Spotlight: Daniel Mulheran
We recently enjoyed a conversation with Daniel, a photographer from Sydney.
His frames have an eloquence beyond their years, and evoke an arcadian nostalgia, cinematic almost. There is a deep respect for the landscape, the unwavering presence of a dream. An appreciation of the technical aspects of film translate into technically beautiful photographs, composed with ease.
We recognise Daniel feels comfortable with a Mamiya in hand and we feel comforted here with him. There is a sense of honesty, and warmth flicking through his catalogue and conversing with him.
The mundane is beautiful if you take the time to sit, listen, and see.
Your work evokes a certain nostalgia, it feels as though it is completely laiden with story, memory. Like each image is on the string of a particular story line. Where do you draw inspiration for your subject or themes, and even palette?
I’ve always loved photo books, especially those with a narrative of some sort. I enjoy hand making my own small books and when I shoot I’m always thinking about images that will pair well together. All of my photos are shot in my everyday surroundings, be it at home or abroad. I mostly shoot objects, landscapes, my partner and family.
My work could be interpreted as depression or melancholy, but I see it as a celebration of the quiet scenes that are often overlooked. I draw inspiration from the early American colour photographers like Mitch Epstein, William Eggleston, Stephen Shore and more contemporary practitioners such as Gregory Halpern, Nick Waplington and Rinko Kawauchi.
Your preferred medium? Film, digital, other? And the why! What draws you to this particular medium?
I shoot most of my own work on my Mamiya Rb67. It’s big and slow, kind of like myself, but it gives me the look I like. I’m trying to find a digital camera at the moment that I really like but I haven’t found anything I like as much as the Mamiya. I also just enjoy the tactile process of working with film, scanning, storing negatives etc.
What do the next few years look like for you? Professional goals, or things you might like to achieve, shoot, or do!
Hopefully staying busy and being more proactive with sharing my work. Trying to move to shooting more and assisting less. I’m starting to build some great relationships with people in the industry with styles and ethos similar to my own, so hopefully just start creating more commercial work that I can feel proud of.
You recently dropped by Studio Tropico, what are your must-haves in your kit?
I like to have a big soft light source so a 12x12 silk is always good. Apple boxes are always great to have, they’re really versatile and a great seat.
