Recent Portraits, Late Summer and Fall

Portraits on medium format film of my close friends and family. As the season turns again I can't help but reflect on this year. It's felt harder and easier than 2020 in a lot of ways. But two things that have been hugely exciting to me is adopting my sweet little dog, Darlene, and getting back into film. 

Making portraits on film feels exactly like what I've been looking for the last few years. It has slowed me down in a very sincere way. I don't take most photos twice. Just once. Which is such a huge shift for me from digital! I take my time framing the shot, double check the light meter, and am careful to hold my hands steady as I hit the shutter release. All of this intentionality has felt so freeing to me in my photography, and has informed my digital shooting in new and exciting ways. 

I think we all deserve intentionality when having our portrait made. 

I look forward to many more photos on many more rolls. It's exciting to feel excited. 

Eugene outside of Jiffy Treat West

Katelyn in my backyard during her visit

Callen & Xander on the porch

Alison in her back yard

Spring Flowers

A small collection of some of my favorite film photos featuring spring flowers from 2021.

View from my porch, mid April just 24 hours apart. 

Justine, PJ, & Chichi

Digital and film snaps of my good friends in front of their home in February. 

Yashica Mat-124G

I picked up this Yashica twin-lens reflex camera a few years ago at an antique store at the end of a tour with my friend, Frances. I was so impressed by its perfect condition that I went for it! I think I paid ~$175 for it.  

A few months ago I started thinking about how I'd never run a roll through it, and how I've never even shot medium format at all. I loved shooting film for years and years, but always bargain bin 35mm stuff. I used cameras I bought at the thrift store, and film I got for 10¢ a roll at a flea market. I think I always felt intimidated by medium format cameras, which is why this one probably sat unused for so long after I got it.

Anyway, when I did some googling I was really excited to find out this is a highly suggested beginner medium format camera. I bought the much beloved Portra 400 for the first time ever and a Sekonic L-358 Flash Master Light Meter.

I found the camera pretty easy to use overall. Looking at the mirrored image was a bigger adjustment for me than I'd thought it'd be! But the camera feels good in my hands, and I love seeing the image so big on the viewfinder. I'm excited to get more comfortable with it.

The first photo is of the camera, film, & light meter before I used it. The following photos are my favorites from my first roll through it! No editing, just a little cropping on a couple.