Amsterdam

Grace and I spent a week in Amsterdam this month. Here are a few moments captured on video.

Pt. Reyes

New York

My partner and I spend the last of 2022 and beginning of 2023 in New York. It was my first time back to NYC since I began shooting film at the end of 2017. I was so happy to return to a city that I love, to shoot film that I love, with the one that I love.

A Medium Size Challenge

I’ve often admired medium format photographers. My friend Trev loaned me his Yashica A medium format camera last year and I was completely intimidated by it. I often tell people I’m not the most knowledgeable when it comes to settings for my film cameras. Usually I’m using the automatic or semi-manual mode, lining up the two dials in the view finder to make sure my exposure and f-stop/aperture are set correctly. But I don’t often pay attention to the numbers of the actual settings.

The ways of factoring in light, shutter speed, and aperture regularly throw me off. And with medium format, you really need to slow down. It’s not as likely that I’ll take an impulsive or in-the-moment shot with medium format. A lot of shooters use a tripod with medium format, and I can see why. It forces you to be more intentional and patient with the shot.

After my first roll of 120 came back and I felt irritated with the shots I got, I struggled to pick it back up again. I wanted to be good at it right away, and I definitely wasn’t. With only 12 shots per roll, but at the same price as a 35mm roll with 24-26 exposures, it is costly to mess up with 120mm film.

While up in Seattle recently I set the intention of jumping back into the world of medium format. I did some reading up, created a quick reference guide in my notes app, and gave it a shot.

I’m so pleased that I did. There’s so much for me to learn. This is one of the reasons I love film photography so much. I’m using a light meter app and paying closer attention to my surroundings, the camera’s settings, and the moment I capture the image. And I can’t wait to see where else this medium of photography takes me.

Sweet Seattle

I’ve been spending a lot of time in Seattle lately. It’s a quick hour and a half plane ride to get up there. It’s ironic, actually, that I’m traveling to and from Seattle so often now. It was only a few months ago that I swore off going on dates or getting involved with anyone in the bay area any more. I found the hour and a half drive and the back and forth too challenging to feel like I could build a relationship with someone in the bay area.

And then my friend Chloe helped me with a silly little Tiktok, and here I am, totally smitten with my sweet they them in Seattle. Life is funny.