New York: my 35mm diary

I’m not a ‘photographer’ by any stretch of the imagination. I have basic camera knowledge, and occasionally get lucky with lighting. Almost all the photos on my blog are taken with a DSLR (I use a Canon 700D with a 50mm lens), and most of them aren’t taken by me on account of the fact that I usually have to be in them. In spite of my lack of skill, I really really love shooting film. I have a little Olympus mju ii (a point and shoot with autofocus and almost no settings) which I carry in my bag at all times – there’s nothing more exciting than getting a roll of film developed and getting the five rolls I shot on my US trip back was the first thing on my mind when I was back on English soil.

All of the above were taken in Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Central Park and other Manhattan spots with a nice skyline view. I particularly love the pictures I took of Toni in the Botanic Garden, and there’s something I find really amusing about analogue photographs of people taking iPhone selfies.
The photos below are how we spent our NYC nights (more or less). The first one of Toni below looks very Skins, which I think is really funny considering the impression that Skins gave of British teen culture to many Americans. Iceage played twice (on the same night) while we were staying in Brooklyn so naturally we attended both gigs. The first one was really incredible, it was in a large warehouse (with portaloos instead of real bathrooms) to a crowd at least four times larger than I’ve ever seen for Iceage in the UK (who went at least three times more nuts than any UK crowd). The second was in a smaller room and was somewhat underwhelming, it was around 1.30am and the band looked even less bothered than usual. Just as I am not a photographer, I am certainly not a gig photographer, but Elias is great to take photos of.
My favourite photos from my whole trip (and there are more than just the ones in these posts, from Boston, DC, Florida and New Orleans) are those I took when we spent our last day in New York in Coney Island. The annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade was happening, so Toni and I met up with Katie Scarphelia (who also took some amazing 35mm shots) to witness the spectacle. Rather than giving a backstory to every picture I think I’ll let them speak for themselves, save for the last few which depict a man with an extremely bloody forced put face down by police. That was a very odd and slightly frightening experience – the man appeared (clearly post punch-up) literally spouting blood from his mouth and nose and screaming at passers by, and was eventually caught up with by the NYPD. Although the photo I took appears quite restrained, in reality there were seven or eight officers on the man at one point (including one putting him in a rather vicious leg-lock) while more blood than I’ve ever seen in my life poured from his face. It was an experience to say the least, and one of many strange ones of our day at Coney Island. Certainly a unique way to spend our last day in NYC.
(TLDR? Don’t scroll all the way to the bottom if you’re squeamish about blood!)

 

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hannahlouisef

29 Comments

  1. elza b. 9 years AGO REPLY

    love the atmosphere in these, fantastic photos!

    CLUB AVENUE / http://club-avenue.blogspot.com / instagram

  2. Holl JC 9 years AGO REPLY

    These are just some brilliant photos Hannah! I love getting photos printed and being able to hold them in your hands, whether digital or film, it's one of the best! x

    holljc.blogspot.co.uk

  3. Rachel 9 years AGO REPLY

    I need to shoot with film more. I have rolls lying around undeveloped from years ago. These pictures are wonderful.

    Rachel | http://www.currentlyrachel.com

  4. Graceandbraver 9 years AGO REPLY

    LOVE these photos, i love em i love em!
    Still extremely jealous of your time in America, looks amazing too. x

  5. Emma Reay 9 years AGO REPLY

    Wow really exciting i love your photos!

    Emma at http://www.collagemepretty.blogspo.co.uk

  6. Feyi A 9 years AGO REPLY

    wow amazing! x
    Marveling-Mind☀✌️

  7. LIVforstyle 9 years AGO REPLY

    Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

    Liv

    http://www.livforstyle.net

  8. Sara Chergui 9 years AGO REPLY

    I'm so loving these photos !

    Sara,
    http://thecrimeofashion.blogspot.fr

  9. B Ruhamania 9 years AGO REPLY
  10. Bethany Dale 9 years AGO REPLY

    Maybe there should be a warning that if you are sqimish then look away…that blood was terrifying!

    • Hannah Louise 9 years AGO REPLY

      so sorry Bethany! I tried to describe the photos in the body of the text but I've added what is hopefully a clearer warning for those who don't like to read the text.

  11. Lou Lou 9 years AGO REPLY

    These photos are brilliant! You should post more documentary style photographs on your blog x

    Lovefromloulou.com

  12. Izzy 9 years AGO REPLY

    I love this! You always get a different feel and style of photo with film and all of these photos are so great! Really need to start using my film camera more <3

    The Quirky Queer

  13. Chloe Taylor 9 years AGO REPLY

    I'm in love with these photos, it makes me want to carry disposable cameras around everywhere! x

    http://www.chloxlla.blogspot.co.uk

  14. Katie Frank 9 years AGO REPLY

    yay it seems like you had SO MUCH fun! <3
    i love these photos, such awesome colours.
    what kind of camera did you use?
    <3

  15. Millie Fran 9 years AGO REPLY

    I love these photos! It sounds like you had a really amazing trip, and I love that these photos will make it unforgettable for you x

    vanilladaisyblog.blogspot.co.uk

  16. The Style Rawr 9 years AGO REPLY

    Such awesome shots, I really need to go to Coney Island!

    Tara x

  17. wolvesandflames 9 years AGO REPLY

    Some amazing shots, so atmospheric…
    I would love to have the opportunity to visit these places!

    WolvesandFlames

  18. abigailalicex 9 years AGO REPLY

    Beautiful photos!

    Check out my latest post <3
    http://www.abigailalicex.com

  19. Great pictures!

    California-Diamond

  20. Keit 9 years AGO REPLY

    Rofl, can't go anywhere without someone going all crazy and medieval! 😀 That's a loooot of blood indeed, I've recently been watching a lot of UFC and turns out even a small teensy-weensy cut is enough to spill so much blood as if you've bashed your head on the pavement!
    Those photos are film photos? Kidding me right? It's super difficult to make decent photos like that, you're a pro! ^_^ Adore the night shot especially!!!!

  21. India Wood 9 years AGO REPLY

    Beautiful photos! x

    India Charlotte♥

  22. Olivia 8 years AGO REPLY

    I saw this post last year and immediately wanted to get myself a film camera! One year on and i still find myself drooling over your photos haha. What type of film did you use for these pics? They’re simply spectacular. Love your work! X

    • hannahlouisef 8 years AGO REPLY

      thank you so much! I just used the Afga Vista film that (if you’re lucky) you can get in Poundland, but if you want some good stuff Portra 400 is really nice 🙂 x

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