I went fully digital in 2004, when I picked up the Canon EOS 10D.
It was the first DSLR that made me feel like I could finally put the Nikon F5 down — fast enough, sharp enough, and efficient enough to make sense for the work I was doing.
But in 2017, I had the urge to go back.
Not to replace digital, but to reconnect with something that didn’t move so fast.
That’s when I reached for the F5 again — and loaded a roll of Ilford HP5+.
Danielle was the subject.
We didn’t overthink it: no stylists, just the MUA, no set, no pressure.
Just a camera I knew by feel, a 50mm f/1.8 I’d had forever, and the trust that built itself frame by frame.
The light wasn’t dramatic. The shots weren’t planned.
But that’s what I love about film — it rewards attention, not speed.
Now, I shoot with the Nikon ZR. Mirrorless, sharp, modern.
But this session reminds me why the gear is never the point.
The pause, the presence, and the person in front of the lens — that’s what stays.
⚙️ Tech Notes
• Camera: Nikon F5 (35mm film)
• Lens: Nikkor 50mm f/1.8
• Film Stock: Ilford HP5+
• Lighting: Natural light — late afternoon beachside
• Shot: 2017
• Development: Lab processed, scanned to digital
• Location: Beach on Guam
Sunlight, film grain, and one of the brightest smiles I’ve ever photographed.
