It feels good to have a camera strap around my neck again.
This past weekend, I took to the streets of London for a long-overdue photowalk, with my Nikon F80 film camera and some trusted Kodak 5222 Double XX cinefilm. There is something uniquely grounding about the city’s pace when you’re viewing it through a viewfinder—the way the light hits the brickwork in Soho or the hurried energy of shoppers carrying Waitrose bags.
These frames mark a bit of a personal milestone: this is the first time I’ve shot and developed film since September 2025.
The London Photowalk
Returning to film after a few months away always feels like re-learning a language. You remember the mechanics, but the "poetry" takes a moment to click back into place.
Walking through Carnaby Street and past the iconic storefronts of Soho, I wanted to capture the mundane yet beautiful moments of London life:
The Contrast: The stark white of a "Thank You" storefront against the narrow, dark alleys.
The Commute: A classic black cab waiting in the grey London light.
The Routine: People grabbing coffee at WatchHouse or checking their phones in those quiet pockets between busy streets.
Back in the Darkroom
Developing these shots myself this weekend was the perfect way to close the loop. There’s a specific kind of anticipation that comes with pulling a wet roll of film out of the tank—especially when you haven't seen that chemical magic in months.
The grain, the shadows, and the inherent "imperfection" of these black-and-white shots captured the weekend exactly how it felt: raw, busy, and authentically London.
"Photography is an itch that won't go away. No matter how much you film, you always want more." – Bert Hardy
It’s good to be back. I’ve missed the wait, the tactile nature of the process, and the way film forces me to slow down and actually see the city.
Which of these shots is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
Would you like me to help you draft a social media caption for one of these specific photos to help promote the post?
Until next time, keep snapping.