Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Ethan, I’m 25 and living in Leeds. I was born in France but moved to Spain (and then Gibraltar) at a very young age. I came to the UK for university and stayed ever since. I like matcha green tea, jazzy hip-hop, Frank Ocean and design.
Mamiya M645 1000s w/ 55mm f/2.8 - Kodak Portra 160
How did you first get into photography?
A few years ago, I went to Colombia for 6 months as part of my year abroad program for my BA. As well as taking a few modules in Latin American society and culture, I took one in Documental Photography, which led me to buy my own camera at the time, an Olympus OM-D, EM-10 MIII (I know). This also made me really interested in the use of photography as a medium for storytelling, which is why it’s been a passion ever since.
This hobby has provided me with incredible experiences, introducing me to individuals from diverse backgrounds - ranging from a church organist to a married couple of street artists, and even an antique dealer from the Napoleon era who narrowly escaped death twice over a chair. 
Contax G1 w/ 45mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 160.
What drew you to film specifically?
I picked up my first film camera in Colombia during my time there, I bought an Olympus OM-10 with a 50mm f/1.8, shot my first roll of Tri-X and I’ve been hooked since! Despite owning a really good digital camera, I always tend to pick up my film gear over it, as I really enjoy the process, delayed gratification, and the character of film.
Canon VI-L w/ Jupiter -8 50mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 160.
Tell us a bit about your style of photography, processes etc.
Whilst I used to do a lot of project-based photography, in recent years I’ve taken to having a camera on me at all times and documenting daily life. Because my family live abroad, it means I have had the opportunity to travel and always have a camera and some film on hand. As for my process, I tend to prefer colour film over black and white, I think that colour is an essential part of storytelling in my photography. Something I really enjoy is portraying warmth through my photography (shoutout to Kodak Gold 200) due to where I grew up. In the south of Spain, warm colours are very prevalent, sometimes even in the local architecture.
Nikon FE w/ 50mm f/1.8 - Kodak Gold 200
TELL US ABOUT THE GEAR YOU HAVE AND YOUR FAVOURITE CAMERAS.
At the minute, I have a few cameras. For digital, I have a Leica M10-R, which is a great camera, especially when paired with some adapted LTM lenses. For film, I have 2 main cameras, my Canon VI-L, a great LTM rangefinder from the 50s and my Yashica Mat-124G, for medium format. Along with these, I have a Canon EOS 500N, and a few digicams. Whereas I love my Leica digital, I’ve found myself picking up my film cameras more and more - there’s something irreplaceable about shooting film.
Canon VI-L w/ 50mm f/1.4 'Japanese Summilux'
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FILM STOCK?
This is a tough one for me, it’s in between Kodak Ektachrome E100 and Kodak Portra 160. Almost all of my favourite shots have been shot on these. Aside from these, I really enjoy Kodak Gold 200 and Fuji Superia 400 - a stock I used to shoot religiously back in university when I worked in Jessops. Now, with the recent price increases, I’m worried about shooting colour film, meaning I will likely experiment a bit more with Kodak Vision3 film, as soon as I figure out the remjet layer and home developing.
Yashica-Mat 124-G - Kodak Gold 200.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT WORKING AT WYC?
I have a few favourite things about working at West Yorkshire Cameras. I really enjoy the oddities that come through the shop - it seems like every day I’m learning something new, whether it be about a niche lens I never knew existed or a camera accessory designed for a very specific use. This, combined with the fact I get to take cameras apart and breathe some new life into them, makes this really rewarding work. I think my favourite camera to work on is the Olympus Trip 35s, despite not even owning one - I’m waiting for one of those fancy golden ones.
Something else I really enjoy about being at West Yorkshire Cameras is the fact I get to film test a lot of different (very expensive) cameras. It has taught me a lot about how certain cameras are extremely overhyped. The Contax T2, for example, is a camera built and designed beautifully, but the prices are way too high for a point-and-shoot.
Canon VI-L w/ Jupiter -8 50mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 160.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU’VE LEARNT FROM WORKING AT WYC THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE?
One of the biggest things I’ve learnt, aside from the usual ‘your camera doesn’t matter’ is that, since working here, I’ve learnt to trust cameras that have visible signs of use over pristine, new-old stock. A camera that has been used throughout its life will usually function more accurately than something that has been left in a box for years, as it would have had regular use, the lubricants won’t have seized the camera up etc. More importantly, it also means the camera has a story. For example, we recently brought in a beautifully brassed Nikon F, terribly worn, but fully functioning and with a delightful patina on it.
Canon VI-L w/ Jupiter -8 50mm f/2 - Kodak Portra 160.