interview with ojmjakon!

this time I had the pleasure of interviewing Duncan Binet-Fauvel, better known as ojmjakon. born in England & living in Wales, he has been taking photos since he was 15 (much like me!). he has some really amazing stuff - his photos seem to capture moments that would've otherwise gone unnoticed. he's able to see things in these little vignettes that the rest of us probably wouldn't even blink an eye at - that is, until we see his prints. here goes :)

how long have you been taking photos, & how long have you had an Etsy shop?

I’ve been taking photos since roughly the age of 15, but I had used disposable cameras before then as a kid. I remember taking some of animals at the zoo with my brother as a very small child, and I loved being able to look through them again when I got home. There’s something really enthralling about capturing that moment forever, and I will never lose that passion for beauty and spontaneity. I’ve had an Etsy shop since March 18, 2008, and I love it!

what kind of camera do you use & what's your dream camera?

I use 2 cameras primarily, a Canon G9 and Canon 10D. I want to use my film cameras more, but as a student my funds are very limited and as such I find it hard to finance the film and processing. My dream camera could be any one, really. I want to express the feeling of the moment, and I know I could do that with any camera you gave to me. I see the most important aspect of photography as the subject, not the camera itself.

in which celebrity's house would you most like to see your work hung?

Michel Gondry, one of my favourite directors. I love the way he sees and captures the world on film.

what is the first thing you remember photographing?

Probably my first cat, Snowzy, who was incredibly patient. I remember following her around the garden with a disposable camera, snapping happily away.

where does your username come from?

Ojmjakon, a Russian village. I chose it as I have always been fascinated by the area’s people and landscape. It is one of the coldest permanently inhabited places on Earth and somewhere I would absolutely love to visit, albeit prepared to freeze!

what are your favorite bands/books/movies/tv shows?

I have quite an eclectic taste in all four! Some of my favourite bands and musicians are ELO; Genesis; Stevie Wonder; Black Sabbath; De La Soul; Moby and Aesop Rock. My favourite book without a doubt is The Hobbit which I have read and read again since I was very young. I am a huge fan of Roald Dahl also and many of his stories have stayed with me since childhood. My favourite movies are Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; The Shining; Flight of the Navigator; Back to the Future; Friday Night Lights and Seven. I enjoy 80’s blockbusters a little too much.

in what way has your location influenced your art?

I was brought up in quite an industrial area in South Wales, but with plenty of countryside within easy reach. We would often visit my Grandpa in the South of England as a family, and I remember the rolling hills and scent of bonfires very clearly. I am influenced by both nature and industry in equal measure, and I think that this gives my photography a unique flavour. Both are beautiful in their own right, but my heart definitely belongs in the wild.

what do you do when you're not taking photos?

I chill out and listen to music mostly. I enjoy people’s company, and I love my friends and family loads. I have recently begun a course in Fine Art at Hereford College of Art in England, and I am having a lot of fun. I have started binding my own books, and I hope to start experimenting with other new ideas very soon.

seriously, do ME a favor & browse through this incredible shop. I always consider myself lucky in a way to stumble upon shops like this one -- I'm so enthralled with the artist that it's almost like trying to send a convo to a celebrity. exciting! his prints are categorized by color (neat!) & he offers a wide range of sizes, so no matter what wall space you're trying to cover, he can accomodate :)