Lifestyle Portraits by Derry and His Petzval 55 f/1.7 MKII Art Lens

Houston-based artist Dareas Scott, a.k.a Derry, is a versatile photographer of many subjects, from couples and weddings to streets and lifestyle. He grounds his passion and focus in what's in front of him, often shooting in black and white to capture the essence of his subject.

One of the lenses that earned a spot in his collection is our Petzval 55 f/1.7 MKII Art Lens. We speak with Derry to learn how the Petzval 55 complements his style, and take a look at his beautiful shots.

Hi Derry, welcome to the Lomography Magazine! Please tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Dareas Scott but everyone calls me Derry and I’m a 30-year-old photographer based in Houston, Texas.

How did you get started in photography?

My photography journey started in 2010 when my current fiancé, then girlfriend, took a photography course at our alma mater, Lamar University. She photographed a set of railroad tracks with a friend, then showed me the physical print she developed in class. I was in awe and fell in love with the idea of capturing something as is—it is at a particular point in time that won’t happen again.

Why do you shoot mostly black and white?

I mostly shoot black and white because I can focus myself and my viewer more than I can with color. I think color causes too many distractions. When I’m shooting I rather think about what I’m shooting versus if my white balance is correct and if I can fix it later. If I shoot a photo of an old man at a gas station and the color is on the warm side now my viewer is thinking about how hot it is and maybe that’s why my subject has a certain look on his face. Colors pull your attention everywhere.

What prompted you to try out the Petzval 55 f/1.7 MK11 Art Lens? What were your initial thoughts?

The thing that prompted me to grab the Petzval 55 was that it had a Z Mount so I could use it with my best professional cameras like the Nikon Z6. I was thoroughly impressed by taking it out of the box because it was heavy and not a cheap novelty item. I knew that I would be a fan when I saw that it also came with a ND filter.

How does the lens complement your photography style? Are there any features or abilities you’d like to highlight?

This lens compliments me because it adds seasoning, as I call it, to my photos. The swirl draws focus to my subject. I love that for me. I love how when it flares it resembles an eyelash and it adds a physical touch to shooting digital. I also shoot and develop film. I love the physicality of it all, making decisions and executing things by hand. I love the manual focusing, controlling the bokeh myself. The perfect mix between automatic and manual.

You captured a collection of beautiful portraits. Do you have a favorite?

Yes, my favorite photo is of a group of people sitting in an old school car in a field with the Houston skyline behind them. It’s from my collection called, Postcards from Home.

If you could take the Petzval 55 anywhere in the world, where and what would you shoot?

I would love to take it to New York. I haven’t been since 2019 and I would love to get some of those classic photos that you only get in New York City. When there’s a photo taken there, the viewer just knows it’s there.

Have you worked with another one of our Art Lens collection?

I have not. This was my first, but my sights are now set on the Daguerreotype Achromat 2.9/64 Art Lens for even tighter portraits.

What would you say to those looking to try the Petzval 55?

This lens will give you exactly what you’re thinking it will, so get it now!

Anything else you’d like to add?

Go and tell the stories you want to tell.

Thank you for sharing Derry! To keep up with his work, check out his Instagram and website.

Learn more about our Petzval 55 Art Lens.

written by kaylalew on 2023-04-17 #gear #portrait #usa #petzval #petzval-55