Interview: Michael Brunt / by Jack Gobbe

Harnessing the gorgeous hues of film, Michael Brunt has an eye for breathtaking and downright lovely visual imagery; be it through his landscape or portraiture work. Accordingly, I was keen to chat about all things analogue and staying inspired in your creative endeavours.

Hey Michael, thanks for chatting. Firstly, introduce yourself. Where are you based and what do you do?

My name is Michael Brunt and I am a freelance designer and photographer based on the south coast of NSW.

How have you promoted your work?

I guess I wouldn’t have work if it wasn’t for Instagram, which is cool to a degree... But also a really weird concept when you think about it. Outside of that, I think just being nice to people and speaking passionately about what you create is a great way to land clients. I don’t think I’ve ever actively attempted to promote my work to any great extent outside of Instagram.

One of the things I greatly admire about your portfolio is its diversity. I’ll see a gorgeous portrait of yours before finding a breathtaking landscape. What draws you to such a variety of photographic styles?

To be honest, I think you may have just stumbled across my work at a really curious time haha. I was once so scared of portrait work and had no idea about the fashion industry or what an editorial was. Over the last year, I’ve found myself drawn to that aspect of photography and the stories you can tell with people. I still love getting outdoors and shooting landscapes, but definitely am pushing my work towards fashion.

Do you strictly shoot film? Or do you vary between analogue and digital?

When I first started taking photos I was solely shooting film, simply because I couldn't afford a digital camera. These days I alternate due to client needs, and let's face it. Digital is a lot more reliable when it comes to delivering files. I am aiming to shoot all my personal work on film.

Read about Michael's influences and his dream project here.