Sardina 01 : Mexico

Film: 35mm X-Pro Chrome
Time: Afternoon
Location: Playa del Carmen, Mexico 

Ta-da! I preset the first in a series of film – yes, film – taken on my new Lomography Sardina Domino camera. I decided I wanted the Sardina a few months back after much deliberation between the more traditional options, like the Holga, Diana, and other toy counterparts. The Holga’s ability to capture elegant ghostly images make my heart flutter. While the quirky light flares and dreamy color contrast have me swooning after Diana.

But it had to be some of the 22mm wide-angle shots captured on Sardina.com that caught my attention. The curve around the edges, so subtle yet mimicking it’s Fisheye cousin. It was one-of-a-kind and totally flexible. It had many of the same features as the more popular Diana. I found that The Sardina can capture the details of your subject and the wonderful context they live in too. I thought it would be the perfect camera for traveling shots, and on my trip to Mexico, my suspicions were confirmed.

I’ve had the camera for about half a year now, and through trial and error and some wasted film, I’ve finally figured it out. Some people quizzically squint their eyes and turn their heads when I tell them I love working with film. Don’t get me wrong I love my DSLR, Black Betty, too for so many obvious reasons. But I don’t find film bothersome at all. Actually I find its quirks wonderfully unique. Loading film is like a mini ritual. Setting up my shot is purposeful and deliberate. Each composition becomes an absolute surprise to relive after the film is developed – like a faint memory you thought you had only dreamt about.

There’s a heritage, practice, ritual, and a small community of appreciation around the tangible beauty of film. I pour my eyes all over film from toy cameras almost having to remind myself that they are contemporary – as it often harkens a golden age of perhaps my parent’s youth. Carefree, limitless, yet aged.

These are just a few shots from the rest of the series which lives @brianna725 on lomography.com

All photos taken by Observant Nomad

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