Author name: shazdirector

Suridh 'Shaz' Hassan is an award winning documentary director, creative producer and co-author of the Stickerbomb book series. Currently he is living in Seattle directing his first fiction feature film SODO EXPRESS.

5 Frames with a Toyoca-S whilst moving country – By Shaz

There I was in Seattle, the Shot On Film Store trying my hardest to get my Nikon FE2 fixed. It wasn’t happening. The drop it took killed the electrics and after some conversations I left with a personal fave, a Nikon FM.

On the way out, I remembered a conversation with a friend about cameras under $20. I could not help myself. I went right back to the counter and asked the guy ‘hey, got anything that works that isn’t too beat-up, has relatively clean functioning parts and under $20?’ His eyes lit up. When it comes to gear, I know that look. He headed straight over to the budget bin of cameras (which is more like a massive table) and starts to dig. The sounds of clicks, whirrs, hums and aahs takes over. He was clearly having a good time looking for some well-used gear that muggins over here will happily part money for.

A few mins later, he emerges with a Toyoca-S and assures me, it works. So $18 USD poorer (but with 2 free rolls of film – cheers lads!) I walked out with another camera.

5 Frames rediscovering film with a Nikon FE2 – By Shaz

I haven’t used a 35mm film camera for about 15 years and what a mistake that was. Through my teens and then twenties it was my Nikon FM2 with a 50mm 1.4 that helped me become the documentary filmmaker that I am today. Dealing with people, getting permission to take their picture, finding stories, learning all the basics – framing, lighting, patience, timing and being nice – all skills I still use everyday and it was that little tank of a camera that started me off on the right path.

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