"Flowercam" Photos and Video

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I went to a stag do on Labour Weekend, and I really wanted to take a light camera that I could keep in my pocket all day and wouldn’t require too much thought. I was taking the stag himself over to Wellington via motorbike to kick the weekend off, and while I was prepping my backpack the night before, I was hit with a lightning bolt. Buried in the bottom of a stack of old suitcases was the perfect camera…

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I picked up this little gem (flower) many months ago at an op shop, after fiddling with it enough to realise it appeared to actually work. A stag do and accompanying antics seemed like the perfect occasion to give it it’s first outing. I used one roll of Kodak Tri-X 400 over the course of the weekend, pushed to 1600 in processing as I had only rough guesses about what the fixed settings might be.

I had many doubts about the quality of the results and whether I would actually get any photos from it, though I’m glad to say I was pleasantly surprised! I found it a refreshing challenge having no settings to change and focusing purely on framing or even just whipping it out to snap something in a split second with no thought at all. The goal was to document the weekend and it did this perfectly!

My favourite shots are the ones I spent a little more time framing, like the wharf jump and my accomodation in the morning. The cheap construction of the lens is partially disguised by the added grain from pushing the film 2 stops, resulting in an overall softness that is not out of place. It goes to show that you don’t need expensive equipment to make good photos! All it took here was a bit of creative vision and an understanding of my limitations.

We made a video of the whole thing over at Cam & Sam - check the video and photos from the day below.

-Sam

Kodak Tri-X 400 // Dev+scan by The Black and White Box

South Island, Winter 2018

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Our second annual winter holiday to visit the Waru's in Invercargill was just as cold as expected! We had a great time catching up, visiting the snow for a day/night in Queenstown, drinking good coffee, eating great food and just general antics.

in the bag:

  • Minolta XE-7 with 50mm f/1.4

  • Olympus 35 RD

  • Mamiya 645 Super

  • Sekonic light meter

  • Portra 400 (35mm and 120)

  • Japan Camera Hunter Streetpan 400

  • Expired Ilford FP4+

  • Beanies to protect both the cameras and my shaved head

Normally I would only pack one 35mm camera and one medium format camera but I had recently been given the Olympus, had it serviced and new light seals, and I wanted to see how comfortable I would be shooting a rangefinder. I had a great time shooting it for about half a roll - more on that later.

The trusty Minolta with 50mm lens is my constant companion which I shoot most of my work on, and as a medium format option the Mamiya 645 is just that much more portable and quicker to shoot with than the mighty RB67.

Here, at the amazing Bespoke Kitchen in Queenstown, ends this 35mm roll from my Minolta XE-7. I loaded the next roll into the Olympus 35 RD, unfortunately while shooting the roll it took a serious tumble when the strap broke, jammed up and put a massive light leak across the entire exposed part of the roll. In some cases these leaks made for cool shots! Excuse me for a minute while I wipe my tears for the Olympus.

After picking up the shattered pieces of my camera and emotions, I rewound the roll and chucked it the Minolta for the next leg of the journey - back to Wellington with the Waru's in tow.

Nepal/Singapore 2016: Retrospective

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It was my first experience of shooting on film in 2016 that made me fall in love with photography. Lately I've been going over old photos from this time period to see what I was drawn to with my camera, before outside influences started changing my ideas about taking photos. These images remind me of that puristic, curious approach to photography that I hope I never lose.

Before this trip to Nepal I was gifted an old 1970's Minolta SLR which I blindly took as my only camera (no test rolls - in hindsight not the greatest idea)! Having no instant feedback on the images I was taking was freeing. Months later I finally got the rolls developed and all the precious moments came flooding back in all their grainy, natural, vibrant glory. Since then I've been hooked, taking every opportunity to capture life as it happens around me, telling stories as I see them unfolding.

Get in touch if you would like me to capture something for you too.

Nepal

On this trip I worked alongside our friends at Compassion Nepal who work with a number of communities across Nepal to help give access to education, shelter, and food to people in need.

Click any photo to open the full-res slideshow // Shot with Fujifilm Superia 400 // Minolta XE-1 with 50mm 1.4 lens

Singapore

After leaving Nepal I had a stopover in Singapore for a long overdue visit to my Singapore-Chinese side of the family - Grand Uncle Eddie, Pohtai (Great Grandmother) and Grand Aunty Linda and Grand Uncle Dan. By this stage I was missing my little family pretty bad but had a great time of much needed rest, catching up with family and friends and hopping around Singapore with my GALinda and GUnkaDan.

Oakura Bay Summer Holiday, 2018

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We took a family holiday up in Oakura Bay, Northland in January. I turned off my phone, swam every day and never left the little beach community. As my life has become busier and more 'online' in recent years, it was a gigantic sigh of relief to cut digital ties and connect more deeply with my surroundings and loved ones.

I hope these beautiful pockets of New Zealand remain unspoiled for many years to come.

Kodak Portra 400 (35mm) // Minolta 50mm f/1.4 // Dev + Scan by The Black and White Box

South Island, 2017

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Here's a series of images captured in the South Island of New Zealand, in the winter of 2017.

  • Cook Strait Ferry
  • Te Anau
  • Road to Milford Sound
  • Queenstown
  • Burt Munro's World's Fastest Indian
  • Motorcycle Mecca
  • Flying over the Southern Alps

Click in to any image to open up the slideshow.

Kodak Portra 400 (35mm) // Minolta MD 50mm 1.4 // 6x6 image was Fuji400H on Zeiss Nettar folding camera