Afleveringen
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Developing my first ten rolls of film revealed ten key insights: understanding the deeper âwhy,â feeling the therapeutic rhythm of the darkroom, chasing consistency, embracing surprise color casts, shooting more deliberately, savoring the slow scan process, welcoming the wait, working with ISO limitations, celebrating a warm, supportive community, and finally, inviting others to experience the magic.
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Full text with pictures at https://blog.rafalop.es - A deep dive into the magic of CineStill 800T and why it thrives in neon-lit environments like Times Square. From the filmâs tungsten balance to its signature halation, I explore how it transforms the urban nightscape into a cinematic dream. But this film isnât just for New YorkâLas Vegas, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and beyond all become playgrounds for its glowing aesthetic. Join me as I reflect on my experience, the power of film over gear, and future experiments that could push this emulsion even further.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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When the snowstorm hit, I couldnât resist the urge to go out and capture it. While others stayed warm indoors, I braved the cold with my CineStill 800T, juggling an umbrella, a manual-focus lens, and the ever-present risk of moisture damaging my camera. My destination? Basileâs Pizzaâthe shot I knew would be the best of the night. Battling wind, snow, and fogged-up gear, I pushed through, improvising as I went. By the time I reached my refuge, all I could think about was drying my camera with napkins. The adventure was exhausting, but the story and the photos made it all worth it. And yes, Iâd do it all againâbefore the snow melts.
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A long-awaited Leica camera arrives, craving light but lifeless without a CR123A battery. With urgency, the missing heartbeat is found, and something shifts as the red dot flickers to life. The camera doesnât just workâit speaks, and has feelings! Loaded with CineStill 800T, it pulls its photographer into a neon-drenched world, firing instinctively, guiding each frame like it has a will of its own. The shutter becomes a whisper, the flash an unexpected command. By the end of the night, they are no longer photographer and tool, but partners in a cinematic dream. The Minilux isnât just aliveâitâs in love.
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(Check Substack for original text and photos on https://blog.rafalop.es) -- This episode explores the journey of developing 35mm film at home, framed by Walter Whiteâs quote on chemistry as change. We discuss the thrill of managing the entire processâfrom mixing chemicals to revealing hidden imagesâand highlight the challenges of temperature control and reel loading. The conversation covers why labs still matter, but also how hands-on experimentation fosters resiliency and a deeper bond with analog photography.
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This episode recounts a once-simple planâdriving to Princeton on a winter day to shoot filmâthat unexpectedly turned into a night of flat tires, thick snowfall, and impromptu photography adventures. Youâll hear about the roadside mishap that forced an overnight stay, the tense drive through whiteout conditions, and the late-night snapshots that captured gas stations in swirling snow. Itâs a reflection on embracing the unplanned, the kindness of strangers, and the magic of film photography under neon lightsâand we invite you to settle in, listen, and discover how a bit of adversity transformed an ordinary trip into a compelling story.
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The Start of My Film Journey
âFrom the first roll, I was hooked.â
Photography has always been a part of my life. As someone born in 1986 and growing up alongside the evolution of digital photography, Iâve always been drawn to its precision, immediacy, and control. High-resolution sensors, advanced autofocus, and powerful editing tools like Lightroom have been my companions for years.
Even in film photography, digital technology often plays a pivotal role. Scanning film with a digital camera and a macro lens, for instance, can create sharper, more detailed images than traditional scanners. Itâs a testament to how far digital tools have come. But even with all this power at my fingertips, I found myself craving something more.
When my mother brought me old family negatives last Christmas, along with a Nikon L35AF camera, I decided to give film photography a try. From the first roll, I was hooked. Loading the film, carefully setting the ASA, and advancing the frame felt like a conversation with the past. It was as though I was connecting with the same photographic journey my parents and grandparents once took, but on my own terms.
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Why Film is Different
âThe film camera communicates authenticity and hobbyism, which makes street photography more efficient and genuine.â
The limitations of film didnât hinder meâthey inspired me.
This process reminds me of playing a vintage bass guitar. Modern guitars are often manufactured with CNC machines, capable of cutting wood with extreme precision. They produce instruments that are flawless in their construction and reliability. But a vintage bass, with its handmade imperfections, worn-in frets, and history in its wood, creates a different kind of connection. Itâs not just about the soundâitâs about how holding that instrument makes me feel. It inspires me, sparking creativity in ways a modern machine-made bass never could.
Film cameras feel the same way. The mechanical precision of advancing film, the resistance of manual focus, and the sound of the shutter are all part of an immersive experience. With each frame, Iâm not just capturing an imageâIâm engaging with light, shadows, and composition in a way that feels deliberate. Every click matters because every frame costs something.
When talking about street photography and riskier shots, I must also note how using a film camera positively influences the way people perceive you during street photography. Thereâs something disarming about seeing someone advancing film and practicing slow photographyâit immediately conveys that youâre an enthusiast, not a private detective or someone with ill intent.
This dynamic shifts interactions significantly. People react better, often intrigued by the process rather than wary. It aligns with the concept from Marshall McLuhanâs book The Medium is the Massage, where the medium itself shapes the message being received.
The film camera communicates authenticity and hobbyism, which makes street photography more efficient and genuine. Moreover, thereâs a unique safeguard when using film. If someone, like a security guard, demands that you delete a photo, the absence of a delete button means your propertyâthe roll of filmâremains intact unless someone physically removes it. While losing a roll in extreme cases might be a frustrating compromise, it keeps interactions civil and avoids unnecessary escalation.
The Unexpected Joy of Community
âFilm photography has a unique way of bringing people together.â
But what surprised me most about film photography wasnât just the process or the resultsâit was the community.
I experienced this firsthand when I met Nicholas Lopresti. He became a guide in my early days of home development, helping me navigate the complex world of chemicals, timings, and tools. Without his help, I doubt I wouldâve had the confidence to develop my first roll successfully. Moments like this remind me that photography isnât just about the images we createâitâs about the connections we make along the way. If you benefited from his tips, or just laugh with his videos, consider going to his Shop and supporting his job, as the world needs more creators like him.
Film photography has a unique way of bringing people together. Whether itâs online forums, local meetups, or the friendly staff at labs, the community is incredibly welcoming. Many photographers are eager to share their knowledge, whether itâs about camera mechanics, film stocks, or developing techniques.
The Time Spent Reflecting on My Creations
âEach photo carries a story.â
The scanning process has also been unexpectedly transformative. Each scan takes around 3â5 minutes per photo, which forces me to slow down and really look at my work. I notice the detailsâthe play of light, the textures, the small imperfectionsâand reflect on what I could improve. This time spent with my images has sharpened my critical eye and deepened my appreciation for the art of photography.
Recently, I scanned over 500 35mm negatives from my family archiveâimages that are over 30 years old. Seeing these moments preserved in vivid 65-megapixel TIFF files is a powerful experience. Each photo carries a story, a memory, and now a level of detail that ensures it can be cherished for years to come.
Lessons Learned / Key Takeaways
Film photography has taught me so much more than just how to shoot on film. Itâs taught me patience, resilience, intentionality, and how to truly see. Itâs connected me to a community of people who share that passion. And itâs reminded me that the most meaningful parts of photography arenât just the imagesâitâs the journey of creating them. And mostly important: I made new friends.
Here are some photographies I did with my new VoigtlÀnder Bessa R2A and the old Nikon L35AF, some of them developed and scanned by Gelatin Labs, some other I developed and scanned myself. Please consume them slowly, allow you some time to think about details, I urge you to not scroll like we all do on Instagram.
Expect more film photography around here!
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