A Vintage Look with Alex Gray & the Daguerreotype Achromat Art Lens
Photographer Alex Gray is a professional freelance photographer who has a wealth of experience shooting everything from fashion shoots, food & portraits. We were struck by the clean and confident approach to his work and saw that he had been using the Daguerreotype Achromat Art Lens. We reached out the Alex and asked him about his work and the reason for using this unique soft-focused lens.
Hi Alex please tell us a bit about yourself?
I'm Alex Gray, a photographer from Halifax - a market town in the North of England. I started experimenting with photography in around 2008, mainly photographing & filming skateboarding at local skateparks Hebden Bridge and Crow Wood. I kept shooting and managed to make a career for myself as a professional photographer almost a decade ago now.
How would you describe your photography style?
I like to show versatility in my photography - I shoot anything and everything. I always try to create an atmospheric feel with whatever I'm photographing.
What made you decide to shoot using the Daguerreotype lens?
I love experimenting with different kit and shooting methods. I love the results from vintage equipment and the convenience of digital is so important when you're constantly shooting which is why I love this lens and the vintage looks it creates.
Tell us a bit about these photos and the ideas behind them?
These photos are taken from 2 personal projects. One with Thomas Griffin on the rugged and often brutal landscapes of Saddleworth Moor, and the other with George Lovedays in the industrial borough of Kelham Island, Sheffield. Both sets aim to create a slightly disorientating, dream-like feeling.
What are the benefits of shooting with this lens and does it change the way you approach a photo?
I love this lens for the soft, dreamy aesthetic it creates, and the emulation of vintage equipment without the need for costly film development. It's exciting to experiment with the different aperture plates, each giving photos their own unique style.
What's coming up in 2025?
2025 is busy with projects all around the UK; Manchester, Leeds, London, Birmingham. Also some trips to capture some more travel photography in Santander & Maderia.
To see more of Alex's work visit his Instagram page. Thanks to models Thomas Griffin and George Lovedays
2025-08-11
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