It's been a while, hasn’t it? My last post was back in April, and life has had a funny way of unfolding since then. As a software engineer at a fintech company here in Singapore, things have been… well, busy. The past few months have been a mix of challenging sprints pushing out new features, interspersed with moments of welcome respite.
I originally envisioned this Substack as a space to explore the intersection of code and innovation, particularly diving into AI/ML concepts. While that’s still very much on my mind (and I promise to circle back!), lately I've found myself drawn in a different direction, one that requires slowing down rather than speeding up.
I’ve fallen headfirst into film photography.
It sounds almost counterintuitive for someone who spends their days building things with the latest technologies, but there's something incredibly grounding about it. In a world obsessed with instant gratification and pixel perfection, film forces you to be deliberate. To consider composition, light, and moment before pressing the shutter. It’s a different kind of rewarding than seeing code compile and run flawlessly.
I’ve always enjoyed photography. Over the years I've accumulated a bit of digital gear: my trusty Fuji X100F from 2017/2018 still gets plenty of use, alongside a mirrorless Fuji XT-5 and even a medium format beast, the GFX 100SII, which I love to bring on travels. But something was missing.
This year, during a trip to Taiwan, I picked up a pre-loved Olympus 35 DC with a beautiful vintage lens. And then, almost immediately after, a Pentax 17, that fascinating little half-frame camera released last year as part of the "PENTAX Film Camera Project." It captures two images per frame, which is just clever. Since then, I've been spending my weekends wandering around Singapore with these cameras, trying to capture moments in a way that feels more intentional.
And then came the splurge: a Leica M-A (Typ 127). Fully mechanical, no frills, and entirely manual. It was a costly purchase, buying it brand new, but I’m absolutely captivated by its compactness and elegance. I've been shooting street scenes, architectural details, still life. Just observing the world around me with a different lens (pun intended!).
I’ve experimented with various film stocks. Kodak Gold 200 has quickly become a favorite for its warm tones, but I'm also enjoying the challenge of black and white. And speaking of challenges… I recently decided to try developing my own film at home. Let’s just say my first attempt wasn’t exactly a success. One entire roll from a weekend walk wasted! But as any engineer knows, failure is simply another data point. A chance to learn and iterate.
It’s funny how different passions can complement each other. The precision and logic required for software engineering are balanced by the artistic freedom and tactile experience of film photography. Both demand problem-solving, but in vastly different ways.
I don’t know when I'll get back to deep dives into AI/ML (though it is still on my radar!). But for now, I'm content with slowing down, embracing the imperfections, and finding beauty in the analog world.
Nice photos.