December 25, 2025

Learning to see wild flowers

I went to a village bakery with an old film camera and no particular plan. Working with an old film camera forces you to slow down. You think twice before pressing the shutter, and that changes the pictures.

Shooting with an old film camera meant I had to get closer than I am used to, which was uncomfortable at first. I kept a paper notebook this time, writing down the time and the light for every roll.

There is something calming about returning to the same spot and noticing small changes since the last visit. I underexposed most of the frames on purpose, to keep the mood unhurried rather than bright.

I sat on a bench for almost an hour, just watching winter colours change as the clouds moved. Locals barely noticed me. A man feeding gulls told me the place looks completely different in spring.

The café near a village bakery still serves the same cinnamon buns; I had two and pretended it was research. I tried a few long exposures, but the wind had other ideas. The handheld shots turned out better anyway.

It was a good reminder that interesting pictures rarely require going far.