@Justinnambiar

Introduce yourself

Hi, I’m Justin. I’m a Bay Area native and have been working in tech as a visual artist, 3D artist, and retoucher for about 15 years. Most of my creative fulfillment still comes from being behind the camera. I spend a lot of time shooting street scenes on medium format film and nature on large format. That’s where things feel the most honest and personal for me.

How did you first get into photography?

I started shooting film in high school, about 21 years ago. I was really into skateboarding and would film and edit videos with friends. At some point I found a 35mm Pentax in my parents’ closet and brought it with me on a trip to Yosemite. That trip kind of changed everything. After that I was shooting almost every day after school with a close friend and just never stopped. I ended up going to Academy of Art for commercial photography and later worked on photography teams and freelance.

Your work has a strong sense of mood, how do you approach building that visually?

I think it mostly comes from paying attention to light, shadow, stillness, and composition. I shoot a lot on my own, so it becomes a pretty internal process. I like to slow down and really sit with a scene until something feels right. Shooting on a tripod, especially at night or on large format, forces that. With longer exposures, I feel like I’m actually experiencing the scene while I’m making the image, not just reacting to it. That connection to the moment is really important to me.

Do you think certain formats slow you down in a beneficial way?

Yeah, definitely. The larger the format, the slower everything becomes. That’s a big reason I love 4x5. Being able to see the full image on the ground glass, dialing in focus with a loupe, stepping out from under the dark cloth and just observing the scene while the shutter is open, it all makes the process feel really intentional. There’s also something about the cost and effort that makes each frame feel important.

What draws you to a scene that might feel ordinary to others?

For me it’s usually a sense of stillness or quiet. I’m drawn to simple compositions, strong shapes, subtle light, and shadow. I like when a scene feels intimate, like you’re the only one there. There’s also something about nostalgia and timelessness that pulls me in. If a place or moment feels like it could exist in another time, that usually catches my attention.

Do you go into a shoot with intention, or let things unfold naturally?

I used to go in with more structure and specific plans. It worked, but it started to feel a bit rigid. Some of my favorite images are actually from when I first started, when I wasn’t overthinking anything. Now I try to stay a bit more open. I still pay attention to things like light and time of day, but I don’t feel as attached to getting a specific shot. I’m okay just being somewhere, sometimes going back multiple times, and letting it happen when it feels right.

What keeps you shooting film?

There’s always something new to discover. Light changes, places change, and the way I see things changes too. Film keeps me engaged in that process. I like the slowness, the lack of instant feedback, and the unpredictability. It makes me more present and more intentional. It feels like a counterbalance to everything being so fast and immediate now.

What's a photo you almost didn’t take but are glad you did?

I was staying at an Airbnb in Sea Ranch and about to check out. I looked out from the deck and saw these really beautiful foggy conditions. I almost didn’t bother setting up my large format camera, but I ended up doing it anyway. I only made two exposures, but they turned out to be my favorites from that trip. It was a really unique perspective, kind of at eye level with the midsection of tall coastal trees.

What are you currently trying to improve or explore?

I’d like to get better at portraiture. It’s something I haven’t spent much time on since high school, and I want to reconnect with photographing people. I’m also really interested in alternative processes like tintypes. And shooting more motion on film, like 8mm or 16mm, has been on my mind a lot. There’s something really special about seeing your film work in motion. 

What do you hope your work leaves behind?

I’d like to document things that are slowly disappearing. Old cars, signage, architecture, places that hold a sense of history. At the same time, I want my work to create more appreciation for nature and for slower, quieter moments. Just something that helps people pause and feel a bit more connected to what’s around them.