A little memory
While scrolling through Instagram, I came across a post from an old colleague who was promoting his small business of vintage film cameras. He finds these cameras in thrift stores, repairs them, tests them, and resells them to enthusiasts who lack the patience or skills to fix old cameras themselves.
I asked if he had anything affordable yet interesting that I could try. Apart from some basics my father taught me when I was a child, I didn’t really know how to properly use a film camera.
He introduced me to an old Fujica, sold in Germany in the late '70s under the name Porst CR-1. It immediately felt perfect in my hands, like that scene in Harry Potter when he finds his magic wand.
I handed him 40 bucks, before he could even mention that it might get stuck occasionally (sigh).
As I was about to leave his apartment with my new treasure, he called out
Hey, wait,
how
are
you?
I’m excited.
A Pink Toy Camera
In 2024, I discovered a quirky new way to do analog photography. At a friend's party, I was captivated by his little sister’s pink instant camera that printed black-and-white photos on receipt-like paper.
My responsible adult instincts about saving money flew right out the window as I bought one on Amazon. Ah, the power of Capitalism!
When the camera arrived, I took it to a fashion shoot I was assisting with, titled “Selene” by Berlin's Hari Tzanoudakis. The camera added a charming, nostalgic touch to the high-fashion scene, capturing candid moments like crew banter and the catering spread. These photos are currently being scanned and incorporated into a mixed media video, blending their raw, documentary feel with other elements for a unique final product.
A Personal Musing
Social media is the most immediate way I share my experiences with the world. While some might say it's not very healthy, I find joy in capturing and sharing the little details I notice on the streets. I love seeing people react to them, perhaps thinking similar things like "Oh, this is so cute!" or "I would also have stopped to take a picture of that heart-shaped banana." It's a lighthearted and fun way to connect with everyday objects, textures, places, and people.
This practice has also given me insights into how social media works, what people enjoy seeing, and even the things they can't help but look at, even if they don’t particularly like them.
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