Jason’s Atmospheric Street Photography with Lomography Low ISO B&W Film

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We recently invited Hong Kong-based street photographer Jason, to try out our low-sensitivity black and white films, Babylon Kino B&W ISO 13 35 mm and Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 35 mm. This was his first time using such low ISO black-and-white films so he was naturally a bit apprehensive. However, the unique film combined with Jason’s wonderful eye for composition resulted in a fantastic set of high-contrast and atmospheric street shots. Check out all his photos and read about his experience below.

©️ @jasonyuennnBabylon Kino B&W ISO 13 35mm & Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 35mm

Hello Jason! Welcome to the Lomography online magazine, please introduce yourself to everyone!

Hi everyone, I'm Jason and I'm very glad to be invited by Lomography to experience low-speed black-and-white film shooting for the first time. I'm used to taking street photography and daily records. I don't use much equipment, mainly Leica MPs with 35 mm and 50 mm focal length lenses.

I started to take photos in 2020 when the government closed the border because of the pandemic. It was also the first time I tried film shooting, and I have been shooting since then.

Where do you usually get your inspiration from?

The inspiration for photography is to look at the works of different photographers. If it's about light and shadow, I'll look at the works of master Ho Fan (何藩大師). Recently, I have started to get into black-and-white so I turn to look at Alan Schaller's work.

©️ @jasonyuennnBabylon Kino B&W ISO 13 35mm & Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 35mm

How would you describe your photography style?

My photography style is actually casual. I try to make the composition simple if the environment allows me to do so. In recent years, I have been influenced by other photographers and use different geometric elements in my photography, making the moment more interesting.

How did you figure out your style as a photographer?

This is a question that I often encountered when I was new to photography. At that time, I used to imitate other people's works, but soon I realized that it was not right. My style of photography should be based on my favorite techniques, and these techniques will gradually develop into my style.

©️ @jasonyuennnBabylon Kino B&W ISO 13 35mm & Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 35mm

Can you tell us about your experience using our low-sensitivity B&W films?

It was the first time I used a film with a sensitivity lower than 100, and it was a black-and-white film that I rarely use. I was excited and nervous about the whole experience. It has taken me back to the mood when I first started using film. Because of the low sensitivity and the limitations of my equipment (only 2 for aperture and 1/60 for safe shutter), I was a bit nervous at first. But then I changed my mind and thought that underexposed and overexposed photos could also be good so I just gave it a wild try, and I didn't expect some of the photos to turn out so well! A very unforgettable experience!

©️ @jasonyuennnBabylon Kino B&W ISO 13 35mm & Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 35mm

Did you discover any differences in your photography when using low-sensitivity black-and-white film?

I felt the differences at first, but now I am not worried about it. Knowing that the lens has an aperture of 2 or more, I have already imagined the areas that will be overexposed and underexposed when I structured the photo. Hence, I tried to transform those areas into my style and desired elements. That is why I could still use the low-sensitivity film in the same way as I would normally use black and white film.

What do you think is appealing about low-sensitivity black-and-white film?

The experience of using low-sensitivity black-and-white film is not possible when using color film. These strong contrasts create a strong tension and visual effect in black-and-white film. By using these strong contrasts, you can create photos with different atmospheres.

©️ @jasonyuennnBabylon Kino B&W ISO 13 35mm & Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 35mm

What kind of scenarios make you want to use black-and-white film?

I want to use black-and-white film when the light and shadows are great, also when I want to emphasize some lines. If I want to emphasize the subject through strong contrast, low-sensitivity black-and-white film is also one of my choices.

©️ @jasonyuennnBabylon Kino B&W ISO 13 35mm 低感光度黑白菲林 & Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 35mm 低感光度黑白菲林

What was the theme of this shoot?

The theme of this shoot is "another side of the city (Hong Kong)", and the locations I chose are To Kwa Wan, Quarry Bay, and Tsim Sha Tsui. After experiencing the pandemic over the past few years, I deeply understand that no matter whether it is a popular place or an old district, different stories are happening every day, and the changes are far beyond our imagination. Therefore, I want to record these changes through photographs.

Do you have a favourite photo from this shoot?

The image below is one of my favourite photos from this shoot. The overexposure and underexposure in the photo contrast with the direction of the pedestrians, adding a dramatic effect to the photo.

©️ @jasonyuennnBabylon Kino B&W ISO 13 35mm & Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 35mm

What kind of preparation do you do before a shoot like this?

I used to be a color film street photographer so all I had to do was to prepare for the sensitivity of the film to be used. Also, I will take a brief look into the area to be photographed, the traffic, and some resting places. If I do too much preparation, I will miss out on a lot of instant and interesting pictures happening on the street. It would also limit my ideas of the shoot.

Do you have any tips for beginners using these films?

Lomography's two low-sensitivity films are easy to use but not easy for beginners. A range of aperture settings of the camera lens is required if you want to use these two films flexibly without a tripod. As the aperture is not enough and the shutter is too low, it is easy to have some camera shake. Therefore, cameras with flash should give you a better result! Sometimes, shaky photos can be a good result too!

©️ @jasonyuennnBabylon Kino B&W ISO 13 35mm & Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 35mm

What are your future plans for your photography?

My future direction in photography is to take photos of different faces of the city, and to record more interesting images of Hong Kong. I actually have a plan to use black-and-white film as the main focus to challenge myself.

©️ @jasonyuennnBabylon Kino B&W ISO 13 35mm & Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 35mm

Thank you to Jason for sharing his fantastic photos with us! Do you want to challenge yourself to try out our low ISO black-and-white film? Visit our Online Shop! Check out more of Jason's work on his Instagram.

written by kawai21 on 2025-01-29 #gear #people #places #black-and-white #street-photography #hong-kong #b-w #low-iso #iso-8 #fantome-kino #babylon-kino #iso-13

Mentioned Product

Fantôme Kino B&W 35 mm ISO 8

Fantôme Kino B&W 35 mm ISO 8

Fantôme Kino B&W Film is perfect for pinhole, striking portraits, and gritty street scene snaps. With low ISO and small exposure latitude, this impactful black and white film navigates inter-tonal shifts with ease resulting in rich, low grain depictions with vibrant micro-contrast. The Fantôme Kino B&W Film brings scenes to life, capturing life’s most evocative moments in showstopping black and white splendor.

2 Comments

  1. whilethemusiclasts
    whilethemusiclasts ·

    Stunning atmospheric pics!

  2. polaroidlove
    polaroidlove ·

    Wow, great photos!

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