Community Amigo Cee Pike

In this new series, we talk to film fanatics from all around the UK about their passion for film photography and the best places to shoot in their home town. Today we meet Cee Pike from Bristol.

Tell us about yourself.

I’m a graphic designer and mum of two small girls. Most of my time is spent running from playgroup to swimming lesson to bounce and rhyme, but I always carry at least one camera. When I’m not child wrangling, I love really good telly, going to festivals and Formula 1.

Where did your love for film photography start?

I’ve always taken photographs; I can’t remember not having a camera. My dad taught me to use his Nikon FM and it went from there. I saw an article in an opticians’ magazine nine years ago about the Lomo Fisheye and had to have one so my interest in Lomography started there. After my film SLR was stolen I went down the digital route but about three years ago I sold up and bought into film again.

What are you favourite cameras and why?

Because it’s what I learned on, the Nikon FM is my favourite “proper” camera. The feel of the metal body and clunk of the shutter are unbeatable. But I love the randomness of my Lomo cameras – the Supersampler particularly. The camera that’s always in my pocket is my White Slim Angel (Vivitar UWS clone) though I really need to learn to mind my fingers – they end up in half my shots. I adore the big, clear negatives that I get from my Holga so I’d like to do more experimenting with 120 format.

Tell us a bit about these photos you chose.

Cemetery, redscale: I redscale film in my basement using a big pair of pants as my dark bag. I like to shoot it at a low ISO (very overexposed) so that the natural colour seeps through the red. This was taken in a local cemetery. It’s very wild and overgrown in places – you’d never guess you were in the centre of a city. I love that about Bristol – there’s so much greenery.

Cranes RS: My first experiment at microclicks with my Holga. These cranes feature a lot in my photography because a walk round the harbour is a favourite family activity. My three-year-old is crane obsessed so I’ve got a big print of this to make her smile.

Me SS: I don’t like or take pictures of myself much, but I do love throwing my Supersampler about so sometimes end up in one or two frames.

Poppies SS: This is a bit more considered that I usually am with the Supersampler (see above about throwing it!), but I couldn’t resist the field of poppies.

Victoria Park:This park is on my way home from almost everywhere I go so it gets photographed a lot, but I don’t ever get bored of it.

Where I Live: The area that I live in has very distinctive houses that are painted lots of different colours – they always look interesting cross processed.

Tell us you top 5 locations for shooting in your town?

The harbour side – always so much going on.
Arnos Vale Cemetery – not morbid or spooky, but peaceful and lush.
South of the river – Totterdown, Bedminster and Southville. They may not have the grandeur of more famous areas in Bristol, but they’re vibrant, colourful and bustling and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
Leigh Woods – so close to the city but you wouldn’t know it once you’re among the trees
St. Philips – just as a counterpoint to all the greenery, I do love a bit of urban decay. This is an industrial area – all strong lines and crumbling concrete.

If you were to invent a new film camera what would it do?

I’d like a camera with interchangeable fronts and backs so I could shoot all the films with all the cameras all at once.

written by hannah_brown on 2015-01-10 #people #accessories #analogue-photography #community #uk #lomography-gallery-store #analogue-cameras #lomoamigo #eastlondon #35mm-films #editorial-series #120-films #londonsoho #soholondon