Late last year, I ran a small project with a nonprofit in San Francisco. We gave out instant film cameras (color and black and white) to 5 people who were either unhoused or who lived nearby in one of the 'SROs'. We did a tiny, tiny exhibition.
I'm still working to figure out how to make this a more regular thing, and how to show their work, because they have such amazing stories to tell.
I was very delighted to discover there’s an active and thriving #BelieveInFilm community on Mastodon a while back. There’s a whole cluster of hashtags where you can find lovely analog pictures, like #FilmPhotography, #35mm, #MediumFormat and more.
Accidentally opened the back of my camera before rewinding the film and it turned out to be one of the best mistakes I've made in years.
Kyoto Tower Hotel. Nikon FM2n, Nikon Nikkor 50mm f1.4 (probably, although it miiight have been a 105mm f2.5), Fujifilm Fujicolor 200. #BelieveInFilm#35mmLoveLetter
Not going to lie: leaning out of the window of a moving steam train, desperately clutching a Leica so I don't drop it, and hoping I've got the zone-focusing and exposure right to make this shot work was a whole lot of fun.
(#Leica Ic, Zeiss Sonnar 50/1.5, Rollei Retro 400S in LC29)
This photograph was taken on one of the best days of my life.
Now, that might sound grand, and it was, but not in the way you might think.
Alone, in the sun, I walked the back roads near our home in rural Scotland. Two years on, I still have the most vivid memories, not just of the views but of how I felt. I suspect it will stay with me for life.
I am grateful that I can experience such joy and quietude from simple things. I haven't always been able to.
I was sitting outdoors learning how to load film onto a Hasselblad A12 film back when, just before I put it into the camera, a fabulous older gay man walking by says ‘honey you want to pop the backing paper under the tab!’ Turns out he used to load film for fashion photographers.
This is one of my favorite shots from a recent photo shoot. In the center at the end is the Starorobocinski Wierch, the highest peak in the Western Tatras in Poland.
Gear:
• Yashica TL Electro X ITS (~1971)
• Yashica Yashinon-DS 50 mm f/1.7
• Kodak Professional Portra 400/36
Here is an image of a local Bluebell Wood. Although Bluebells are naturalised in other parts of the world, they are actually native to Western Europe, and over half of the world's population are found in the UK.
Bluebells are a common indicator species for ancient woodlands, so bluebell woods can date back at least 1600 years.
In my opinion, one of the best feeling being a film photographer, is that moment when I realized I've unknowingly already took an epic shot a few weeks earlier.
I feel like I'm beating a dead horse but here's the day 7 installment of my winter photo advent calendar thingy. No digital filter was used on this photo. All the special effects are courtesy of the crappy camera (a Coronet Flashmaster bakelite camera from the 1950's) and my sloppy film developing technique. You're welcome.
I took a photo of my mum's cousin at work. Turns out she runs Singapore's best rated wanton noodles shop! Very proud of her family for what they've built
I worked on a project with the Healing Well here in the Tenderloin. I led a short class on 'why take photos', handed out 2 disposable camers to each attendee.
Many of them were of a generation where they have fond memories with film, so they were excited to receive these cameras.
We'll do an art show with their work in Dec. I'm tired of people only seeing the TL for the tents and pain and misery. I want to show the world the people who live here.