Sydney on film

Film forces you to slow down. Every frame matters. You don’t shoot without thinking, and you don’t immediately see the result. Instead, you observe light more carefully, wait for the right moment, and trust your instincts. That’s what I love about film photography.

Shooting film in Sydney felt especially fitting. The strong contrasts, textured streets, and changing light created endless small scenes worth noticing. Without color, everything becomes about shape, shadow, and emotion. Black and white strips an image down to what really matters.

The most magical part, though, happens later, in the darkroom. Developing the film, working in near darkness, and slowly watching an image appear on paper feels almost unreal. It’s quiet, patient work, and incredibly rewarding. Seeing something you imagined come to life with your own hands is a feeling that’s hard to describe.

Probably this one is my favourite one on this roll.

I was standing on this busy street in the CBD, with my camera held up to my eye, waiting for a bird to fly into the frame. I was there for probably at least 10 minutes.

There is no burst mode here. This was the only shot I took and just hoped I caught the right moment.

It was one of the happiest moments of my life when I found it on my negative roll, and there it was! The bird captured imperfectly in my frame, which makes it even more perfect.