I decided it was time to start dabbling in color photography for real. At least, to get out of a rut. My true love will always be black and white. I wrote about that in this article.
However, trying out new things opens new ways to think and get creative. So far, I mostly avoided color because:
- Rolls are pricier than BW.
- Developing them is harder (for me) than BW.
- Most importantly, I don’t know what to do with color.
The last point is the one I’d like to discuss for a bit. Basically, I feel I’m learning to see in color. I’m so used to black and white that even when I view through the viewfinder, I can imagine how the frame will look in BW.
With color, something strange happens to me: it’s like I’m looking but not really seeing, because I no longer understand what’s in front of me. With black and white, you see shapes, emotions, contrast, etc. With color, you have a new layer to think about: how it fits the image. Does it add or distract?
Sometimes, I even think while composing, “This would look better in black and white” (🤡). I know I can digitally turn it to BW, but that’s not the point. I am eager to learn how to see in color, how to make color mean something rather than being distracting.
You might think that I’m a total weirdo, but those who shot mostly BW will understand.
Anyway, lately, I’ve been devouring the pictures of the classic color gods like Eggleston, Haas, or Herzog to understand how color improves a picture.
There’s plenty to learn for me.
Meanwhile, enter Lomo’s Color ‘92 Sun-kissed 400
I was looking for a cool-looking roll outside the Kodak line, something not “too vivid,” as I don’t think it fits the ambiance of Mexico City, which is normally “cloudy” and sometimes “color muted.” Bright blue skies are a rare thing here.
After some research (and taking advantage of a sale), I got some Lomography Color ‘92 Sun-kissed, which, according to internet myths, is just ORWO NC500 rebranded.
After loading it into my camera, I went to one of the coolest and most famous neighborhoods in Mexico City: La Colonia Roma. Without further ado, here are some pics I liked.
The roll lasted a lot, so I took some more pics around my house and neighborhood. Check them out. Even indoors looks good to my taste.
A roll for the city
I wouldn’t take this roll to the beach where you actually get sunny days. I don’t think the look of this roll will do justice to sand, sea, and palm trees, unless you’re shooting without people and going for an abandoned, post-apocalyptic beach look.
For me, it shines in urban environments. Most cities aren’t “that colorful,” so vivid rolls feel like too much. This one fits nicely.
Overall, it’s up to what you want to achieve. I’m happy with how this roll looks in Mexico City, and I’ll be getting some more (when on sale, obviously).
One tip I saw on Reddit and a few forums is that it behaves better shot at 200 (box speed is 400) if you want more shadow detail. Not a problem for me since I love inky blacks and deep shadows. Also, shooting 400 is way better for the constant light changes. I dislike when suddenly it gets cloudy, and 200 is barely enough if you want to avoid camera shake (most noticeable with point-and-shoots like my Olympus XA3).
Prints came out fine
I decided to see how this roll looks printed, so I sent three of my favorite frames to my Canon Selphy CP1500. I’m glad I’m able to say that they came out just fine. I don’t notice any big difference between what I see on the screen and the final look. I’m far from being an expert in printing, but for quick and easy 4×6, it’s good enough.
That’s it!
My next step is simple: keep learning color. I want color to mean something in my pictures.
Also, I got some Kodak Vision3 250D and Optik Oldschool OptiColour 200 (what a mouthful) to try out and see if I like them better than Color ‘92. I’ll be posting these in the future, when I actually shoot them, haha.
More cool stuff
→ Dirty Little Zine: A foldable 1-page zine maker that runs in your browser.
→ Dirty Little Library: The worldwide community started sharing foldable zines. You can upload or download; it’s up to you. Do not miss the work of these outstanding photographers.
→ Support RICK: If anything I do is helpful and you want to support it by sending some coffees (or film!), this is the way.