5 Frames With Zenit-E On Ilford HP5

I have been allured by the grain & grit that is captured by the Soviet Union made brick since I first laid my eyes upon the weapon on the sunny summer day in the Croatian fruit & vegetable market. This purchase has facilitated a whole new world to me in the realms of art, style & patience. I feel black & white film tells a different story compared to colour. It adds depth of emotion, nostalgic moods & entices a feeling of the distant past.

Since that day, my film addiction elevated from having no interest, knowledge or specific style that I wanted to produce with my photography. Understanding the fundamentals of film made me eventually pause, slow down, observe & search amongst the present moments for the most optimal frame in my surroundings. Blink & you will miss it – my whole perception has been tailored to finding an image or photograph in everything I lay my eyes upon. I give myself the responsibility to bring out the scene to a frozen frame which the untrained eye may of missed. I also try to move around at all angles to find my own unique stamp of the scenery or object. I have always said “there is a photo in everything” as if it is up to me to bring that unique perspective out to not only the outside world but to myself for memories sake. As one day I will forget the smile & smirks on that strangers face, the vibrant Christmas sweater that was worn on a stormy day, the rawness of life that it ever so beholds and so forth.

The streets are my favourite to capture on black & white film. Not only does it create a image that takes you back to an unknown era – it adds ambience & a dramatic effect that ripples through the retina. I have not had anyone be afraid of being the subject to my random candid images as of yet, although for some reason I am shy at approaching someone naturally and asking to take a portrait of them. I don’t want to come off creepy – or is it more so that I don’t want to be rejected…? I should put myself out there more as my adventurous life leads to some peculiar, humorous & iconic characters/personalities that themselves are living quite the interesting lives.

There’s so much happening all the time, all at once – you just have to be open to see it. Press the shutter so you can release it from the shackles of continuous movement known as time. I have always wondered what type of moments and scenes were forgotten or lost before the camera was invented? Imagine if film was a discovered technology in ancient times? We probably would no longer be a species with amnesia – we would remember our past and have a broader understanding on where we are going.

It’s cool to see an ambient street culture in action. I am quite a laid back and chill fella but I love the chaos of a city where you come across many combinations of behaviours, statuses, expressions, hustlers etc. I find peace in pondering over the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as my own – populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries, and inherited craziness.

To see more of my film photography I have dedicated my Instagram to showcasing my travels, mind & perspective on @mynameswutch

Thanks for watching

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