Detroit in Winter by Amandine Besacier With the Lomography B&W 400 35mm Berlin Kino Film

Member of the Studio Hans Lucas, French photographer Amandine Besacier traveled to Detroit with our Lomography B&W 400 35 mm Berlin Kino film last February. Today, you can discover her series of photographs with a cinematographic atmosphere while learning more about her experience of the Michigan city:

Could you give us a brief introduction about your approach to black and white photography?

During my studies, I almost only did black and white photography and at one point I almost overdosed. I was only waiting for one thing, to start taking pictures in color... So I gave up black and white films for years, but I'm now slowly starting to come back to it. That being said, I significantly think in the same way when I take color or monochrome photos.

Could you tell us a bit more about the photos you took with the Lomography B&W 400 35 mm Berlin Kino? Why did you visit Detroit?

It was the French music magazine, Trax, who sent me to Detroit for a photo-reportage last February. We went there for only 5 days and ice storms and snowstorms were succeeding one after another... It was between -10 and -15 degrees. The work was intense since I had 3 articles to illustrate and I was also doing the cover photo but I wanted to try to take this opportunity to take some pictures for myself. I shot the reportage in color but I needed to shot personal work in black and white this time. In general, Detroit's atmosphere is quite strange because of the history of the city, and with the snow, it was even stranger... The light was very particular, I had the impression that I was in a movie, and that's why I decided to experiment with the Berlin Kino.

Which camera did you use to shoot with the Berlin Kino?

As I was already carrying a lot of stuff with my professional photo gear and as it was very cold, I did not want to carry one of my analogue reflex and risk damaging it. So, I just took my Olympus Mju because it would be less serious if it was exposed to humidity. Also because of the -15 degree weather, the point and shoot camera was the perfect option to not bother with the settings.

What did you think of the Lomography B&W 400 35 mm Berlin Kino ?

I liked the results I got with the Berlin Kino, especially with the grain even if I think that the cold had something to do with it. I'm looking forward to shooting the film in more "normal" conditions and to process it in positive, I'm very curious to see the results.

Follow Amadine Besacier on Instagram and go through her portfolio on Hans Lucas.

The Lomography B&W 400 35 mm Berlin Kino can be found on our Online Shop. We prepared a developing guide for you too!

2020-08-17 #people #places #michigan #detroit #berlin-kino #amandine-besacier