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MFA is a community for up and coming film photographers. Film has Soul. No digital preset can do what Film can. Namely through photographs.

We curate and display their work but also publish exclusive interviews with every photographer - who each have their own unique story to tell. We like to capture the things that leave a lasting impression on us. We hope to share the moments, places and people that have left their mark on you as well. It's without doubt that we are surrounded by incredible photography. And whilst it's easy to admir

e the model, the lighting, the beautiful landscapes caught on film, how often do we stop to think about the person behind the camera? We want to place the photographer and their work alongside each other, to consider photography on a more personal level.

26/04/2022

📸

24/04/2022

.sacha 📸

16/04/2022

Ocean view by 📸
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15/04/2022

“The most unique situation that photography has landed me in HAS to be shooting Frank Ocean live and front row.” Our interview with 📸

•What made you first pick up a film camera?

“I first picked up a film camera after shooting completely digitally for a few years. I started seeing more and more film photos show up on my socials and it was also around the time I started studying older photographers and their work. Shortly after, I found my dad’s old workhorse in a closet - a Canon F1. I started putting rolls through that camera immediately and instantly started to fall in love with film. Eventually, I moved forward to medium format which is what a majority of my work consists of today.”

•What are you passionate about besides photography?

“I’m passionate about just about anything that is creative. I’m passionate about music, tv/movies, the overall creative process and mindset. Im also a huge basketball fan”

•What gets you up in the morning? And what’s the first thing you do when you wake up?

“I typically always have something going on with my photographic journey, so that really gets me up in the morning. The first thing I usually do is step outside and get some fresh air for a few minutes.”

•Do you have any quotes that you live by?

“Do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” - as stressful as being a full time photographer can get at times, at the end of the day i’m always grateful for the opportunity I have.”

•What is the most unique and interesting situation photography has landed you in, so far?

“The most unique situation that photography has landed me in HAS to be shooting Frank Ocean live and front row. It was a surreal experience because he’s one of my favorite artists of all time and he’s such a unicorn that you rarely get the chance to photograph him.”

07/04/2022

The bike and the chair 📸

04/04/2022

“It ended up taking me a whole year to finish my first roll of film and get it developed, but after that I’ve never looked back!” Our interview with 📸
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•What inspired you to first pick up a film camera?
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“I started shooting digital when I moved to Vietnam but after a while I wanted more of a challenge, and liked the idea of learning the intricacies of film."
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•What does your perfect day look like?
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“It’s hard to think of just one perfect day, but if I had to choose, it would be back in Taiwan with my partner, riding a scooter to camp at our favourite beach, Dong’ao Bay, which is surrounded by glorious mountains. Then we’d pitch up the tent with a beer, put on some good music, go for swim, make a bonfire, and eat hotdogs under the stars. We just left Taiwan and Dong’ao Bay has a special place in our hearts, so there’s not much that sounds better than that to me right now.”
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•If you had to go back and tell your 18year old self one thing - what would it be?
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“I would tell 18 year old Chelsea that even though she’s going to go through some incredibly challenging times in the coming months, she’s not only going to get through them and be stronger for it, but she’s going to end up leading a life that she never ever imagined she could. So be strong, trust yourself, love yourself, and take good care of yourself.”
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•What are you passionate about besides photography?
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“I’m passionate about learning new things, so I’ve been teaching myself graphic design over the last couple of years. I’m hoping to put those skills to real life use and start working in the graphic design industry. I’m also passionate about seeing new places and being in nature, so that’s something I try to implement into my life as often as I can.”

29/03/2022

"Focusing on self and not attaching identity to things and people is the advice I wish I was given.” Our interview with 📸
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•What inspired you to first pick up a film camera?
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“Learning to use a film camera was actually a New Year’s resolution, brought on by the many film cameras that I had from my great grandfather collecting dust in my bedroom. I’ve spent years eyeing his soviet Zenits and averting my eyes in fear (and if any of you are familiar with soviet cameras you’ll know I was sort of almost right to), but I’d finally had enough and made the decision to make 2020 all about film. Haven’t put down film cameras since!"
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•What does your perfect day look like?
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“All of my happiest memories involve the following: traveling, photography, art & people. Right now I would love to wake up in a new city, surrounded by people I love with tickets to all the best museums and theatres that hypothetical city has to offer.”
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•If you had to go back and tell your 18year old self one thing - what would it be?
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“My 18 year old self really needed to know that life wasn’t as final and permanent as it seemed. University isn’t the most important thing in the world (which my 18 year old self would have definitely scoffed at), neither is a relationship; everything changes and what I cared about then I haven’t thought about in years. Focusing on self and not attaching identity to things and people is the advice I wish I was given.”
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•What are you passionate about besides photography?
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“I work as an English teacher, so everything to do with languages & literature is very near and dear to me. I hope to never stop learning and to never stop sharing the knowledge with others, for it only really becomes real when shared.”

