Seattle on film
These photos are from different moments I spent around Seattle — random days, random walks, just me and my film camera capturing whatever caught my eye. There was never a plan behind these shots. I just carried the camera with me through the city, and when something felt right, I let the frame tell the story.
That’s what I love about shooting film. It slows things down and makes you pay attention in a way that digital doesn’t. You start noticing the play of light on rainy streets, the patterns in the skyline, and the little pockets of calm in a city that’s always moving.
Each photo here is a piece of that — moments from my time in the area, captured the way they unfolded. No edits, no heavy processing. Just the natural texture of film, the grain, and the imperfections that make it feel more alive.
Hope you enjoy this small collection from my point of view, seeing Seattle through the slower, more intentional lens of analog photography.
Camera Settings & Gear I Used:
A few people have asked me about my setup, so here’s what I used for these shots:
Cameras:
Crown Graphic Graflex 4x5 — for the big, detailed shots with tons of character.
Bronica SQ-Ai — for medium format square compositions, fast to handle, and good flexibility.
Mamiya RB67 — also medium format, but bigger negatives and beautiful depth. Fully manual, rotating back helped a lot.
Lenses:
Crown Graphic: Optar 135mm f/4.7
Bronica: Zenzanon 80mm f/2.8
Mamiya: Sekor 127mm f/3.8
Shutter Speed:
Crown: 1/125 to 1/250 (leaf shutter limit)
Bronica: Around 1/250
Mamiya: 1/250 (leaf shutter as well)
Aperture:
Mostly kept it between f/8 to f/16 across all cameras to get solid depth of field and sharpness, especially on the large format and medium formats.
Film Stocks:
Portra 400 for forgiving latitude and soft tones.
Ektar 100 for punchier color when I wanted it to pop more.
I kept it simple and shot color film all the way.
Focus:
All manual, of course. Used the ground glass on the Crown, and waist-level finders on the Bronica and Mamiya. Slow and steady.
Metering:
Used my handheld Sekonic L-308X, since none of these cameras have built-in meters.
Film Handling:
Carried plenty of film backs and holders, pre-loaded to stay ready. Not fast like digital, but the payoff is worth it.
Simple Tips if you’re using cameras like these:
Load up on film before you head out — it saves you time when shooting.
Take your time with focus — manual focus is slow but pays off.
Use a light meter — guesswork is risky, especially with film.
Stick to simple film stocks — Portra and Ektar cover most situations.
Enjoy the process — shooting film slows you down in a good way. Every shot counts.
