I recently started diving into rangefinder film photography and quickly figured out that my usual car photography workflow needed a serious tweak. Any automotive shooter will tell you that a Circular Polarizer (CPL) is a total must have. Cars are basically giant, rolling mirrors, and you need that filter to kill the reflections and glare.
On my digital setup or an SLR, I can see the effect instantly. But with a film rangefinder, you can't preview the effect through the viewfinder, and there is no digital screen to check your shot. You only get 36 frames and a week long wait for the lab, so you are pretty much flying blind.
Then I discovered the Kenko Rangefinder Polarizer. It has this clever little secondary finder that sits on the hot shoe so you can preview the polarization before you hit the shutter. It is indexed to the main filter on the lens, so once you dial it in on top, the lens is perfectly synced up.
Just a heads up on the technical side: make sure your camera meters through the lens. If it doesn't, you will need to manually adjust your exposure to compensate for the light the filter cuts out.
#filmphotography #rangefinder #automotivephotography #kenko #35mmfilm
Prepping the camera setup for the upcoming inaugural Watercooled Classic VW show. With the onslaught of AI generated content, I figured it would only be fitting to shoot 90's era cars with 90's era analog cameras.
Thanks to @unikorns for lending me her prized Contax G2. I'll be prepped for both 28mm and 45mm focal lengths without needing to swap lenses.
#Contax #G2 #G1 #FilmPhotography #Portra400
We wrapped up our Turkey trip back in Istanbul, this time staying in the BeyoÄźlu district just a few minutes from the Galata Tower. It was the perfect home base for our final couple of days.
​We spent some time down the hill at the Karaköy waterfront, which is packed with great cafes and incredible views. I also made sure to track down the famous fish wrap before we left. Honestly, it was easily one of the tastiest things I ate during the entire trip.
​To top it all off, we had a final meal at one of the rooftop restaurants nearby. It was the perfect spot to take in the skyline and say goodbye to Istanbul. Such a great way to end the journey.
#Turkey #Vacation #Istanbul #2026
The second leg of our Turkey trip in Cappadocia was a total whirlwind. We stayed at the Arinna Cappadocia Cave hotel, which had breathtaking views and some of the warmest hosts we have ever met. We spent our days hitting all the local sights, from the views at Uçhisar Castle to the animal-shaped rock formations in Devrent Valley and the massive underground cities. We even stopped in Avanos to see the red clay pottery and carpet weaving workshops.
​The absolute highlight was the Göreme Open Air Museum. The ancient cave churches were stunning, but our two new friends Lucy and Ricky made the day. They were just two stray dogs who decided to be our personal tour guides, following us through every fresco and cave. It made for a day we will never forget.
​After three days of waiting on the weather, we finally checked off a huge bucket list item. Seeing the sunrise from a hot air balloon was worth every second of the wait
#Turkey #cappadocia #travel.
Turkey Part 1: Istanbul
​We made it. After an 11 hour flight, we managed to survive a crazy taxi ride to the heart of the historic district.
​The highlight so far was the Basilica Cistern. The scale of the underground columns and the Medusa heads are incredible to see in person. We also spent time at the Blue Mosque and navigated the Grand Bazaar for some local street food. We did sadly skip the interior of the Hagia Sophia since much of it is under construction right now.
​The weather turned on us for day three, but we still pushed through the high winds and rain to visit Kadikoy on the Asian side. Because it is the first day of Eid, most shops were closed and the streets were unusually quiet. We spent the day making friends with the local stray cats and dogs instead. They are so well cared for here, but seeing them definitely makes us miss our boys at home.
#Turkey #istanbul
