My third stranger from my Monday afternoon photowalk with my whippet Elsie in Nottingham City Centre. I was walking in the Sneinton Avenues / Lanes and noticed a shop I’d never seen before. The door was ajar and I could see some vintage cameras on a shelf. I had to walk through the door.
Meet Dan, the cofounder of Lens Fayre. Lens Fayre is an independent camera store, selling vintage cameras, film, repairing camera’s and also pimping vintage camera’s by re-skinning the body.
I had a good chat with Dan about my collection of vintage lenses and old cameras. Dan asked me where I bought my film from, I told him Analogue Wonderland. Dan told me he knew several of the people at the company and Lens Fayre provided some re-skimmed cameras for them.
As for Dan, he’s had a varied career in photography and the arts. Dan’s a British/Greek photographer, film-maker and writer, whose work explores the lives of individuals and communities who exist on the outer edges of contemporary society; whether by their own volition or due to social, political and environmental forces beyond their control. His work has been published and exhibited widely and has been recognised by numerous international awards and grants (that bit is from his website bio http://gianphotography.com/about
I photographed Dan inside the shop, the background is busy but captures the feel of the shop. Dan noticed I was shooting with a Sony A7 (the first A7 model). Dan tod me he had the camera and it excellent. I asked Dan if his T-Shirt was photography related. He told me it’s a brand associated with skateboarding. I asked if he was a skateboarder, Dan told me he was probably a ‘failed skateboarder’.
It was good meeting Dan and good to know that I’ve found a local independent film and camera store. I might ask Dan to pimp one of my vintage cameras.
I hope you like the photos when you see them Dan, no pressure in photographing a professional photographer !
This must have been a great discovery for you! A few unfamiliar terms — pimping vintage cameras and re-skimming. Like The Terminator, I’m sure you’ll be back.
Dan looks Greek! What a great story, his shop sounds fabulous, an Aladdin's cave of interesting things. (Loved "failed skateboarder" - I share that pain!)
@rensala thanks Renee, I enjoyed the meeting and chat with dan