Me, Bee & Photography

My early teens saw my interest in photography grow when I got an old Petri SLR camera from my father. He had probably been given it by one of his customers in a barter, which was a common trade in the Greek community where I grew up. During my adolescence, I joined the local photo society where I learned how to develop black and white films, enlarge prints and frame them. I even had a makeshift photo lab in the second bathroom of our flat, kitted out with a Durst B30 enlarger. Then, in secondary school, a classmate named Thomas, who was also very interested in photography, joined me. We used to spend a lot of time in our school's photo lab, developing and printing. Eventually, both of us applied for higher studies in photography. Thomas was accepted, and I wasn't, but that didn't stop me from attempting a career in photography. My first job was as a freelance photographer for various newspapers and magazines. I eventually teamed up with a freelance journalist, who taught me the craft of journalism while being his photographer. I later applied to journalism school, getting in after failing exams twice. Resilience is paramount.However, my photography halted on the first day of my career as a journalist.I was assigned a routine job at the local paper Barometern in Kalmar. The army was selling old but very popular army bikes. I was assigned to get some quotes from the people queuing for the robust green iron horses, years later to be reissued as Kronan. I brought my camera. I did my job, talked with people in line, made some shots, and went back to the paper. I left a roll of film at the lab downstairs on my way to the editing room, as I was scheduled to work on the evening shift as an editor a couple of hours later. I was only temping as a reporter. My first day as a journalist had been immensely cool. I had reported and photographed, and I was about to edit and add headlines to stories my colleagues had filed for the morning edition.I was so proud of myself!At some point, the lab assistant came up the stairs and said, "What a great shot! 'What a great shot! It's going on the front page!" I was surprised as I didn't think I'd taken any good ones. She showed me. I could see why she was excited. What a fantastic shot! It ended up on the front page, right in the thick of it. A rookie reporter would do well to do better than this. I was in heaven on my very first day as a journalist.I was temping as a reporter on my second day as a professional, too. Unfortunately, it didn't quite go to plan. After the editorial meeting, the photo department chief took me aside and gave me one of the biggest telling-offs I've ever had — and I've had quite a few. He was furious. Mad. "Who did I think I was?" On that very day, I dropped the camera, which I rarely carried with me as a professional tool or even as a leisure item, for a very long time.My life has been invaded by photography again, thanks to smartphones. I have a decent Instagram account, and I post on Facebook from time to time. A potent but frustrating format. Even modern compact mirrorless cameras are a bit troublesome for me. I'm clumsy. I guess being raised on SLRs, the photo trade is done that way — the proper way. But I haven't had one for years. I sold my trusty Nikon FE2 and my Hasselblad C/M 500 in the '90s, and haven't looked back.Well, that was until recently.I found a Nikon FE2 kit with a 'pancake' 50 mm lens at an auction. I bought it for €20 and started shooting blinds. I loved it! I am not going to go down the route of using film cameras again because of my concerns about the environment. However, I recently acquired a small but very delicate "pancake" 50mm lens, which has led me to consider the possibility of acquiring a decent DSLR camera and using it in the manner of Henri Cartier-Bresson. Why wouldn't I? I'm at it again, enjoying the new possibilities RAW and the post-production process offers photographers these days. Combined with old-school lenses and craft, it makes for a great mix.I hope you like what you see on these few pages.If you would like to hire me as a photographer in some way , feel free to contact me.All the best,Patrick a k a Bee