122 ☼ Expired Film Hasselblad Summer Days
GIVEAWAY: $150 gift certificate for the Moment shop
Dear friends,
This week's letter is about time travel, really. I dive headfirst into the memory pool, reliving those golden summer days when I walked the charming streets and fields of small-town France with my trusty Hasselblad. Snapping shots on expired film, attempting to catch the quiet beauty that lingered in the air.
Also, thank you to everyone who spread the word about last week’s issue. My conversation with Craig Mod was received with so much enthusiasm!
☀️ Shout out to my friends at Squarespace for helping make this issue possible ☀️
Housekeeping
Mentor Sessions: I opened up the last mentor slot of 2023. Read more here. Below is a note from Jop about his mentorship session with me earlier this year:
“During the mentorship session Wesley helped me to clarify my goals and give me the direction I needed to proceed with my project. Wesley’s knowledge and creative choices opened up possibilities I hadn’t thought about before. The session was effective, super fun, and hands-on.” — Jop Verheijen
Summer Walks In Rural France
Listen up. If you were here right now and paid close attention, you'd hear the beat of Amsterdam's pre-winter anthem – my hot-water radiator doing its percussive dance. It's that rhythmic reminder that autumn is packing its bags, and winter is about to knock on the door with a chilly swagger.
In an attempt to briefly forget about this dip in temperature, I find myself transported back to some great summer days in the heart of small-town France. It’s probably cold where many of you are right now as well, so today, I invite you to wade with me through the quiet charm of sunlit streets and fields.
Two cameras swung from my neck – one digital, one analog – a dual dance between the contemporary and the timeless. Today I will focus on the timeless, in the shape of the fifty-year-old Hasselblad 500cm that used to belong to my father.
Each step through those early morning streets was a venture into a world hushed by the absence of human hustle. I found depth in the simplicity of my surroundings: meadows of barley and grain stretching to the horizon, a stillness broken only by the soft crunch beneath my shoes and the satisfying shutter sound of my Hasselblad.
There's something special about walking roads that generations before me have walked, a connection to the rhythm of life in these storied landscapes. As I strolled through those streets and fields, memories of my own rural upbringing flooded back.
The echo of my grandmother's wisdom, her hands in the soil, growing food that would find its way to our family table. I remember being a little boy sent up a tree with a basket, part of the harvest ritual that now feels like a cherished fragment of a bygone era.
The streets may have been quiet, but my mind was a bustling collision of nostalgia and the present moment. The warmth of those endless summers, the taste of freshly picked cherries, and the joy of sharing a family meal made from the fruits of our labor.
It's funny how photography becomes a vessel for time travel. Each click of the shutter preserves a moment – a solitary walk through golden fields, a silent conversation with the past. And in the middle of life's chaos, these solo photo walks are my anchor, a tether to tranquility that remains unbroken even in the stormiest of times.
These images aren't just for me; I get to share them with you. A way to say, "Look, here is a moment, a feeling, a slice of life that resonated with me." Through the lens, I invite you to witness a horizon without buildings, feel the peacefulness of a barley-filled meadow, and, perhaps, be transported to your own memories of warmth and simplicity.
In this dance with my cameras and memories, I love to stop and think about the fact that photography is not just about capturing moments but about sharing them, weaving a narrative that connects us across time and space. It's a vulnerable act, opening up these chapters of our lives, but it's in vulnerability that connection lives.
So, here's to those quiet walks, to the joy of connecting to the soil, and to the optimism that we can find in the midst of memories. I hope you’re walking too.
Additional Reading
That’s it for this week! If you enjoyed this issue I’d love for you to share it with friends.
Next Week: I remember Larry Fink, one of the great photographers who was a mentor and an inspiration to me. He passed away yesterday at the age of 82.
In Two Weeks: I answer all your questions. Simply scroll down to the Process Giveaway section and share any questions you have for me. By doing so, you'll automatically be entered into a $150 giveaway exclusively for subscribers.
Keep shooting and take good care of yourselves and others. <3
Wesley
PS A great way to support Process and enjoy a body of work I’m very proud of, consider buying my photo book NOTICE. It makes for a great holiday present as well.
Gear & Tools Used
Camera: Hasselblad 500cm
Film Stocks: Kodak Tri-X, Cinestill BwXX, Kodak Ektachrome 160T, Kodak Portra 400VC, Kodak Vericolor III, Fujicolor 80L.
Lab: All my analog work is developed and scanned by my friends at Carmencita Film Lab. They’re my favorite lab. Use code “PROCESS” to get a free size upgrade.
Website: A huge thank you to Squarespace for making this edition of Process a reality. If you're in need of a website, I highly recommend Squarespace. I've been a satisfied customer for over 10 years (!!!) – it's incredibly user-friendly, allowing me to effortlessly create and maintain a beautiful and professional portfolio and webshop.
Use the code PROCESS10 for 10% off your first order.
Process Giveaway
My pals over at Moment are back for a generous giveaway! One winner will receive a $150 gift card to buy whatever you wish including film, bags, a course, and more.
To enter this week’s Process Giveaway just ask me any question you may have:
Ask Me Anything: Feel free to ask me anything—whether it's about gear, my career path, life as a professional photographer, finding my voice, getting my work published, or what it's like to have a newsletter. Just drop your question in the comments below.
I'll choose the most intriguing questions to feature in an upcoming edition of Process for everyone to enjoy. By asking a question, you automatically enter the Giveaway.
ENTER THIS WEEK’S GIVEAWAY before 11 a.m. EST on December 10th
The winner will be randomly drawn. This giveaway is for Process subscribers only.
When I got my first Hasselblad I didn't like it. I don't know why, but it didn't do it for me. I changed over to the Mamiya 67 system and stuck with it for a few decades. A few years ago, i got my hands on a vintage C and oh man, I love it. I guess I just needed some time to commit... heh.
The first black and white picture is absolutely stunning !