12/31/2025
Life sped up this year, and I made a conscious effort to slow it down. I embraced the “manual” approach in various aspects of my life, such as making coffee, reading physical books, and, most notably, photography. I dove headfirst into learning film photography, not just taking pictures, but also using cameras that came from as far back as the 1950s, that lacked autofocus and light meters and really any technology at all. I learned how to properly expose and focus each shot by hand. I explored the color tones of different film stocks. I experimented with both 35mm and medium format 120mm film, as well as twin lens reflex, SLR, and rangefinder-style cameras.
This experience was much more deliberate, intentional, and surprisingly forgiving of my mistakes, especially compared to digital photography. The slower feedback between individual shots and rolls of film gave me the opportunity to think, learn, and continuously tweak and try new things throughout the year.
This year, I shot, developed, and scanned nearly 40 rolls of film, resulting in approximately 1,400 photos. And the best part? I fell in love with photography all over again.
