30 minutes with the Leica MP & Portra400 in Palm Springs

It’s 11 AM somewhere in the beautiful area of PalmSprings. I’m with three friends, and we are all looking very suspicious as we head in different directions to capture this millionaire neighbourhood. After shooting with the Leica M11 for the past year, I decided it must be time to try my skills in Film Photography.

I spent weeks mulling over a used Leica M6, but with the second-hand prices rising fast than the cost of food, I realised that an MP would be the way to go. Of course, I fell in love from day one and already see this as a camera for life after just 20 rolls.

Let’s start on a light note about Film. We all crave that juicy Portra400, right?

Film photography is like a time machine, taking you back to times when buying a roll of film was cheaper than a cup of coffee. Nowadays, you'll need to sell a kidney just to afford a few rolls.

Developing film used to be a simple task that you could do in your own kitchen. Now, it's easier to launch a rocket into space than to find a lab that still develops film which is close to home.

People used to say that film photography was a dying art, but with the rising costs, it's starting to feel more like a luxury hobby unless you’re a full time photographer. If you want to take a photo these days, you'll need to sell your car, your house, and maybe even your first-born child. Each shot really matters.

Film is like playing Russian roulette, but with your wallet instead of a gun.

An honest take - I feel that film photography is inherently imperfect, with all its inherent quirks, variations, and inconsistencies. These imperfections can create a sense of nostalgia and authenticity that digital often lacks. It's like listening to a vinyl record instead of a digital track - the crackles and pops are part of the experience.

Okay, less of the talking. Here are the results from a 30-minute walk with a single film roll of Portra400, the Leica MP & Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 ASPH.

All scan & development was done by Last Good Film Lab in Los Angeles, and I highly recommend them!

PS - I’m addicted!!