Inside the mind of a photographer
It might be that I am getting excited about a surfing trip to Cornwall the week after next, but every now and then you stumble cross a truly lovely bit of creative. An ad, tag, or a film like this, that makes you wish you were part of it in anyway.
The film produced after a challenge to filmmakers around the world to explore, reveal, celebrate and define the concept of ‘No Half Measures’. ‘The Dark Side Of The Lens’ is a short film from renowned surf photographer Mickey Smith.
Smith worked with Allan Wilson (director of photography) from the Astray Collective to present a side to surfing that few of us, as observers or surfers, will glimpse: the life of the photographer.
“I wanted to create that something that would give insight into what it takes to grind out a living as a water-based photographer in the surfing industry,”. Smith explains “to provide a short, experimental glimpse into life lived in the shadow of what is, for me, an obsessive pursuit.”
There is an interesting sub-text to the film, too. If your life is spent simply observing and documenting what you see, are you ever really present? It’s this willingness to go unnoticed, to hide in the shadows and sacrifice personal notoriety for the sake of one’s art, that remains a hallmark of the very best ‘watermen’. Mickey Smith is no exception.
Simply beautiful.
DARK SIDE OF THE LENS from Astray Films on Vimeo.
Footage is mesmerising, you almost expect a pint of the black stuff at the end.
June 6th, 2011 | 12:38pm
by ALS
Amazing short film!
June 9th, 2011 | 9:32am
by Jas
Really powerful film, certainly gives you a great insight!
June 11th, 2011 | 4:54pm
by KD