Turning everyday life into cinema

Marta

I started shooting film while travelling at the end of 2023. Since then, I’ve tried to take a camera with me whenever I travel or even just leave home.

During my photo walks, I often find myself drawn to scenes that carry nostalgia, a quiet sense of loneliness, and a touch of playfulness. These emotions tend to guide what I notice and what I choose to photograph.

I’m interested in capturing without interrupting, moving through spaces unnoticed. In most cases, people don’t notice me, as I often spend a long time waiting for the right moment, sometimes even pretending I’m photographing something else. While I also appreciate staged work by many photographers, what I love most are natural, unprepared moments that are real and will never repeat themselves.

I’ve been experimenting with different film stocks. My initial goal was to find three main ones to stick to, but my exploration never really ends.

Composition is very important to me, as are aesthetics, and I often decide not to take a photo if the composition doesn’t feel right. Because of that, I’ve slowed down my shooting considerably. I try to be more intentional, even though I carry my cameras almost every day. Sometimes I return from a walk without taking a single frame. I prefer photographing only scenes that feel truly special to me, and if something is even slightly mediocre, I now choose to leave it. Shooting five photos in a day already feels like a big success to me.

I’ve also noticed that there are days when I don’t see anything at all, and others when I see potential frames every few seconds. The act of photographing feels strongly connected to our inner state, how present we are, and how creatively open we feel.

At the moment, I shoot with a Pentax K2 and a Nikon F2 Photomic, using 50mm and 135mm lenses.

When it comes to inspiration, music is something that always influences me deeply, which is why every series on my Instagram has a soundtrack. When I go on photo walks with headphones on, my creativity increases significantly, and I suddenly get ideas not only for individual frames but also for entire series.

One of my favourite soundtracks, which always works for me, is The Brutalist by Daniel Blumberg. I also read a lot, and I often try to find a quote from a book that fits the series or post when I publish my photos online. I like the idea that a photograph does not have to exist as a standalone piece, but can be supported and expanded through writing and music.

I follow and admire many great photographers, and I’m especially inspired by those who document ordinary life in an emotional and cinematic way. One photographer whose work I deeply admire is Eduardo Oropeza. I’m particularly inspired by the sensitivity of his photography. His images feel quiet yet emotionally powerful at the same time. What also fascinates me is his technical mastery and precision. He has an incredible ability to notice and capture a fleeting moment almost instinctively, like a sniper taking a shot at exactly the right second.

I’d also like to invite you to check out the work of Habib Saleh, who photographs everyday life in Lebanon. To me, all of his images look like scenes from films, often surreal.