Yashica 635 — Blog — HazelandEye

Isolation has brought me home these days, and I am friends with time and my camera again. I became fascinated with film for its effortless capability to take photos with creamy tones, inviting warm hues, fluorescent greens and yellows, and pastel blues and greens. Subdued colours yet they reflect richness and sharpness at the same time. I find inspiration from the colours of certain subjects – namely natural light, wheat fields, flowers, animals, knitwear, boots, and pastry. I use this palette as a basis for my photography. For my series, I am expressing a feeling of contentment and serenity. I focused on what I saw at my most comfortable and relaxed. My subjects were autumn leaves and my dog, Maya. Both were well-behaved and happy to have me around more often.

Isolating and working from home, not having to waste time commuting on public transport to and from work, and planning to work out whenever it suits me has freed up so much of my time. I now have time - yes, time - to dabble in my creative research and projects and medium-format cameras have been on that list for a long time. For $300 bucks, I scored myself a well looked-after, second-hand Yashica 635, a twin-lens reflex medium-format camera made in the 1960s that not only shoots 120mm but also 35mm! How versatile is that for a half-a century year-old camera that’s lasted this long and looks like it’s still going strong for a good few years? While the square type film and viewfinder will appeal to instagrammers, there is something quite beautiful about a square image. While I don’t think this format suits landscape photography, I think it will be brilliant for non-moving subjects, flowers, stationary objects, architecture, and things that will allow you time to compose and shoot. Although I’d love to take photos of my dog, Maya, I may have to wait until she’s asleep - the only time I can have her sit still.