X

Exposure: Amanda Gilligan

Sydney-based photographer Amanda Gilligan showcases her collection of Polaroid and medium format images on this month's Exposure.

Lexy Savvides
Lexy is an on-air presenter and award-winning producer who covers consumer tech, including the latest smartphones, wearables and emerging trends like assistive robotics. She's won two Gold Telly Awards for her video series Beta Test. Prior to her career at CNET, she was a magazine editor, radio announcer and DJ. Lexy is based in San Francisco.
Lexy Savvides
amanda_1.jpg
1 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

(Credit: Amanda Gilligan)

Photographer: Amanda Gilligan

Biography: Amanda Gilligan is a Sydney-based photographer who has been shooting since she was a little girl. Amanda's passion for photography developed further when she bought her first SLR about eight years ago.

Since then, she has taught herself how to use film and digital cameras and finds that both mediums have their place; though she has secretly thought about selling all her digital gear to buy a Hasselblad.

Amanda's work has been featured in the book For The Love Of Light: A Tribute to the Art of Polaroid, a collection of personal Polaroids from 25 photographers around the world.

Another of Amanda's dreams was fulfilled when she was able to shoot in the photographer's pit at a U2 show during the band's most recent Sydney tour.

She maintains a photo blog at www.montmartrephotoblog.org and a film photography blog called Paper Cameras.

Apples and her
This Polaroid was taken for the book,

amanda_2.jpg
2 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

Dorothy
This is the second Polaroid taken for the book for my Wizard of Oz tribute. I also think red looks really good when shot through a Polaroid camera.

Equipment: Polaroid SX70 original, 600 film

amanda_3.jpg
3 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

Russian
I was always fascinated with Russian nesting dolls as a child. It wasn't until I was an adult that I was given some as a gift. Each time I look at them, it takes me right back to my childhood.

Equipment: Polaroid SX70 original, 600 film

amanda_4.jpg
4 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

Pears
I try to use natural light as much as possible with my Polaroids. Often, afternoon light will come streaming through my kitchen window and I will run for the camera.

Equipment: Polaroid SX70 original, 600 film

amanda_5.jpg
5 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

The light
In this shot, however, the light was in the creepy back stairwell in my apartment block. I call them the cockroach stairs, but they capture the light!

Equipment: Polaroid SX70 original, 600 film

amanda_6.jpg
6 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

Sink
I often shoot domestic situations; I try to find beauty in things around me.

Equipment: Polaroid SX70 original, 600 film

amanda_7.jpg
7 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

Vintage
I live in an inner city suburb of Sydney where there are vintage stores and lots of cafes. I love the village atmosphere and grungy-ness around every corner.

Equipment: Polaroid SX70 original, 600 film

amanda_8.jpg
8 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

Blueberries
Another theme I often find myself drawn to is little things in little hands. I have shot lots of photos like this in different variations. I think nature looks even better through a Polaroid.

Equipment: Polaroid SX70 original, 600 film

amanda_9.jpg
9 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

Pearls
I'm forever chasing that magical Polaroid light. One afternoon it was there, so I turned the camera towards me and hoped for the best. I use a manual Polaroid SLR camera so finding the focus is no easy task, especially when the camera is aimed at yourself.

Equipment: Polaroid SX70 original, 600 film

amanda_10.jpg
10 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

Polka
The red theme coming back again. Lazy, hazy afternoons with a good book and a cup of tea is what summer is all about.

Equipment: Polaroid SX70 original, 600 film

amanda_11.jpg
11 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

Autumn
This was the first shot out of my Yashica Mat 124 which is a medium format, twin-lens camera. It was taken outside a Buddhist Temple in the Inner West.

Equipment: Yashica Mat 124, Fuji Pro160S (120) film.

amanda_12.jpg
12 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

Cherry blossom
From autumn to spring, beautiful springtime blossoms in Ashfield, Sydney.

Equipment: Yashica Mat 124, Kodak PortraNC (120) film.

amanda_13.jpg
13 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

Window
TLR (twin-lens reflex) cameras have a flipped around view, so getting used to them is a little tricky. Kodak PortraNC is my absolute favourite film. It's how I want all my photographs to look — creamy and milky.

Equipment: Yashica Mat 124, Kodak PortraNC (120) film.

amanda_14.jpg
14 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

Botanic
Shot in Sydney's Royal Botanic Gardens. I love a bit of sun flare, especially with a Holga.

Equipment: Holga Fuji Pro160S (120) film.

amanda_15.jpg
15 of 15 Amanda Gilligan, www.montmartrephotoblog.org

Love Note
Shot with a Holga, this photograph is quite old but has a special meaning. I am actually a teacher by trade. One afternoon after work, I went to my car to discover that one of my students had left this little love note for me, just as you see it. I was lucky I had a camera with me that day.

Equipment: Holga 120s, Ilford Delta 100 (120) film.

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos