Photographer and director Marcus Ubungen has a gift for finding quiet, cinematic moments\u2014whether he\u2019s shooting 8×10 film portraits on the street or working on editorial assignments in the studio. His work is rooted in connection, often capturing people in ways that feel intimate and honest. After losing nearly all of his gear in the Altadena fires, Marcus found clarity in what really matters\u2014both in life and in his creative process. We caught up with him to talk about his approach to portraiture, rebuilding from scratch, and why he\u2019s more drawn than ever to human stories.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/keh.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/q=80,fit=scale-down,format=auto\/expert-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Danny-Dooreck-1-scaled.jpg” title_text=”Danny Dooreck-1″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”37.6%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]
For those who don\u2019t know you yet, can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your work as a photographer?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n I\u2019m a photographer and director based in LA. Most of my photography involves people or <\/span>faces, shooting portraits on the street or in the studio, and I work across both stills and <\/span>motion. Some people know me from editorial or commercial work, others know me from <\/span>the 8×10 film portraits I shoot on the street. While I shoot digital<\/a> for editorial assignments,my passion lies in film. I found my style of portraiture with medium format film and eventually fell in love with 8×10 large format film, because of how slow the process is and the amount of control you have when framing up a shot.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span>How did you first get into photography, and what pulled you toward it as a creative outlet?<\/strong><\/p>\n I originally came from the world of film and directing, but photography slowly started to <\/span>become more prominent over time. <\/span>I went to film school, and some of the foundation <\/span>courses were film photography to learn the basics of exposure, depth of field, and <\/span>shutter speed. That has always stayed with me. Much of my directing involves <\/span>interviewing people, and I\u2019d have to build trust with them to get the best unscripted <\/span>responses. So to keep sharp, I would approach people on the street with a <\/span>Pentax 67II<\/a>, strike up a conversation, and hopefully get their portrait. It was a great <\/span>social experiment to see if I could connect with someone quickly and learn a little about them.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/keh.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/q=80,fit=scale-down,format=auto\/expert-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/John-Kim-FP4-1.jpg” title_text=”John Kim FP4-1″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”32.8%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] You went through something incredibly difficult during the Altadena fires. Can you share what happened, and how it affected your day-to-day life?<\/strong><\/p>\n My family lost our home and everything in it. Not just our personal things, but nearly all <\/span>my cameras, gear, my entire film archive, and about a decade\u2019s worth of photos on hard <\/span>drives. <\/span>That kind of event doesn\u2019t just affect your day-to-day life, it completely resets it. <\/span>The routines are gone. Your sense of place is gone. We had to focus on making sure our <\/span>kids felt safe and stable, even while my wife and I were figuring out next steps. We <\/span>bounced around five different places before finding a place to rent, and then had to fill a <\/span>new place from scratch. No furniture, beds, cookware, or clothes. The whole thing was <\/span>so surreal.<\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019ve mentioned that in losing both your home and your gear, you came to a realization about what you actually need\u2014and what really matters. What was that realization?<\/strong><\/p>\n I think I realized how little you actually <\/span>need<\/span><\/i> to make meaningful work.<\/span> I used to obsess <\/span>over having different camera bodies, a few cameras for each format, and bodies that are <\/span>a bit more rare. But in the end, a lot of them lived on the shelf to be looked at, and none <\/span>of them came with me. It took me a long time to really figure out what was necessary for <\/span>my work and for my passion projects. So it meant building a smaller arsenal, but with <\/span>cameras that give me so much joy when I shoot them and make me want to carry them <\/span>with me all the time.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/keh.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/q=80,fit=scale-down,format=auto\/expert-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/lucy-8×10-1-scaled.jpg” title_text=”lucy 8×10-1″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”81.3%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/keh.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/q=80,fit=scale-down,format=auto\/expert-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Chien-8×10-1-scaled.jpg” title_text=”Chien 8×10-1″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”81.9%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] Starting from scratch is no small thing. What did you prioritize when rebuilding your kit\u2014and has it changed the way you shoot?<\/strong><\/p>\n It was, and still is, a challenge now. For commercial and editorial work, I thought back to <\/span>which two lenses I primarily used and only replaced those. Basically, one wide lens and <\/span>one normal length lens which gets me through 95% of every job. If I need something <\/span>more, I can always rent. For personal work, I prioritized tools that slowed me down. I <\/span>leaned heavily into shooting 8×10 large format film, so I haven\u2019t replaced any 4×5 gear, and a lot of medium format gear. But the film cameras I did buy only have one prime lens <\/span>each, and that limitation has been freeing because I don\u2019t have decision paralysis <\/span>anymore. If I pick a format, I grab the camera and go.<\/span><\/p>\n Has that experience shifted how you approach your work or the stories you’re drawn to now?<\/strong><\/p>\n Absolutely. <\/span>I\u2019m more drawn to stories that feel personal and human. I want to spend time <\/span>with people, not just take their picture.<\/span> I started documenting my town after the fire, and it <\/span>became a therapeutic process for me to sit with neighbors, soak in the landscape after <\/span>all the reporters were gone, and process the loss in my own way. I want to keep <\/span>the momentum going with this project before the Altadena landscape changes forever.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/keh.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/q=80,fit=scale-down,format=auto\/expert-advice\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Altadena-Garage-8×10-1-scaled.jpg” title_text=”Altadena Garage 8×10-1″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”70.6%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] How would you describe the impact of community\u2014within photography and beyond\u2014on your creative and personal path recently?<\/strong><\/p>\n Community is what has kept me going. <\/span>After the fire, friends, photographers, and even <\/span>strangers showed up in ways I didn\u2019t expect.<\/span> People sent film, loaned gear, checked in, <\/span>and shared meals. It really lifted my spirit during that time. It was also part of the spark <\/span>that led me to capture Altadena, using the film and gear I received and giving it some <\/span>purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n