film water battery

After weeks and weeks of rain and grey ISO 800-1600 weather I’m very much looking forward to travelling a bit. The place where I live isn’t exactly great for street photography even when the weather is good and when the weather is dreadful like these days I can just about forget it altogether. Back when I used to live in Berlin things were easier. In such a big city there was always an interesting new place full of strange people or things to photograph. And even in -20°C weather I could still find something to shoot on the subway. Here however, the range of places where shooting street even makes sense is rather limited in the first place and when the weather gets bad things start to get very boring indeed. Travelling always mixes things up a little and last time I came back with 22 rolls of film, which was really great.

This time things will be a little more difficult though, since we are going to spend most of the time in my hometown, which is really not the most photogenic place in the world. I’m hoping for some (rather rotten) urban landscapes, maybe some nature shots and quite likely some street photography on the Christmas market, but other than that there is just not that much going on. Incidentally fellow street photographer Almut will be there too though, so we’re definitely going to try to come up with something together. We actually grew up together and somehow came to street photography independently while living in different countries years later – she lives in Detroit now! I’m sure that’s going to be an interesting experience since we actually have never been out shooting together! Check out Almut’s blog if you’re interested.

Independently from what I can come up with in my hometown we are also planning to be in Berlin for 2 days and also a stop in Leipzig will be included which will hopefully be less rainy than last time I was there. I’m definitely looking forward to trying my new Leica on the subway. Until now I just didn’t have a film camera that was reliable in such a low light situation, so I very much want to see whether I can handle it with the Leica! With a bit of luck I’ll come back with plenty of stuff that might tide me over the miserably winter rainy season.

By the way, I’ve been pondering which film to get and I have decided that my beloved Kentmere 400 / RPX 400 and a whole bunch of cheap drugstore C41 film will serve me well. And I definitely also want to pick up a couple of rolls of Cinestill 800 for some low light fun, because I’ve seen amazing results with it.

All pictures taken with: Olympus XA, F.Zuiko 35mm f/2.8.
Rollei RPX400 stand-developed in Caffenol-CL, 60min.

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

All the essentials covered! I didn’t actually check out what kind of film they had, because I already had enough in my bag.

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

I can’t figure this one out. Maybe this implement makes it possible to transport heavy stuff while you’re out riding your broomstick?

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

This is actually a portrait of my husband!

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

I had to wait for all the tourists to get out of the shot.

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

Tones! RPX400 / Kentmere 400 in Caffenol is great!

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

© Lilly Schwartz 2014

Comments

  • I love that film-water-battery (wow, what a combo) photo, great!
    robert

  • With all due respect, I feel your digital images (E-PL3 / Panasonic 20mm f1.7) are far superior in quality / interest quotient to your ‘filmic’ efforts. I also humbly suggest you try out the Sony RX100 Mk III – you may be in for a pleasant surprise !

    • Lilly Schwartz

      Sorry Subroto, but you seem to be the only one who thinks so. And in the end my choice of gear is my decision. I prefer film so I’ll be working primarily on film, that’s just how it is, and repeating your opinion over and over won’t change that. Sony? I just got myself a Leica, so, no thanks. And then the other question is, why do you keep insisting?

  • Harry

    I am just grateful that Vincent van Gogh could never have received such advise..

    • Lilly Schwartz

      Aww, thx Harry, nice of you to say! 🙂

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