Chasing Light

There’s something raw about walking the streets with a camera in hand, chasing light and shadows. No filters, no gimmicks: just the world as it is, stripped down to its bones. That’s what black and white does. It pulls the noise away, leaving behind the soul of the moment.

It Vanishes In Your Hand

I’ve been hooked on that feeling for years. The kind you get when the sun hits the pavement just right, or when someone’s face tells a whole story in a single glance. For this work, I grabbed my trusty Olympus Stylus Infinity and loaded it up with ILFORD XP2 Super 400. A point-and-shoot so simple it vanishes in your hand (my dad calls t a soap dish), and film that respects my vision as a photographer specialized in black and white.

Fragments of Stories

Italy and Mexico: two places that feel like home, both chaotic and calm in their own way. The cobblestone streets of Italy whisper old secrets, while Mexico’s colors (even when stripped to grayscale) pulse with life. I wandered both, letting the scenes unfold, catching fragments of stories. Street photography and urban landscapes. Movement, stillness, and that tiny second where everything lines up just right.

You Wait

I don’t overthink it. No fancy setups. No begging for the perfect shot. I don't choose film photography to slow down. Sometimes, you wait. Sometimes, you stumble into it. Like the chaos of people in Piazza di Spagna. Or that flare that caresses the figure of the saint (San Judas Tadeo) carried by a pilgrim in Mexico City, slicing through the chaos.

Every Frame Counts

Shooting film makes me see differently. Every frame counts, reminiscent of the first rolls of film when I was just a child and the idea that one day I would become a professional photographer had not even crossed my mind. And ILFORD XP2 Super 400? It’s forgiving but honest. Handles the high contrasts, the soft glows, the gritty textures. Perfect for when the streets throw you curveballs.

 

Images ©Alex Coghe