35mm Compact Camera Photographer #24 – Gran Angular

Hello Compact Shooters!

My name is Hugo Mireles aka Gran Angular (wide angle), I’m 27 and I’m from Mexico. I really enjoy using wide angle lenses and I have the idea that all lifetime situations fit better using these focal lengths. It’s also awesome to get in close to street scenes.

My father introduced me to the photography world around 20 years ago. The reason? He was school photographer at Grambling State University in Louisiana at late 70’s. He was always teaching me how to use a camera, how to compose, expose and the most important part, how to shoot. Also, when I was a child I spent a lot of time looking at slides, negatives and prints from his university work, so I have always been involved in photography.

Around 3 years ago – motivated by my dear girlfriend Andrea – I decided to start my Gran Angular project on Instagram using just my iPhone with the objective of documenting my city. A few months later I found a mobile photo contest addressed to cultural heritage organized by the  Council for Culture and Arts of Nuevo Leon (CONARTE), and guess what, I won the second place on the Intangible Cultural Heritage category.

A year later I met my very good friend Jeff, who loaned me his Yashica GSN for 2 months. After that, I never went back to digital. After almost a year of experimentation with rangefinder and SLR’s cameras, I’m here sharing my experience with compact cameras.

I’m now 2 years into film photography (more than a year using compact cameras). The sort of photography that I enjoy is street photography, but also I take photos of my trips away, and also when I go out to run the street to get some daily miles.

During the last year, I’;ve tried a few compact cameras such as the Olympus Mju-ii, Yashica T4, Canon Sureshot & AF35ML.

But my favorite camera and partner in crime is my Ricoh GR1v. I always carry it with me, either in my jeans or jacket pocket, in a crossbody bag and even in a waist bag when I go for a run.

The shooting experience with compact cameras and especially the Ricoh GR1v is totally amazing. You can go and stop anywhere you like to take a photo, and when I said anywhere I mean anywhere. Because you don’t have a noisy tank by your face, you’re not gonna be spotted easy, and the best part is that you’re gonna walking around with very lightweight gear.

In few words, if you are a medium format or even SLR photographer, please try a compact camera – just for fun or pure experience – you won’t regret it!

If you wanna see more of my photos please go and visit my Instagram Account: www.instagram.com/gran_angular

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