01 Rediscovering My Love for The Viewfinder
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At that point in my life, I had completely put the camera down. I was about two years into my collegiate jazz degree and fully committed to music. Most of my days were spent transcribing, practicing, studying theory, listening to records, and playing with other musicians as much as possible. I was focused, driven, and willing to give everything to improving as a musician. That work earned me a scholarship and the chance to continue my studies abroad. I did not realize it at the time, but that semester in Sweden would end up reshaping more than just my musical perspective. It became a period where I slowly realigned myself creatively and rediscovered my love for photography.
At the time, I was not particularly interested in film photography. Back home in the United States, most people my age were using DSLRs, and mirrorless cameras were just beginning to become popular. Film felt outdated to me. It seemed expensive, inconvenient, and unreliable. I was shooting digitally on a Sony A7 and tended to overshoot because I was still learning. I liked having the freedom to experiment, review my images immediately, and try again. Film felt restrictive.
But when I saw the photo Evita took, something stood out. It had a quality that felt different. It felt more honest and intentional. It made me curious.
A few days later, when we picked up the developed film, I finally saw the results. That was the moment I truly fell in love with film photography.
One day, while shopping for winter coats at a second-hand store, Evita suggested we check the electronics and camera section. She told me that you could sometimes find good cameras for cheap, even though it was always a gamble. Some worked perfectly, others had issues, and you never really knew what you were getting.
We searched through shelves of old equipment until I came across a Chinon CA-4. It was simple, affordable, and seemed to be in decent condition. It felt like a risk, but one worth taking.
On October 2nd, 2018, I purchased my first film camera, the Chinon CA-4.
I am not going to claim that it instantly changed my life, but it did change the way I approached photography. With only thirty-six exposures on a roll, every shot mattered. There was no screen to review images and no immediate feedback. Each frame forced me to slow down, observe more carefully, and be intentional with what I captured. In many ways, it reflected the same discipline I was learning through music. Listening closely, leaving space, and being deliberate with every note.
Here is my first roll with that camera.
Later that semester, Evita, Chris, and Tanakrit and I went on a backpacking trip in northern Sweden. The landscapes were quiet and vast, the air was cold and clean, and the light felt endless. I brought my camera and shot as much as I could. Looking back, I am grateful that I documented that time the way I did.