, I picked up photography again in a new city, this time shooting digital.

Then, in 2022, as the film community started to grow again, I felt the urge to return to the analog process. So, I bought an Olympus XA rangefinder, by the way, it’s tiny and amazing!

I took my first shot on a foggy day and, with that first shutter click, before I even saw the results, my love for photography came alive again.

Later, I asked myself: Why do I love this so much, when it’s not easy or convenient? I realized that having ten thousand digital frames from every shoot and sorting through them gave me anxiety. I don’t want to repeat the cliché that “film makes you slow down,” but it really does force you to understand the fundamentals and strip away all the clutter. You focus on proper exposure and composition and, most importantly for me, on capturing the moment.

Now I’ve gone fully down the rabbit hole: I develop my own black-and-white film, scan both B&W and color at home, and I’ve even started darkroom printing myself.

Street photography. Many say you need people in the photo. Others say it isn't necessary. What are you thoughts on this and what makes a good street photograph in your opinion?

That’s an interesting question. I won’t tell anyone how to take photos people should shoot in whatever style they love, and call it whatever they want. :) Some people enjoy photographing urban scenes, some love portraits, some lean towards fine art, while others focus on documenting streets, cities, or specific places.

I guess I’m in that last group. I like to document people their feelings, their moments and try to reflect their soul through the image. Recently, I came across a quote from Bruce Gilden that really stuck with me: “If you can smell the street by looking at the photo, it’s a street photograph.”

The newsletter you wrote about going to Porto is an interesting read. For those who haven't visited Porto yet, what is it like when it comes to street photography? Can you relate some more photography experiences from the time you visited?

Porto is an amazing city. The people are generally welcoming, and you get a mix of history and incredible food.

On top of that, there are narrow streets and steep hills that lead down to the river, creating all kinds of interesting light and atmosphere. With all these elements combined, I really recommend Porto to any street photographer.

The film photography community on Substack seems to be very much alive and kicking. What has your experience been here and what advice would you give to photographers looking to start dabbling in film photography?

Yeah, Substack feels very alive, and I love that. It reminds me of the early days of Instagram, no algorithm pressure, and it’s easy to connect with like-minded people. Of course, it’s not for everyone.

If you really want to dive into film photography, you have to embrace failure, be patient, and trust the process. Eventually, you’ll get to where you want to be.

But it’s also true that some people have less time, or they just don’t want to spend it that way, they want quick results, and that’s perfectly fine too. There’s no single path. Just follow what your soul wants.

In closing.

A big thanks to Berkay for agreeing to the interview. If you’re interested in street photography then his newsletter will be a worthwhile read for you.

Thanks for reading : )