So much for diligence.
I tried, I really did. Tried to post often. Tried to shoot often.
Then this happened.
One of my closest friends Nick came from California to hang out. For a month or two.
Then this.
My mom came for a couple weeks herself.
Then my brother and his girlfriend.
Then another good friend, Junku, came from Japan for my anniversary.
Then my anniversary happened.
Well, as you might well have guessed the last two months or so have been busy. I know you may be thinking this would have been a splendid time to document. You’d probably be right. Just I think I realized that I didn’t want to spend this time behind a camera.
For my birthday (which actually hasn’t come yet) my wife bought me this camera. It’s a Rolleiflex T in grey leather from the late 1950s. I didn’t know what to make of this gift. It confused me at first. I know she got the idea from above pictured Nick who has a similar camera.
Still, I’d never thought about getting a TLR (this style of camera) ever in my life. I didn’t really get the appeal.
It was a struggle at first. I struggle to focus any camera that isn’t a rangefinder.
Then I started to notice something.
People act very differently when I take photos with this camera. They relax more. They talk while I frame and focus. I talk while I do. I think the fact that my face isn’t obscured by the camera itself helps with this. I think the fact that the camera looks how it does helps with this. I know this has been written in the past by many people but it really is something one must experience for themselves.
My mom, for example, doesn’t like having her picture taken. Whenever I take pictures with a Leica or some other camera she shies away from it. She walks away or looks away. When I started taking photos of her with this camera she embraced it. She talked to me while I shot. We laughed about how she accidentally looked down.
She was surprised to hear she’d probably just cost me a 1000 won by looking down right when I pressed the shutter.
“When you use that camera even though I’m looking at you I don’t even think about the fact that you’re taking a picture.. I’m sorry.”
This hit me.
No problem for a smile on the next one. She didn’t want to cost her son 2000 won.
My brother is basically the same story. He looks awkward and uncomfortable in most of the other photos I’ve taken of him. He never seems to feel comfortable being in front of a camera. Amazing to see this melt away.
Basically the same deal for his girlfriend.
My friends, well, they always look comfortable, ha.
Even so though, they relax more. Nico here generally poses in photos no matter what. It is tough to get him in a “natural” state. Again, to this camera’s credit it does this amazingly well.
Maybe he was just too hungover to care.
None of this even begins to mention the fact that 120mm film just looks… better. The negatives are spectacular.
I cannot thank my wife enough for this gift. I’m not sure I’ve learned more from a camera since the Sony point and shoot I found under my aunt’s car seat years and years ago. I’ve only shot two rolls so far but I am absolutely in love. I can honestly say it has changed the way I approach shooting.
And finally, things are starting to quiet down. Soon my wife and I will actually be able to relax. And hopefully, I’ll be able to finally..
be more diligent.
Iksan, 2019.
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Also, for those interested my second zine, Neverland Volume II is now available for purchase at the link below:
jtinseoul 
excellent post worth waiting!! wow!
Well yes it’s been a while but boy was it worth waiting for this…
Medium format are photos you make as opposed to take, and they are slow photos. Slow is good.
Glad you found a different path to explore. I’ve been tempted for a while, and you have nudged me one step closer. Thank you, Josh.
Couple months on, and I’m still in complete love with that camera.
Wonderful portraits. I like your idea of photography, I like you take photo about reality around you. Your pp is awesome. Go on!
It not 120mm..just 120
I’d you measure your negatives you’ll see
haha. I don’t mind a bit of pedantry in the morning 😉 Thanks for pointing that out though.
Random question but how do you get the black borders on your images? Regardless I’m a huge fan of your work!
Snapseed normally, but really depends on the photo.
Sometimes it’s the border of a print.