Film photography in the streets of Paris with a 35mm camera
Here’s a more personal post.
I started shooting with film in 2018. And the story starts with me being very lucky. Here’s why:
My step father, whom I consider like my father, spent years navigating world’s waters in 70’s & 80’s with French Merchant Navy. He visited tens of countries, including Japan. He brought back from there a Canon AE-1 with its 50mm lens that was sold with it.
I’m lucky and honored because, seeing my growing passion for photography, he decided to offer it to me. From shy first steps in Paris streets, to more comfortable captures during road trips, that awesomely versatile camera became a close companion.
This article witnesses my wanders in the streets of Paris. Season after season, here are my observations in the streets of the city, where the unique tones and grain of film photography perfectly testify of timeless scenes that seem like frozen in time.
These photos have been mostly taken with Kodak Portra 400 and Ektar 100. They are definitely not the most professional I’ve taken, and not the most beautiful photos of Paris, but they count a lot to me, because they represent my first steps with film photography, with a camera that has a sentimental value to me. I hope you’ll like some of them :)
Winter in Paris: My first roll of 35mm film
(Film used: Kodak Portra 400 and Ektar 100)
Banks of La Seine
“At the corner of a street”
Montmartre
Spring: And Paris blooms again
When spring comes, rays of sun chase the grey winter and come enveloping the terraces of cafés and restaurants. Parisians start to go out again.
Summer: “Paris est une fête”
In summer, you can feel a vibrant Paris boiling up. People are out, drinking on the banks of La Seine, a common sentiment of happiness is out. And then comes August, when most Parisians left the city.
