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HUQIU Camera

Here in Shanghai, I snagged a small HUQIU 351, a camera born in Suzhou some sixty odd years ago. (It’s growing my interest in Chinese cameras.) It snaps quite well, but the rangefinder ain’t the most reliable. I have to tap it on the side to line it up, which ain’t exactly confidence-inspiring. So, I’ve leaned into the zone system à la Cartier-Bresson for focus.

Shooting on film versus digital—it’s not just about the equipment; it’s an entirely different mindset. Film is a surface that reacts to the reality of the external world in a direct way; it is touched by light and is directly altered by it.

In digital, the shot means nothing, it does nothing; the light touches a sensor which is not modified but interpreted, translated into binary numbers, which are then recomposed by a computer speaking the same language as the sensor, but neither of them speaks our language. A fleeting illusion of permanence.

But when you shoot on film, each frame is unique, irreplaceable. Digital is like modern architecture, transparent and illusionistic; film is like ancient architecture, solid and historical.

In the digital world, everything is transient, fleeting. A click, a swipe, and it’s gone, lost in the endless stream of content. But when you capture a moment on film, it becomes a tangible artifact of time, a testament to the impermanence of existence itself. Each frame is a reminder that nothing lasts forever, that every moment is fleeting and precious.


One response to “HUQIU Camera”

  1. Michele Brunetti Avatar
    Michele Brunetti

    Hey everyone! Thrilled to share my latest dive into the world of vintage photography. There’s just something magical about capturing moments on film, don’t you think? Who else here enjoys shooting with analog cameras? Let’s swap stories and tips! 📸✨



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