Ostrich Magazine

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Olly Cook

I prefer to work in un-staged situations, documenting through imagery of spontaneous interactions, between people and the spaces they occupy. This process of working, allows my work to be able to truthfully reflect my life, my culture and my surroundings. Instagram: @oc_imgs

My approach to my work is to use traditional processes, such as 35mm film and 120mm medium for- mats. The reason I’m so adamant to shoot on film over digital is because I believe you cannot capture light and skin tones in the same way as with digital.

I take my 35mm point and shoot camera out with me on social occasions to try and document moments of my and my friend’s lives, in the most playful of situations. My inspiration for this approach is based on my admiration of the works of Nan Goldin, who has spent a life time collecting images of her friends and associates, particularly in the LGBT community and other minority groups. 

My work is autobiographical, its personal and explorative. I like photographing my social environment and I enjoy looking look back at my work and remembering how I felt when I took the pictures. The images I take mean something to me and I want to share that feeling, they enact memories, or stages of my life that I will never experience again - so it reminds me of what I have done.