Through the Lens: Our Team's Film Stories - Meet Rosie

csshop0
Jun 25
3 min read

For the second instalment of our through the lens series, we’re shining the spotlight on Rosie, one of our incredibly talented lab technicians here at FilmProcessing.

Steeped in analogue experience, Rosie was one of the last to learn the art of film photography at school, giving her a deep-rooted appreciation for the craft.

Whether she’s carefully developing your rolls of film or replying to your emails with expert advice, Rosie brings skill, precision, and a whole lot of passion to everything she does. There’s not much she can’t do, and we’re lucky to have her!

Let's hear it from Rosie...

Q: What initially drew you into the world of film photography, and how did that passion evolve over time?

A: Using family disposable cameras - the idea of creating an unrealistic scene, something that looks magical and awe inspiring.

Q: Which camera model is your go-to for shooting film, and what makes it special to you?

A: I LOVE my Chinon CM-4. It is fully manual, simple, easy camera and it is so cheap it doesn't matter if it breaks! It takes Pentax lenses which are excellent and gives a huge range of choices.

Q: Do you have a favourite film stock (or type of film) you consistently reach for? What sets it apart?

A: Ektar 100! It has bold, saturated colours which look natural and realistic, and the 'low grain' 100ISO makes the photos sharp and crisp, especially at medium format size. Although it's not the most affordable.

I also love CineStill 50D for its strong and magical colours. XP2 is a beautiful black and white.

Q: What's one of your most memorable or meaningful moments behind the camera?

A: Taking photos of my brothers growing up, and developing the photos myself in the darkroom at school.

Q: How does your approach change when shooting film versus digital, and why do you think film remains so appealing?

A: Film is special - in the chemistry a kind of magic happens, you never truly know how your photo will turn out - giving up the control of how the photo will turn out is important, it allows you to focus on the experience.

Q: What have been some of the biggest learning curves or challenges in working with analogue photography?

A: Not giving up when things go wrong. I have had loads of disappointing results or making silly mistakes. But every film brings new opportunities to learn and play.

Q: What are your thoughts on the resurgence of film photography, and why do you think it's making a comeback?

A: I was one of the last people to learn analogue photography at school - I think it is an important merger between art and science. People are still using it because it is such an interesting process.

Q: Could you share a bit about your process - from choosing a film stock to the final scan - and how you make creative decisions along the way?

A: All decisions are pre made based on the light - first and most important thing is to look around and see, and go from there.

Q: Are there any particular techniques or shooting styles (e.g. double exposures, push/pull processing) that you enjoy experimenting with?)

A: No - I like things to look realistic although double exposures are always a nice surprise!

Q: What advice would you give someone just starting their journey with film photography, especially in choosing gear and film types?

A: Don't worry about price! Get a cheap but well looked after and reliable camera rather than an expensive but not good condition camera. Start off with manual and make lots of mistakes so you can learn from them!

Here are some more of Rosie's stunning film photos to enjoy.