Dan Rubin is a London-based photographer, designer and creative director. Dan’s photography takes on a documentary perspective. He uses his Leica M6 to capture thought-provoking imagery that leaves a lasting impression.

We caught up with Dan to find out about his passion for photography and the inspiration behind his work.

Most of my commercial and personal work is on film. I used to shoot more digital photography, but I was spending a lot of time in post-production trying to make my images look like film.

Why do you choose to shoot your 35mm analogue photography with the Leica M6?

I had a Leica M3 before the M6. I shifted to the M6 because I was already accustomed to the M-body and wanted a light meter to create more accurate work.

I love that it is lightweight enough to take with me travelling. The ease of use and the quality for its compact size is a great balance.

Do you take any pre-production or post-production steps when capturing your imagery?

I make minor edits in post-production, but I make most of my creative decisions before loading the camera. I decide which film stock I am committing to, its colour palette, grain, dynamic range and light sensitivity (ISO).

How do you know when you want to use a contrast filter for your black-and-white imagery?

Filters make film stock more interesting by adding contrast and texture. I either use yellow, orange, or red filters. Orange is my go-to because I tend to push black and white film by 1 or 2 stops so I can have higher shutter speeds and depth of field, so the resulting loss of light from the filter is somewhat balanced out.

What is your favourite lens to use with the Leica M6?

I primarily use an early 1970s Summicron 35mm f/2 (v3). It’s a compact lens and most of my work is shot at smaller apertures to get as sharp an image as possible. I also use modern lenses, especially when I want to use wider apertures.

What are your favourite film stocks and why?

It’s hard to pick a favourite, as each film I use has unique benefits. However, for colour film Kodak Portra 800 is so versatile, it has a fine grain and pushes incredibly well. The colour palette is also gorgeous. For black and white photography, I know I can rely on Ilford HP5+. I can shoot it at a wide range of ISO by pushing or pulling and frequently use it at ISO800 (pushed 1 stop) or 1600 (pushed 2 stops).

Do you have any advice for someone looking to get into film photography?

Go out and shoot. Choose a film stock, then go out and finish the roll. Don’t be too precious: you’re not going to “waste” frames; you need to see your results soon after you’ve captured the images to learn, so you can remember what you did to achieve certain results.

Do you have any new projects on the horizon?

I have some exciting projects coming up. I am leading a photography tour in Tanzania for 12 days later this year, which is exciting from both a teaching and travel perspective. It will be an amazing experience to lead a small group of people and capture animal migrations, local food, culture, and more.

I will also be launching my line of bespoke camera straps in April. This project has been postponed since April 2020, so it’s been a long time coming. It’s the strap I use every day and it features in the video for my Leica M6.

Find Dan on Instagram and his website.