Creative resolution for this Summer (and the rest of the year, I guess) was to stick to one camera and one film – Bronica SQ-AI and Kodak Ektachrome 100. I spent ages wanting to try square format waist level camera, but something would always get in a way. Same with the slide film – made a few attempts to shoot it before, but nothing too serious. The idea of having limited exposure latitude would keep me from giving it a proper try.
This year things have changed: I have finally got my hands on Bronica SQ-AI – a great looking and more “affordable” version of Hasselblad, which required some time to get used to. The process of using this camera is long and complex (at least for a first time user): looking down in the viewfinder, attaching a back, using magnifier to focus, winding a crank to clear the viewfinder etc. On the other hand though, the process is very engaging and it feels like you are creating something rather than just pressing the button. Also, I just love how everything looks in 6x6 format.
To slow things down and make them even more challenging I have decided to use Kodak Ektachrome with this camera almost exclusively. So, “whenever in doubt – overexpose” wasn't an option anymore. I was carefully measuring every scene, using myLightMeter app and Ansel Adams' zone system, did a bit of bracketing, and things turned out even better than I have expected.
The images in this post are from long weekend trip to stunning Devon. It was overcast throughout the whole stay, which made light metering process an absolute charm (dark grey cliffs helped a lot too). Like they say in every Ektachrome review – true to life tones, incredible sharpness, and almost no grain (but to be honest, I don't mind grain at all). It's definitely not the last time I'm using this stock – looking forward to try it out on moody Autumn mornings.
Film rolls got masterfully developed and scanned by Malvarrosa film lab.
