Analogue Adventures: The Vintage Camera Dress

Our next Analogue Adventure had a surprising parallel at the recent Met Gala when Sabrina Carpenter appeared in a dress made of film negatives! Luke Woodford's project is also dress-related, but he chose to construct the entire garment from vintage cameras themselves and turn it into a living sculpture. We saw his work on social media a few weeks ago and HAD to ask him about the project, 'Resurrect The Iconic'. Enjoy!

Luke - thank you so much for sharing your project with the rest of the analogue community! How long have you been shooting film and how did you get started in the hobby?

I’ve been a photographic artist for 18 years, ALWAYS fascinated with film, so much so that I often edit my digital photographs to look like film [Ed: sacrilege!!] but actually shooting on film, this project - Resurrect The Iconic was my first proper time! It’s crazy I’ve waited so long, especially after my fascination with film photography, not just with the results they produce but with the cameras themselves.

If I'm being honest, I think it was a case of being scared to learn but everything happens for a reason and for this project, the most important one of my life, I guess it kind of makes sense to be my first.

What camera did you use for this project - and what kind of film do you usually use?

The black and white photos of Resurrect The Iconic were shot on a Zorki 4K. Being my first time properly using a film camera, my local experts were telling me that I’ve definitely gone in at the deep end, and they were right!

It's a complicated camera but the reason it was the chosen one is because my mother found a photo of my late father using one when he was young. Its actually part of the family tree of photographs that form the top part of the dress. Its of Russian origin. I managed to source one.

For me even though it’s not the easiest film camera to use, it was about the significant meaning of using the same camera that my father used to have to create the art for the photoshoot. The colour photographs were made using a digital camera, because basically, it was backup incase I f*cked up the the film photos but it’s kind of ended up being the best of both world but the film photographs are definitely my favourite.

You just can’t not love the results from authentic film results. The actual film used was Ilford HP5+ which was highly recommended for what I wanted to create and I was very happy with the results.

Tell us everything about this project! What was the inspiration?

Resurrect The Iconic is a sculpture made from 350+ vintage cameras and accessories.

Fun fact - it was never meant to be a sculpture, it was just meant to be used for a photoshoot but when we made it we couldn’t bring ourselves to take it apart.

In my home town of Eastbourne there was a robot sculpture made from old cameras, mainly plastic. A key part of my journey is photographing the female form in dresses. I instantly thought of the idea of making a dress out of vintage Analogue cameras but I thought it was impossible and I don’t often think things are impossible! The idea though literally kept niggling at me, even in my sleep...

So I arranged a meeting with my good friend Gabrielle owner of the dress brand Sevrona in my town of Eastbourne and I explained the dream and she explained a way to make the dream a reality, and that was the start ☺️

Fascinating! How did the project develop from that initial idea?

It was a mad process and dare I say that after the initial realisation and faith that it was possible, we made it up as we went along. We had no choice, it hadn’t been done before.

Honestly, had I known the stress and anxiety involved, Im not sure I would have done it, but I did. At every obstacle though, someone came through with an idea to help with the next step. It wouldn’t have come to a fruition without amazing people in my life, especially my fiancé Lila, she was the key to the whole thing.

What other aspects of your art or life did you incorporate in this project and why?

My mum messaged me saying she had found loads of old family photos, some 80 years old, even including my Grandparents wedding. As soon as I saw them, and because I inherently trust the universe, I knew they had to be a part of the corset. But that’s not the craziest part.

In amongst them was a photo of my late father with a camera from when he was young. This fascinated me and of course made me extremely emotional. As I said before, I sourced the camera to use to take the black and white photos. But that’s not the craziest part.

Before my Dad died, he told me to use some of his ashes for something special. Resurrect The Iconic is the most special thing I’ve ever made / done. On the day of the photoshoot I sprinkled his ashes into the dress so he is forever embedded in it.

What an incredible addition 🫶🏼 What were the biggest photographic challenges you faced on capturing the final image?

I don’t think I really faced any which was great. I had my friend Oli Cooper on site who is an absolute expert in film photography in case I had any obstacles.

I will say that I hoped there would be some sun on the day to create a little more dynamic lighting but I can’t control the weather gods!

Sadly none of us can! Was there any part of the project that you were particularly excited or nervous about, and why?

Everything from start to finish!! The end result I was so excited and so nervous too! That’s the thing with digital, of course you get the review the photographs as you go, the amazing and beautiful thing about film is you have to wait. The majority came out great, there were a few that failed but that’s the beauty of the art!

Is there anything you’d do differently - from a photography point of view - if you were to create this work again?

Good question. As I said, I wish we had a little more dynamic lighting but I don’t think I'd really change anything because I do trust the universe and it is what it was meant to be.

I’m hyper critical but some of the photos are still some of my favourites that I’ve ever produced and of course they are by far the most meaningful.

What would you say to anyone who is curious about creating a large-scale project like this?

Just go for it BUT surround yourself with great, supportive people. Listen to them. Creating something like this is not a one person job!

Well said - and group projects often surprise me like this. What is your next planned analogue adventure or project, and which camera/film will you be taking to capture it?

I do have something I’m planning but I have to keep it under wraps for now. What I can say is it’s a little smaller but just as much work! I’m dropping little hints on the instagram @bylukewoodford and it will be shown at The Hungry Eye Fair in Amsterdam this summer.

Resurrect The Iconic was also shown at Haute Photographie via The Hungry Eye team this March. I want to really thank Roy Kahmann and Anna Savoaia for their support on my creations and for giving me these ultimate opportunities for showcasing them.

Where can people go to see more of your work?

My website is www.bylukewoodford.com and my instagram is @bylukewoodford

Is there anything else you’d like to say or talk about that wasn’t covered in the questions above?

Id like to really thank everyone involved as it wouldn’t have happened without these people - Milo Woodford, Lila Collicott, Cheryl Collicott, Jackie Woodford, Stuart Woodford, Tilly Ray, Roni Chapman, Daniel Treacy, Gabrielle @ Sevrona, Oli Cooper, Angelina Churcher, Dawn Randall, Lee Baker, Elliott Mansfield, Joe Morris, Horane Blackwood, Amber Vale, Colourstream.

Thank you Luke! Congratulations on a truly incredible piece of work and photographic result. Now reader - if you'd like to pursue an art project like this then you can head to our black and white film section and get them developed here after. Happy Shooting!