In 2023, I started shooting film for the first time—something I’ve wanted to get my hands on for years. I found that after college, I felt a sort of ambivalence towards photography—specifically DSLR photography. I loved making images and capturing moments, but “shutter bugging” had become a real drag. You can argue that can be solved with some better trigger discipline, but truly, the efficacy of the digital format is best expressed by “quantity will get you quality.” However, when I finally got around to buying a film SLR, it reinvigorated my love for photography. Something about not being able to constantly chimp an LCD screen really gives you the opportunity to experience the moment as a moment, instead of as someone worrying about “whether that shot looked good.” And that had really been my biggest issue with DSLR photography, frankly. It was starting to feel more like a chore than like art. And I missed making art.
That being said, here are some of my favorite shots from the Alex Basa Film Project™®©.
Hope you like ‘em.
