Petzval Amigos: Mark Scadding and William Paltridge of Double Exposure

Mark Scadding and William Paltridge form Double Exposure Photographic and are based in the South of England. They have used the Petzval lens extensively for portraiture and a few food photography shots. We were intrigued to know more about this creative duo and asked them about shooting with this exciting lens.

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into photography.

Will and I were both interested in art growing up and had a love of cameras for various reasons. We met and became friends during our Foundation Art and Design course at Bournemouth Arts Institute, at which point we both got more serious about making images and moved on to complete the BA Photography degree. Toward the end of this course we began working on projects together before picking up commissions from local businesses. For us it was about combining our ideas and creativity— Double Exposure was born from this, and we haven’t looked back.

What attracted you to the Petzval Art Lens?

It’s unique. Our degree course was, in essence, based within the realms of fine art so the creative nature of this lens talks to that side of us. We own another 85mm lens, the Nikon tilt-shift, which we use for our precise product work. But the Petzval offers us something completely different in the kit bag. It’s a stylized portrait lens that gives us another dimension. Also, it looks really cool!

How do you find shooting with the Petzval Lens?

Slow, but in a good way! You have to get into a different mind set. There are limits, but limits are good, and push us to be more creative. The sharp focus in the middle is amazing and balances the softer edges. We end up making an image that we wouldn’t have done otherwise.

In your opinion, what makes the perfect portrait?

Perfection doesn’t exist—or if it does, something will only be perfect for a moment before becoming dated. Photography is hugely subjective. We get excited when the personality of the photographer and the subject transcend into the final image. It’s not always about technical ability. For us, the ideas matter most.

Have you had any difficult or challenging situations throughout your photography career?

Yes, lots! One of the hardest parts of our job is educating potential clients about the value of good photography. On many occasions we’ve heard about a client that has done their own photography and it wasn’t “quite right” or “isn’t good enough anymore.” The challenge is convincing them to invest in photography and then blowing them away with the results! Getting the right kit is always difficult; it takes time to build your kit base to a stage where you can happily tackle anything. You’ll never stop adding, but to start with you need to get what you can when you can and improvise when you can’t!

What piece of advice would you give to someone who wants to become a professional portrait photographer?

Get some good business advice first, set yourself up so that you are organized and look professional, and then focus on your images above all else. Critique and editing are key elements. All too often we see loose portfolios with lots of images that could have been discarded. Always strive for more by taking peer advice, it’s so important to push yourself.

Make mistakes. Never stand still. Be yourself. Experiment. Refine. Repeat.

written by hannah_brown on 2015-04-27 #people #soho #double-exposure #london #uk #lomoamigo #petzval-art-lens #mark-scadding #william-paltridge