In this post, I share The Joy of Shooting with a 35mm Analog Rangefinder Camera.
This week, I returned to London to finalise the home move—I spent the morning moving boxes and sorting items for storage and the dump.
I finally had time to sit down to write this newsletter. It’s a frosty morning outside. I’m sitting on a stool in front of the kitchen's large island, surrounded by boxes I have yet to store. Yesterday, I managed a portrait photoshoot for my youngest son. I made a studio with items I was trying to sell on eBay: black seamless paper, a Godox 200 light, and a Westcott Orb umbrella. It worked like a charm. Since moving to France, I have had little chance to take portraits. I have enjoyed this improvised session.
We talked about his future, and I realised how different my three children are, making me very proud. We had a moment of laughter together, making it challenging to regain concentration. It's not easy to pose in front of your mum's camera, but it felt very relaxed. The photoshoot images made me realise how much my son has grown into a man. He is confident and ready to start his adult journey. I will share these with approval soon.
For the first time since I’ve been living in the UK, we are not moving close to the area, so we have to get rid of so much stuff. It makes you realise how many useless items we accumulate. My guilty heart sinks with each trip to the dump; you can physically see that we throw away as much as we buy. This is the ugly face of capitalism, and it's not pretty. It brings an intense reality of how much rubbish ends in the landfill.
Moving house makes you question your decision. It brings back old souvenirs and forgotten writing. It's also exciting to clear the clutter and start fresh with very little.
While I hate moving house, I love the perspective of new beginnings and downsizing. How much stuff do we need? No buy will ever fulfil us. This is another marketing ploy.
Before leaving for Marseille, I packed the boxes in my office. While rummaging through the drawers to sort out my stuff. I found a forgotten camera, a 35 mm rangefinder, and a Voigtländer Bessa Rm3, which I hadn't used for ages.
In the last few years, I have given up on 35 mm analogue for the bulky and heavy camera in medium format. I love these cameras. But they are bulky and have a low frame limit. So you are less spontaneous with them. They are not great for street photography.
Instead, you want a light, portable camera that you can easily carry. You could use your digital or, even better, your phone camera. But trust me, you won't get the same experience. I know it can sound crazy to want to photograph with a camera where you can’t immediately see the results. But what’s the point? When you’re out and about taking photos without a specific plan, you won’t be able to capture the same scene twice. So I’d rather use my 35mm rangefinder.
The thrill of focusing, clicking the shutter, and winding the film is all part of the experience. Then you send your film to the lab and forget it. Cheer when you download your images. They take you back to when you took them.
I took the images I’m presenting in Monopoli, Cassis, and Marseille. That little camera was perfect for the beach. It helped me capture the best shot of the moment. I chose black and white because we don’t associate images of the beach with black and white. It gives a different vibe to the photos. Anyway, let me know in the comments and contact me if you have questions about the rangefinder camera.
