Rolleiflex Challenge 1: Southern Swamp Lilies
Welcome to my latest film photography series — a year-long Rolleiflex Challenge! Every month in 2024, I committed to following a different theme and shooting at least one roll of medium-format film with my Rolleiflex. By sharing the final images, my creative process, self-analysis, and a behind-the-scenes story, I hope to inspire, inform, and celebrate my artistic journey through the nostalgia of 120mm film photography.
INSPIRATION
Perhaps my namesake is my fate — I've always felt a deep connection to flowers and how all the elements of nature work together in harmony. I believe we live in a magical world, but many fail to pause and notice what's right in front of them. Discovering the intricate details of plants gives me a sense of awe and appreciation for the little things that make life extraordinary. That's exactly what I want to explore with this medium-format photography series.
In January, I visited home in Florida and I patiently waited to capture the giant leaves and delicate blooms of Crinum americanum, aka the Southern Swamp Lily or Spider Lily. Perennial and native to Florida, their fragrant clustered blooms always greet my return to our tropical garden—often, Mama adds a few to a vase in my room as a welcome home gift.
I spent quiet, creative moments absorbed in our garden's sights and sounds, listening to the uplifting symphony of birdsong and watching nature unfold through my viewfinder. Taking time to slow down and discover what's right in front of us can offer unexpected sparks of joy that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Given the setting (my childhood backyard), I felt comfort, nostalgia, and tranquility creating this series. Swamp Lilies grow for generations and I have so many memories of reading, swimming, and working together in the garden with my mom and granny, the giant Swamp Lilies always in view.
THE STORY BEHIND THE LENS
Fresh into the new year, I started my Rolleiflex Challenge in a state of introspection and gratitude. Reflecting on the chapter of my life now, I've realized that although I appreciate many aspects of life in Amsterdam, I often feel simultaneously overstimulated and suffocated by the demanding rush of city life. Arriving home in Florida, I intended to enjoy a slower, quieter pace, immersed in nature and full of creativity.
Hidden away in the seclusion of our garden, I watched fuzzy fat bees bounce from flower to flower, butterflies float in the gentle breeze, tiny lizards camouflaged in oak bark, and delicate beads of raindrops on petals before they evaporated in bright waves of sunshine. Focusing the attention of all my senses' on our garden's hidden world puts me in a flow state. I followed nature's rhythm — everything blooms on its own time.
Crinum lilies have pods with multiple blooms that unfold slowly, on their own time, and this was parallel to my state of being at the time. When I first arrived, I was worried the bulbs might not bloom in time and the idea for my project might fall apart. To my delight, they began to appear after a week or so! And then, one flower after another unfolded with long, delicate petals and neon stamens as an explosion of sweet, soft fragrance filled the air.
ROLL REVIEW
ROLL 1: Fuji Pro 400H (underexposed)
Excited to start, I forgot to change the ISO and shot the roll at 200 instead of 400. I'd love to say this had artistic intent, but it was an accident — I blame jetlag. Upon realizing I thought, “This could be a fun experiment to pull film! ” something I’ve never done before. However, I later discovered that the photo lab could not pull the film, only push it. Fortunately, film is very forgiving, and standard C41 processing was fine. I don't think they look overexposed. There are some wonky streaks and light leaks, so I suspect something was off in the developing process or a result of using expired film. Either way, I was pleasantly surprised.
ROLL 2: Fuji Pro 400H (full sun)
Expired film can produce varying results, often with dull colors and less contrast.
I felt delight and relief when the colors of my beloved Pro400H turned out as vividly as I had envisioned. I love how our house blue pops against the thick green leaves. I love how the sun beams down to illuminate the blooms with a kiss. And I love that this roll shows the flowers in an older state, fresh white blooms offset by wilted ones. I composed the shots more thoughtfully, and the decisive moment approach worked perfectly — can you spot the fat bee who came to visit? What a sweet surprise!
ROLL 3: Fuji Pro 400H (overcast)
In a moment of spontaneity, I had two frames left and ran outside to catch delicate beads of raindrops before they evaporated in bright waves of sunshine. Perhaps the humidity of an afternoon rainstorm made my lens fog up because most of the shots on this roll have a much softer aesthetic that feels warm and cozy. I am impressed that this Zeiss lens captured such detail from a few feet away.
SELF-ASSESSMENT
What did I learn?
The value of patience. I enjoyed the creative routine of checking on my lilies every morning — my own flower meditation. Eventually, all elements fell into place with the perfect combination of blooms in just the right window of light.
I wanted to capture the flowers from below but found shooting at lower angles with a waist-level viewfinder challenging. At times, I had to use one hand to maneuver the leaves and my other hand to balance the boxy camera and press the shutter. This threw my composition off balance, yielding some wonky results. Regarding technicality, I think the best way to shoot with Rolleiflex is to frame the scene and wait for the decisive moment. And of course, remember to always check the ISO before loading (duh).
How do I feel, looking back at the photos now? Delayed gratification is an exciting element of shooting film. Stepping back into the moment, I'm reminded of our parallel to the cyclical nature of flowers. The way they transform from seed to blossom, pollinating, withering and eventually blooming again. Philosophically speaking, as a flower passes through its stages, we do, too, as individuals and as a collective part of the broader universe. Pausing to notice flowers will always help me to embrace what each stage of life's change has to offer and find solace in the eternal rhythm of life and nature.
““Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” ”
