Member Moment: Dan Seifert

Dan Seifert is a Film Club Member who has photos featured in our Member Show Seasonal Reflections: Fall (currently on view). His photos are mainly of street scenes taken in Philadelphia so this week we decided to get to know him a bit more. Scroll down to read the interview and see some of his photographs.

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of door on street in Philadelphia, PA

PL: What got you interested in film photography?

DS: What first got me interested in photography was Matthew Gallagher’s tumblr. I didn’t end up shooting photos till like 10 years later but that was definitely it.

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of street in Philadelphia, PA

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of mailroom

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of tops of houses down a street

PL: What type of camera do you shoot with, and what kind of film do you usually use?

DS:I shoot with a Pentax Espio 80. Normally I use Fujicolor 200 or Superia X-tra 400.

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of construction on sidewalk

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of parked van with graffiti

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of mural at the corner of an intersection

PL: What do you enjoy about street photography? What is challenging about it?

DS: It gives me an opportunity to document subculture during my time in Philadelphia. The challenge is not feeling corny because I’m not taking the same risks as the people I document.

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of graffitied truck parked on the street

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of someone pouring coffee

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 looking down a street

PL: Many of your photos have a strong composition. When photographing, what are you thinking before you click the shutter?

DS: I think I’m lucky.. A lot of my photography is chance and putting myself out there. You don’t get to watch a Steve Powers mural get buffed sitting around your apartment.

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of person on bike on Broad St, Philadelphia, PA

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of person on four wheeler going down Broad St, Philadelphia, PA

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 biker in subway

PL: Out of all of these photos, which one is your favorite and why?

DS: The kid on the bike at Walnut Locust Station. I’ve been taking their photos here and there since the summer and that one stuck.

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of people on motorbikes riding up Broad St

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of the side of a building

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of the top of buildings

PL: You mentioned you are a “little casual with photography and are learning as [you] go.” Do you have any goals for what you want to achieve with photography as you continue to learn?

DS: My friends @yavnw did a photo book last year that really inspired me. I want to eventually do photo essays or combine words & photos into a book.

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of mural being painted over in Philadelphia, PA

Photograph taken with Pentax Espio 80 of bikers riding down Broad St, Philadelphia, PA

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Every day, Club Members take exceptional pictures. If you are not a Film Club Member yet what are you waiting for? Join today to support the photo community in Philly and to start saving money on film processing!