Earlier this year I found a mystery roll of FP4 120 in a tub of junk in my closet. I had no idea where it was from or how old it was, only that it was exposed and undeveloped. So, I developed it and found some interesting stuff. It looks like this image was taken somewhere in France, 1996, while on an art abroad.
It looks like sometime in the last 30 years the film was damaged fairly severely by high humidity or some other type of moisture. It’s a mess, but I kind of like the look.
I’m fairly certain that I had a Yashica 124G with me on this trip. It might have been one of those hideous old Seagul 120 cameras with the plastic lenses. I was mostly shooting 35mm. Anyway, I’m happy the film survived. I have no idea how given how many times I’ve moved since 1996.
Another place I would revisit given the chance.
What Would I Do Differently?
I have to be honest, I’m not sure what I would do differently on this trip other than develop all of my film immediately on return to my darkroom. It was a fantastic trip. I was with friends, traveling light and spitting my time between drawing and photography. My mindset was that of an artist looking for light and lines, not storytelling elements. Each subject was addressed on its own merits and treated as a standalone composition. I think that’s how I like to work. There’s a lot to be said for allowing meaning and connection to reveal itself over time rather than right there and then while working.
This image, though severely damaged, stands as an unexpected reminder of a fantastic experience, much of which I barely remember. The dappled and funky character of the image mirrors my fading memories, so it works for me, there’s a certain harmony to it.