Member Moment: Dylan DeJong- Dougherty

Dylan DeJong-Dougherty is a long time Film Club Member, Student Ambassador and customer of PhotoLounge. Some of his photographs have also been featured in our gallery shows! We are drawn to the vibrancy and creativity of his photographs so this week we interviewed him to get to know his process more.

Photograph of person sitting on stool with pink background

Photograph of person facing the camera smoking a cigarette

Photograph of someone listening to music

PL: What got you interested in photography?

DD: My grandfather was a photographer, I grew up going through boxes and boxes of photos or magazines or camera equipment but what really interested me in photography was being able to take what I saw and clearly present it to someone else. I could never draw, or paint and I didn’t like to sit still so finding something that is visual art but also an activity with movement is really what interested me the most.

Photograph of three screens on stage

Photograph of people checking out in a convenience store

Photograph of singer on a stage

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

DD: I shoot with a couple cameras, my Olympus Stylus 150, which I think is the perfect point and shoot. Another one would be the canon Elan ii. I love Fuji Superia and IlfordHp5

Photograph of people gathered on a street smiling

Photograph of a grocery storefront taken at night

Photograph of person looking into the camera smoking

PL: There are a mix of black and white and color photos within this collection. What are some qualities that you like about both black and white and color film?

DD: It almost feels like I can capture two different worlds. When shooting in black and white I find myself being more particular about the composition or the exposure than I do when shooting in color, it takes an entire part of the process out and feels more raw to me. What I like about color film is how exciting and disappointing it can be. Whether it’s getting a roll back and being in love with the colors and the tones and contrast or it being completely flat it adds to the experience of making art.

Photograph of people sitting on benches in a park

Photograph of person on a city street corner

Photograph of people on a city street corner standing next to a trash can

PL: Many of your photos capture people. What do you enjoy about photographing people? What is challenging about it?

DD: I enjoy capturing the way we interact with the space and individuals around us. I’d say something that is most challenging would be the inability to always get the one shot, or the “perfect” photo, especially when shooting on the street. But that at times also makes me love it more. To me photography is very momentary and fast paced which is a way I like to live my life.

Photograph of person leaning against side of a building

Photograph of person holding a bouquet of flowers

Photograph taken behind people walking down the street

PL: Some of your photos seem staged or posed while others are more candid. These are two very different approaches to taking pictures. What are some qualities you like about each approach?

DD: I don’t like to box myself in. I use the skills developed in both staged photos, and candid photos to compose images. When I stage photos I try not to be too particular, I like to be loose and capture the subject in a more natural state which translates from my love for street photography and candid moments.

Photograph of person sitting and eating in a parking lot

Photograph of person sitting on a bellman cart

Photograph of person looking away from camera in front of yellow sky

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

DD: I’d say the one of my friend Zack standing in the field with the yellow sky. It’s a lot less staged than it looks and that’s why I love it. He didn’t actually know I was taking his photo. It was in the middle of his festival and I happened to capture that moment of him talking to a friend. It was also my first time experimenting with different colors, trying something more outside of the box I was used to. It feels otherworldly to me and out there and I like being able to make things that feel out there or different.

Portrait photograph

Photograph of two people sitting on top of construction vehicle

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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!