Elisa Kardhashi is a Film Club Member whose Instagram caught our attention. Their photos capture a variety of scenes that are colorful and compelling. This week we decided to interview them and share their photographs. Scroll down to see it all.
PL: What got you interested in film photography?
EK: I took a film photography class in high school and absolutely loved it. I would spend hours in the darkroom developing my photos. It was such a great experience to learn about every step of the film photo process. Then, I started getting into digital photography and eventually bought myself a DSLR which I have been using for the last few years. Recently, I’ve just missed the pace of film photography. I like that you have to slow down and be really intentional with every image. So, I got a used point and shoot off of Facebook Marketplace and I’ve been carrying it around with me everywhere I go.
PL: What type of camera do you shoot with and what kind of film do you usually use?
EK: I use an Olympus Infinity Zoom 230 and I typically shoot Fujifilm 400 since I can find it at most drugstores, but I also really like using Kodak Portra 400.
PL: When taking pictures, what are some objects or elements or feelings within a scene that inspire you to take a photo?
EK: I’ve found that I really like capturing people doing things they enjoy, like the people dancing in Rittenhouse square, the two roller bladers, the person painting by the water. I didn’t go looking for those people, I was just walking around the city and kept seeing it and thought it was really special. It honestly inspired me to continue doing what I love as well.
PL: Some of these photos capture people. What do you enjoy about photographing people? What is challenging about it?
EK: Most of the people in my photos are my friends, so I like being able to immortalize my time with people I love. Film has allowed me to live in the moment and not worry about the outcomes of a photo since I won’t be able to see my results until later on. Sometimes though, I’ll see something I want to capture and then the person moves and the image I had in mind is gone, but that just gives me the chance to try something else.
PL: All of your photos are taken in color. What are some qualities that you like about color film?
EK: I think color just adds so much depth to an image and really helps put me back right to the moment that it was taken. Also, with a lot of my pictures, the color is integral to the scene, like the pinks of the sunset on the drive in West Virginia, or the greens of the trees on my walk around Philly.
PL: Out of all of these photos, which one is your favorite and why?
EK: My favorite is the picture of my friend laying on the bed. We were sleeping over at our friend’s beach house and had just woken up and I was showing my friends my new film camera. I took a photo of her on a whim, and I ended up loving it. The whites in her sweater look so creamy and I just love how natural the picture feels. That photo makes me think of all the sleepovers, and the late-night gossip sessions I’ve had over the years with my super cool friends.
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