30 minutes in Palm Springs with the Leica MP & Kodak Portra400

The Art of Film Photography: A 30-Minute Experiment with the Leica MP & Portra400

It’s 11 AM in the sun-drenched streets of Palm Springs. The kind of morning where the light is just right—soft but defined, casting perfect shadows against the sleek, mid-century architecture. I’m here with three photographer friends, each of us slipping into different corners of this millionaire’s playground, cameras in hand, trying to capture a world where time seems to stand still.

I’ve been fully immersed in digital for the past year, pushing the Leica M11 to its limits. But something kept calling me back—the raw, tactile beauty of film, the unpredictability, the craftsmanship, the thrill of not knowing exactly what you’ve captured until the negatives come back.

Leica M6 or MP? The Dilemma of a Film Shooter

Like many photographers venturing (or returning) into film, I spent weeks debating my choice of camera. The legendary Leica M6 was tempting, but with second-hand prices skyrocketing faster than inflation, I realised that investing in a Leica MP made more sense in the long run. I have no regrets—it’s been 20 rolls, and I already know this camera is for life.

The Love-Hate Relationship with Film

Let’s be honest—every film photographer has a soft spot for Portra400. Its creamy tones, dynamic range, and unmistakable character are second to none. But let’s also acknowledge the elephant in the room: film is expensive.

There was a time when buying a roll of film cost less than your morning coffee. Now? You might need to remortgage your house just to keep shooting. Developing used to be a simple DIY process in your kitchen, but today, finding a lab that still handles film feels like searching for a lost civilisation.

Some say film is a dying art. I say it’s a luxury—one that forces you to slow down, compose with intent, and truly see the moment before pressing the shutter. Every frame counts. Every shot matters.

Why Film Photography Still Matters

There’s an imperfection to film that makes it undeniably human. The grain, the subtle colour shifts, the way light interacts with chemistry—it’s all unpredictable, and that’s precisely what makes it special. It’s the difference between listening to a vinyl record and streaming a flawless digital track. The flaws are part of the magic.

The Results: A 30-Minute Walk with the Leica MP & Portra400

Enough talk—here are the frames from a quick 30-minute photo walk, armed with a single roll of Portra400, the Leica MP, and the Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 ASPH. Every shot was developed and scanned by Last Good Film Lab, Los Angeles—a team I can’t recommend enough.