First visit to Nantes’ Jardin Extraordinaire meets first roll of Ilford Pan 100. Shot on a Nikon FE, developed at home in Ifosol 3, scanned on Opticfilm 8100. A slower pace, a Panama hat, and the Grue Titan in the distance. Why analogue photography still matters in 2026, and how film helps me be more authentic.
The grind continues. General orchestra rehearsal without soloists, shot on Nikon FE with HP5+ pushed to 3200. Heavy grain, raw aesthetic, iterative work. Part 3 of a trilogy documenting the Symphonique des bords de Loire through lunch, concerto rehearsal, and general rehearsal.
After lunch, the work begins. Documenting rehearsal of a double violin concerto with two Chinese guest soloists. Shot on Canon AE-1 Program with HP5+ pushed to 1600, these grainy black and white images capture collaboration between soloists and the Symphonique des bords de Loire. Part 2 of 3.
An orchestra at lunch: documenting the Symphonique des bords de Loire’s communal meal before rehearsal. Shot on Pentax ME Super with Fomapan 100, these fine-grain black and white images capture community, food, and the calm before the musical work begins. Part 1 of 3.
“Accidentally shot HP5 Plus 400 at ISO 100? Discover how this film photography mistake became a happy accident. Learn pull processing techniques, shadow detail retention, and highlight control using Ilfosil 3. See stunning black and white results from a Nikon FE. Your guide to film latitude and overexposure experiments.
After 40 years behind the lens, still learning. Explore Rollei RPX 400 shot handheld in flat light at Pont Caffino, France. A honest look at dodging, burning, and making ordinary prints less ordinary in Lightroom.
Ian’s contemplative journey through Nantes’ Saint-Pierre Cathedral, captured on Ilford HP5 Plus film with a Nikon FE. This black and white photography essay explores reclaiming sacred space from municipal spectacle, celebrating grain, silence, and winter light. A meditation on film photography as spiritual practice and architectural reverence in France’s historic cathedrals.
A father reflects on one final family trip to Lourdes in What I Gave Them at the Grotto, a heartfelt essay about faith, fatherhood, and the quiet moments that shape a child’s soul. As his children grow older, he grapples with what it means to pass on belief—not through preaching, but through presence. Set against the sacred landscape of southern France, this personal narrative weaves Mass, memory, and a grainy film photograph into a meditation on legacy, letting go, and the imperfect love that lasts a lifetime.