Chandler Williams: A Photographer’s Path

When two of his Phase One cameras were destroyed in a fire, photographer and visual storyteller Hexmalo turned loss into inspiration. In this interview, he shares his journey—from discovering the power of Phase One to dismantling the burned cameras and transforming them into symbols of resilience and rebirth.

Get to know Hexmalo

I’m Hexmalo, a photography enthusiast, a freelance photographer, and also a self-media blogger. I’m passionately devoted to documenting the sights and sounds during my travels. Whether it’s the hustle and bustle of city alleys and markets or the magnificent beauty of natural landscapes, I strive to freeze those countless vivid and fleeting moments in time. Moreover, I take pleasure in sharing these unique and meaningful experiences with others, allowing them to see the world through my lens.

Why Phase One?

I’ve been using Phase One cameras for over three years. By chance, I came across a landscape photo taken with a Phase One camera. I was immediately stunned by its natural color reproduction and extraordinary resolution. Consequently, I began to explore the brand’s history and product features, and also delved into appreciating the photographic works captured by Phase One. Once I became fascinated by the Phase One brand, I purchased a Phase One camera myself and started using it to take more stunning and high-quality pictures, documenting those exquisitely detailed and subtle moments in life.

Hexmalo's burned Phase One cameras

These two cameras (Phase One XC+IQ4150 and Phase One XT+IQ4150) were unfortunately burned in an accident. Due to the intense fire, when they were found, the cameras were almost reduced to charred remains. All the physical buttons stopped working, the camera bodies and digital backs couldn’t be separated, and a layer of tar and combustion residues adhered to the camera surfaces.

After these two cameras were burned, besides feeling sorry for them, my curiosity suddenly piqued. I was eager to find out what kind of robust “heart” a Phase One camera had after enduring such a fierce fire. So, I prepared a complete set of disassembly tools and cleaning equipment and personally took them apart and cleaned them in my studio.

Hexmalo reveals what he expected vs. what he found inside the burned cameras.

After I cleaned the charred stains and residues on the camera surfaces, I used tools to disassemble these two cameras respectively. I had expected to see oxidized and deformed metal parts residues of burned circuit components inside. However, when I removed the cover of the digital back, I was shocked by the burned condition. Almost all the metal parts remained intact without any deformation. Even some components like the outer shell, the front cover of the back, the side cover of the card slot, the loading and unloading button of the back bayonet, and the internal partition plates could still be used after a simple cleaning. Except for the irreversible damage to the circuit components, the paint on the metal surfaces, the CMOS, and the low-pass filter glass plates showed a very beautiful color after being cleaned with chemical reagents to remove the charred stains (the appearance of the camera bodies and backs turned into a bronze color due to the oxidation of the metal paint caused by the high-temperature baking), retaining their former luster. When placed on the table, they were just like artworks full of stories.

Built to last

This indicates that Phase One has an almost incredibly stringent standard in product quality control. After experiencing such a tragic accident and being exposed to high temperatures, most of the key metal parts actually remained intact without deformation, and some external components could still function properly after cleaning. This fully demonstrates the excellent material selection and exquisite craftsmanship of Phase One. The remarkable performance and outstanding product quality of Phase One have filled me with confidence in continuing to use Phase One cameras for my future creative work. I believe that it can provide a solid guarantee for my creation in various complex and harsh environments.

The story behind "Ashes"— Photography exhibition

The original intention of my hosting this small – scale photo exhibition is to showcase the Phase One cameras that, despite being burned, still radiate with a unique charm. I hope to let people appreciate the exquisite design and superb craftsmanship of Phase One cameras in this way. As for the naming, my inspiration comes from the word “embers“. In Chinese culture, things left after being burned are often referred to as embers. Just as the saying goes, “When the wind blows, the ashes scatter, yet the embers retain their warmth.” I believe these two Phase One cameras are just like “embers“. Although they were severely damaged in the fire, they didn’t perish completely and sink into oblivion. Instead, they are reborn in another form, with the remaining embers reigniting, rising from the ashes. They burn out but never extinguish, thus becoming a silent legend and a remarkable story.

Future plans and projects

In the future, I hope that more people can get to know the Phase One brand through these two cameras, whether it’s through art exhibitions or other means. “Why pursue illusory dreams in the celestial realm? True gold can only be recognized through the test of fire.” Their experiences are the best testimony to the quality of Phase One. In the future, I plan to let this (Phase One XT+IQ4150) camera continue to serve its purpose, such as through exhibitions. At the same time, if I get the opportunity, I intend to replace all the damaged electronic components and other parts inside this (Phase One XC+IQ4150) camera, while keeping its shell and body components that have endured the fierce fire. I want to restore its functionality and let it truly be reborn from the ashes. On the long and arduous journey of creation, it will continue to write a new chapter in its unique way, immortal, indestructible, and everlasting…