From The Desk Of: On Film, Intention, and Letting Go
A personal reflection on slowing down and learning to see differently.
I recently bought a film camera.
I’m not great at it. I haven’t mastered how to meter light properly, and I’m learning how different settings affect exposure and depth. Every shot feels like a small experiment, and that’s part of the draw.
Here’s what I do know: it’s changing the way I see.
There’s something sacred about film. Not because it’s trendy or nostalgic, but because it forces you to stop micromanaging. You don’t get to reshoot the frame five times. You don’t get instant feedback. You press the shutter, and that’s it; what you captured is what you get.
You line up the shot. You trust your eye. And then you let go.
It’s presence in its purest form.
Shooting on film is slower, more time-consuming, more expensive. It’s frustrating, even. But that pressure is what makes it feel honest. Every click of the shutter counts. Every image feels earned.
It’s a reminder that creativity doesn’t have to be instant to be good. That sometimes the best thing you can do is commit to the moment and move on.
I’m still wasting rolls and figuring out which settings do what. But I’m also learning to appreciate the thrill of not knowing. The joy of seeing the world through a more intentional lens.
Maybe the point isn’t to master it. Maybe the point is to stay curious, to frame the world with intention, and to trust that what you see matters.
Curious what I’m shooting with? I’ve rounded up my go-to film camera and essentials here.