2024 Road Trip on Film: Part I (35mm)
As much as I love traveling, I might enjoy documenting my travels even more. Through writing or photography (and usually both!), I can not only capture the moments but revisit them for days, months, and even years to come. And since diving back into film photography a few years ago, I’ve been absolutely loving the analog experience. On this year’s roadtrip, I traveled with two film cameras: an Olympus OM2n 35mm camera and a Hasselblad 500 CM medium format (120) camera.
This post, Part I, features my favorite 35mm images from the Olympus OM2n, using a combination of both the Zuiko 24 f/2.8 and 35 f/2.8 lenses (*the final image of Percé Rock might have been with the 135 f/3.5 lens—I can’t remember!). I shot three rolls of Kodak Gold 200, which might just be my go-to favorite film stock. Sure, I love the look of Kodak’s Portra films, but no matter the subject, every time I get my Gold 200 scans back, I’m reminded of colors of my 1970s/1980s childhood and those warm Kodak vibes.
Roll #1:
Row 1: Pointe-au-Père Lighthouse, Le Lac-aux-Américains (Parc national de la Gaspésie), La Martre Lighthouse; Row 2: Cap-de-la-Madeleine Lighthouse, Building at the Cap-de-la-Madeleine Lighthouse site, a view from Pointe-à-la-Renommée; Row 3: Two photos from Pointe-à-la-Renommée, and a first look at Forillon National Park.
Roll #2:
Photos 1 & 2: Cap-des-Rosiers Lighthouse; photos 3 & 4: Cap-Gaspé; photos 5 & 6: views of Percé Rock from both the town of Percé and from Bonaventure Island; photo 7: Cap-des-Rosiers; photo 8: the view from the summit of Mont-Saint-Alban; photos 9 & 10: Cap-Gaspé.
Roll #3: Prince Edward Island
Notes on camera/film/developing:
Camera: Olympus OM2n purchased from KEH (rating: EX)
Lenses: Zuiko 24 2.8 (purchased on eBay, near mint); purchased from KEH: 28 f/3.5 (EX+), 35 f/2.8 (EX), 50 f/1.8 (EX+), 135 f/3.5 (EX)
Film stocks used for these photos: Kodak Gold 200. I typically purchase all my film either through B&H or through a nearby camera shop. I love that I can buy multipacks of either 24 or 36 rolls through B&H.
Developing: I use a local (about 45 mins away) camera shop in Dover, NH: Photosmith (Old School Photo Lab). I love the convenience of a local shop, dropping off film in person, and getting to know the folks in the shop. Sure, there are other options, but in my opinion, there’s something to be said for building a relationship with a local lab, if you’re lucky enough to have one!