Analog: Lucas Recasens

Introduce yourself:

My name is Lucas Recasens. I live in Madrid, Spain, and was born in 1999. I work as a delivery driver and try to ride and dig as much as possible.

Why do you use film?

I started using film only on trips because I wanted to get home and bring back all the good/bad memories from each one in the most classic way possible, and later, I started using it daily.

How did you discover it?

I remember having a single-use Kodak plastic camera as a kid, which I would use through summer camps or on holidays. But it wasn’t until years later, after watching Jerry Hsu’s Epicly Later’d episode, that I got into film photography. So I decided to buy a cheap camera and bring it on a trip without knowing what would come from it.

How did you learn to shoot on film?

I guess I just learned by trying and seeing what worked or not.

Did you encounter any difficulties?

At first, I never really found any difficulties because, luckily, at the time in Madrid, we had many photography shops selling and developing film. But then, in 2020, when COVID hit, film prices skyrocketed, and it became crazy expensive. The prices now are double or almost triple what I used to pay, and there’s also a shortage of stock… So those are the difficulties now.

What are the benefits/disadvantages that you find in shooting on film?

The benefits for me are easy to find, like enjoying shooting without being too concentrated on the result or not shooting much of the same stuff because you only have 36 exposures per roll. The disadvantages come economically. The rolls aren’t cheap, and neither is developing them. Although some of my friends do it themselves, I don’t have the space or time to do it myself.

What equipment do you use?

I now use a Kodak Star 275; it’s the most cheap and shitty camera you could ever find. I used to have an Olympus XA and enjoyed shooting with it a lot, but I needed the money a couple of years ago and sold it. As for the film, I always buy either Kodak’s Colorplus 200 or Fujifilm’s Fujicolor C200, which is normally the cheapest. Other times, I use Ilford’s HP5 400 Plus for black and white.

What would it be if you had to choose one camera set-up (body, lens & film)?

A Contax T2 or T3 or a Contax G2 with a Contax 35mm f/2 lens.

Do you take photos more for yourself or others?

I take photos for myself because I normally don’t tend to post or share them in any way, so the only one looking at them is me.

How much value do you place on social media?

I only sometimes post film photos on social media, but that’s normally not the case and definitely not why I shoot film. As of now, I really want to buy a dumbphone and use it just to make calls and shoot photos on my film camera; social media has gotten pretty boring and monotonous for me. I hope I make the change really soon.

Where do you see photography going?

Following up on my last answer, I think social media has devalued what photography is. It’s true that a lot of people have discovered film photography through Instagram, but I believe a big part of them entirely do it for likes and followers, which I don’t think is the right way to enjoy photography.

When you are shooting, how much of it is instinctual vs. planned?

It’s never planned. I bring my camera to trips, parties, and daily sessions, and I find it better to take the camera out when I think it’s the right time rather than waiting for the perfect moment. My film camera is sometimes part of my carry-on essentials because you never know when you will want to shoot something. There’s no worse feeling than wanting to shoot and not having your camera with you.

Do you do any digital post-processing on your film photos?

No, I think that’s what makes film unique. There is always something to enjoy in each photo without post-processing them.

What is your end goal in photography?

I want to enjoy it as much as possible and hopefully look back on certain pictures and remember past times.

Do you have any tips for those who would like to try shooting on film?

Enjoy it, and don’t rush it. Take your time through each roll.

Last words.

Dogs are better than most people, and whiskey is better than beer. Thanks, Héctor, for giving me a chance to do this.