Rolleiflex Challenge 12: Florida in Monochrome
ABOUT THE SERIES
Welcome back to my year-long Rolleiflex Challenge — an analog photography project using my grandfather’s vintage camera from the 1960s. This series celebrates the nostalgia of medium format film through a modern lens. Every month in 2024, I follow a theme and shoot at least one roll of 120 film using my Rolleiflex 2.8F. Then, I share a personal story, reflect on my artistic journey, and review the photos.
This project launched to encourage mindful creativity and push my creative growth. Along the way, I aim to inspire others to slow down, connect with the world around them and discover their own creative habits that spark joy. Thanks for following along!
THE STORY BEHIND THE LENS
Wrapping up this 12-month Rolleiflex Challenge in December, I returned to Florida on my annual visit home (and sold my prints at two art markets!) Florida is where my analog photography journey began over 20 years ago, and my Rolleiflex Challenge launched with photographing the swamp lilies in my mom's garden. So, it felt full circle, a natural way to end the project here.
Focusing my lens on Florida's vibrant landscape, my default is to choose color film, but this time, I switched it up with black and white, which pushed me to explore familiar spaces with a new perspective.
RETURNING TO MY ROOTS
Although I've lived in Amsterdam nearly as long as Florida, there's a distinct sense of nostalgia connected to the places where we spent our youth versus the places we shifted into adulthood. Reflecting on my hometown and how it shaped me, I wanted to capture nature scenes in some of my favorite places like, mom’s garden, Black Bear Reserve, Wekiwa Springs, Green Springs, and Rock Springs Park.
Photographing familiar landscapes provides a deep sense of connection. In a way, I am rediscovering my past through an entirely different lens. Just as an ecosystem adapts and transforms through cycles of growth and decay, I've changed significantly over time, adjusting to my surroundings while remaining true to my core. This set of images represents a tribute to the memories and emotions I once shared with each space.
Ilford HP5+ film stock has become my go-to choice lately. It's affordable, versatile, and consistent. With 400 ISO, it handles everything from Florida's harsh sunlight to flat, overcast skies, offering deep blacks, bright whites, and subtle grain for just enough texture without overwhelming the natural surface.
To capture Florida’s wild beauty in monochrome, I emphasized textures and contrasts. This created a more intimate connection between me, the landscape, and, eventually, you, the viewer. My expectations of bright, dramatic light and shadow didn't happen. Ironically, most of my trip was overcast, which can look very flat on film. This tested my patience as I visualized shots and waited for light that never came, so it actually took me over two weeks to finish a single roll. Maybe this struggle was a fitting conclusion to my year-long journey, forcing me to work with what I had.
Creativity is about working within boundaries and making the most out of what you've got in the moment.
ART AND ADVOCACY
Growing up in Florida, I spent countless afternoons on swamp walks with my camera, capturing the regional landscape over time, resulting in a lifelong appreciation and respect for conserving delicate ecosystems, whether in Florida or beyond.
In today’s political climate, where environmental protections are under increasing threat, I see my photography as both art and advocacy. I hope these images inspire you to view your local surroundings with renewed wonder and respect.
You may recall that earlier this year, I visited the Everglades and Clyde Butcher’s studio. During that trip, I picked up his latest book, a stunning collection of his life's work. However, I had to wait until my return home before I was able to hold the book in my hands. Flipping through its pages on quiet mornings, I was inspired by the simplicity and timelessness of black-and-white landscape photography. One of my few regrets from that trip in February was not shooting any black and white film. This felt like a missed opportunity to draw inspiration from Clyde's decades of work. He famously said, “Black and white is an interpretation. Color is a duplication.”
Wild Florida scenes captured at Rock Springs Park.
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SO, WHAT’S NEXT?
Over the past 12 months, I pushed my creativity and that’s something to celebrate! I grew more comfortable with my Rolleiflex 2.8F, and shooting, developing, and printing by hand reignited my love for medium-format film. This challenge revived and deepened my connection to the entire analog process.
My goal was 12 rolls of film, but I shot 45, that’s over 500 images! Many are waiting to be shared… Stay tuned for more on my blog and YouTube.
Committing to a roll of film each month was a thrilling experiment. As a freelancer, I’m always balancing client work with personal projects, and this was my chance to dive back into my photography. Reconnecting with my grandfather’s 60-year-old camera boosted my confidence with the TLR format.
With the year-long challenge wrapped, I’ll continue to share photo journals, city guides and personal photography here on my blog, along with longer stories on YouTube.
Thanks for following my analog adventures and supporting my work, it means the world to me. If this series has inspired you to pick up a camera and document the world around you, please tag me or share your photos; I would love to see them.
The last frame on my last roll of the series, shot on the last day of 2024.
Photo by Saray
If you’d to support this self-funded series by sharing this post or donating a roll of film. With the rising price of film, it costs €50/month for a roll of film, processing & scanning. Your contributions help cover the cost of keeping this project alive all year long.
