HILLVALE
With the continuous overflow and renewal of static images at the tips of our fingers, and devices that emulate laborious photographic processes at the touch of a button, it’s become easier than ever to fall out of touch with the true artistry involved in photography. Culture has become akin to an unceasing tumblr stream, fragmenting reality and reducing artistic appreciation to a few seconds of screen time. For these reasons perhaps, we have recently seen the resurgence of film photography. Artists and novices alike find themselves drawn to the more considered and tactile approach offered by this process, and similarly appreciators long for the refreshingly organic and nostalgic impressions that come with viewing it. Photographer/ graphic designer friends Jason Hamilton and Andrew Johnson aim to firmly establish this resurrection in their hometown of Melbourne. The pair began Hillvale - an independent photo lab run from a refurbished garage in Brunswick. “When someone thinks of film, we want them to think of Hillvale,” explains Hamilton. “We hope to create a place where film photography can live on in Melbourne. As much as a photo lab is about service, we see this as a platform for creating an independent photographic community.”
Hamilton and Johnson met whilst studying Communication Design at RMIT, but formed an immediate bond over cameras and photography. The inspiration for Hillvale came from the first piece of equipment they acquired - a film processor destined for the rubbish tip. “The first time we successfully developed a roll through the machine - pulling out those negatives at 3am, after hours of calculating ratios and mixing chemicals, was the most satisfying moment to date. Like magic,” says Johnson. “Once we had it running we realised it could serve a greater purpose other than our own needs. Being photographers ourselves, we have a large network of people in the business and others
on the street with an interest in photos. It's been a great way to develop our own business around one of our great passions, and also get to work with a lot of our close friends.” The atmosphere of Hillvale is laidback, inviting and communal with D.I.Y. touches. Hamilton confesses the two have become quite the handymen since beginning the business. Like the collaborative environment Hillvale are establishing in the local photographic community, the name itself was created from an amalgamation between the name of the town they found their first processor, and the suburb where they first got it working. “We wanted a name which was unique to itself, to give Hillvale its own identity,” says Hamilton.
On the company’s business approach, Hamilton says “we offer something that has a more approachable feel to it, something that is not aimed at commercial photographers. Basically, a place where people can connect, hang out, read a book or zine, drink a cup of tea... All the while getting their film processed at an affordable rate.” Aside from establishing a relaxing, creative environment to enjoy, Hillvale also function by having multiple locations around Melbourne where people can drop in their film for collection. The duo then develop, scan and upload the photos to be downloaded. “The whole process works like this,” explains Hamilton, “once you've finished a roll (or rolls) of film, you fill out a job bag and place your job bag (with film) inside the drop box. Job bags live with the drop boxes and contain the customer’s contact info and all their processing and scanning preferences. We then empty these drop boxes at scheduled times throughout the week and process & scan the films the same scheduled evening. Once processing and scanning is done, we then send the digital scans to the customer online. Payment is also made online too. We then either post negatives back out to the customer or they can pick them up in person. We currently have three drop boxes available; one at Thousand Pound Bend (located in Melbourne's CBD), one at Incu Women’s Melbourne QV store, and one out the front of our lab in Brunswick. Keep an eye out on our website for announcements of our new drop box locations.”
While every city in Australia may have lost creatives to Melbourne’s thriving art scene, with inspiring initiatives like Hillvale, it’s not hard to imagine why. “It is a really exciting time to be a photographer in Melbourne. Coming up this November, the Independent Photography Festival (IPF) kicks off again. Since IPF last year, we have noticed a lot of interest in film photography and taking a step back from the digital world. We think that everything in life is so fast paced, it's nice to take some time and have to wait for something that can end up surprising you. I think, like us, lots of other photographers in Melbourne are taking this approach and enjoying the art of photography,” says Hamilton. “There is a really solid foundation of photographers coming through Hillvale constantly. There are so many people to mention but Ryan Cookson, Michael Thomas, Nicholas Hawker, Sam Wong, are some to keep an eye on.”
Despite servicing the dense artistic population in Melbourne, Hillvale are also paving the way for approachable, affordable artistic photography in the wider community, both nationally and internationally. “We’ve received some larger scale requests that we wouldn’t have imagined receiving,” says Johnson. “Like being posted 38 rolls of film from London to process and scan. That was a great moment, knowing that our service wasn’t restricted to Melbourne alone.” “It is a privilege to be trusted with other peoples memories,” says Hamilton. “People are generally more mindful of capturing images on film and one of the most interesting aspects is to see what people choose to capture in their life.” On the future, Hamilton simply states “Hillvale is just the beginning of many other beginnings.”
Photography by Maggie Beatrice of PITCH
Published in PITCH Zine Issue# 21, September 2013