01/05/2021

“It’s astonishing to see what beauty you can find in the world.” - Our interview with ✨

•What message do you try and convey with your photos?

“I would say my work can be divided into three main photography styles: street, travel/documentary and portrait photography. In the case of portrait photography, I try to show the ‘true’ persona of that person I photograph. I don’t always come to a shoot with an idea (most of the time I do, but sometimes I love to be open to whatever happens that day) and then I just try to let that person do their stuff freely. Most of the time, those pictures will show more life than any planned out shoot possibly could. My photography is just there to shed a light on the beauty in everything, for everyone.”

•What is the strangest/most interesting situation that photography has gotten you in?

“Strangest moments are probably every time friends ask for a shooting for their tinder accounts. The most interesting on the other hand, was in 2019 when I hiked up into a small remote mountain village in Indonesia and was able to document the life there. I really enjoyed that. It was just astonishing to see what beauty you can find in the world.”

•Are there any quotes that you live by?

“Not really, but I’m really bad at decision making so I would say this one by the legend Hunter S. Thompson is always on my mind — Someone who procrastinates in his choosing will inevitably have his choice made for him by circumstance —“

•Do you think that film is truly still alive?

“With the ongoing hype about vintage stuff it’s probably more alive than ever.”

29/04/2021

“I spent a lot of time suppressing my creative side because I thought it wouldn’t fit the image that others wanted me to fit.” - Our interview with 💭

•What inspires you creatively?

“Typically when I look for inspiration I will dig into YouTube videos of people writing and producing their songs. It sounds kind of weird, but I draw a lot of my inspiration from other people being creative in their own respective fields. And I try incorporate that into my own work.”

•What made you first pick up a film camera?

“For me, I first picked up a camera about two months into the pandemic. My friends and I had all been sent home from our university studies and we didn’t know what to do. I bought my first camera at a thrift store for 20 dollars and haven’t been able to put it down since.”

•If you could go back and tell your 18yr old self one thing — what would it be?

“I think the one thing I would tell myself is to not be afraid of being unique. I spent a lot of time suppressing my creative side because I thought it wouldn’t fit the image that others wanted me to fit. Never be afraid to express yourself. I truly feel we all have God-given talents and abilities to bless this world with. Don’t be afraid to create! That’s what I wish 18 year old me knew the most.”

•Are there any quotes that you live by?

“I forget who the quote is by, but it is —Our real joy is ultimately defined by what we willingly struggle for— ”

•Do you think that film is truly still alive?

“Absolutely, yes. I don’t think it has ever been more alive. The medium is readily available and the film community is growing and evolving everyday. I truly feel that nothing can capture emotion and a story better than film does.”

26/04/2021

“Photography has made me more observant, I now notice my surroundings.” - Our interview with .bryanphotography 💭

•What made you first pick up a film camera?

“I just love how it looks, the colors, the grain. I started with a disposable camera and then from there I ordered my first camera on eBay which is the Pentax Spotmatic SP.”

•Where do you live and what is the film community like there?

“I live in San Diego, California, our film community here are very supportive and very welcoming. We as a community want to keep growing and supporting no matter what.”

•What is the strangest/most interesting situation that photography has gotten you in?

“Before Photography, when I would go out for a walk; I wouldn’t pay attention to my surroundings as much. Photography has changed that for me because I’m more observant now. I feel like we pass by things that we don’t care or notice so it’s my job to capture that and show everyone the creativity behind it.”

•Are there any quotes that you live by?

“I don’t really have a quote but I just go by do what makes you happy and capture what you love the most that you can hold onto forever.”

•What are you passionate about besides photography?

“I’m very passionate about just enjoying life as much as you can, the little things are what make a big impact.”

•Finally, do you think film is truly still alive?

“Yes I do believe film is still alive and now more than ever people are picking up that film camera and going out to make history.”

25/04/2021

“If I feel uninspired, I just shoot more, it's as simple as that, if I shoot it generates new ideas in me.” - Our interview with 🏖

•What made you first pick up a film camera? 
“I am the son and grandson of a photographer. Easy!” 
•What inspires you creatively? What do you do when you feel a lack of inspiration? 
“What helps me the most to work with is movement, both my own and that of the person I'm photographing. If I feel uninspired, I just shoot more, it's as simple as that, if I shoot it generates new ideas in me. I've been doing it since I was very young and it's what suits me best :) I shoot an average of 400 rolls a year, so yes, I shoot a lot. Paradoxical for an IG account with less than 130 images.” 
•Are there any quotes that you live by? 
“There is a quote in Spanish that goes something like "The first horse to fall in a race is the first to look back”.” 
•Do you think that film is truly still alive? 
“I work in a lab with more than 20 employees, 3 delegations in 2 different countries (soon the 4th delegation and 3rd country) we develop and scan about 3000 rolls per month. What makes you think so? 🙃”

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