Below, you will see some of my favourite photos that I took while learning more and experiencing more with my photography. Shooting on film has completely changed how I see photography. Unlike digital, where you can take a hundred shots and pick the best one, film forces you to slow down. Every shot matters. You have to think about the composition, the lighting, and the moment itself before pressing the shutter. There’s something about the uncertainty—the fact that you won’t see the photo right away, that makes it feel more intentional, more real. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is patience. Film photography isn’t instant, and that’s the beauty of it. From loading the film to waiting for it to develop, the process makes me more connected to the photos I take. I’ve also realized how film captures light and texture differently than digital. The colours feel richer, the grain adds depth, and even imperfections, like light leaks or slightly off-focus shots, end up making the photo feel more alive. But more than the technical side, film has taught me to appreciate moments as they are. When I take a photo on film, I’m not just capturing an image, I’m capturing a memory in its rawest form. One of the most valuable things I’ve learned is how to embrace those imperfections. For example, the photo I took of the sunset, where the colors bled a little because of an unexpected light leak, ended up being one of my favorites. It taught me that sometimes the mistakes or unpredictability are what give the photo its soul.
This was taken in Tofino, and one may just look at it as a regular photo. However, I learned throughout this process some special things about the shot itself. The cloudy, overcast, almost foggy late afternoon created a soft, muted light that’s hard to replicate with digital. The fog gave everything a dreamy, ethereal quality, softening the details and allowing the mood of the photo to feel much more atmospheric. The light was diffused, with no harsh shadows, which really brought out the subtle contrasts between the sand, water, and sky. In terms of composition, I purposely let the horizon sit a bit lower in the frame, making the misty sky feel more expansive and drawing attention to the textures of the foreground. This subtle adjustment gave the image a quiet, almost meditative feeling.
This photo was taken at King George Terrace on a sunnier, slightly cloudy day at the end of November. At first glance, it might just seem like a regular shot of a truck, but when I look closer, I realize how the light and atmosphere shaped the image. The soft, diffused sunlight filtering through the clouds gave the truck a warm glow, almost like something out of a movie. The shadows weren’t too harsh, which really helped bring out the details in the truck and the surroundings.
The slightly cloudy sky added a nice sense of depth to the shot, giving it that perfect balance between the bright blue sky and the soft clouds. The contrast between the warm sunlight on the truck and the cooler, muted tones of the sky and trees made the photo feel balanced and calm. I’ve learned how much light can change how a scene feels, on a clear day, the colours would have been more vibrant, but the clouds brought a softness that gave the image a peaceful vibe.