144 ☼ 48 Portraits In 48 Minutes
Recap of the second Process Photo Walk
Dear friends,
In this week's letter, a recap of last week's Process Photo Walk in Amsterdam. What an amazing day, full of sunshine, meeting new friends and lots of cameras. Oh and a contact sheet of 48 of the attendees in a diptych with their favorite camera, as photographed by me at the end of the walk in 48 minutes.
Housekeeping + News
Collaboration with Photographer Pie Aerts —I'm thrilled to announce that I've been brought on board to serve as the editor and curator for an upcoming photo book by my talented friend and esteemed photographer, Pie Aerts. This project promises to be exceptional, showcasing a captivating and deeply human narrative that has been thoughtfully crafted over nearly five years. I can't reveal more details at this time, I can assure you that this collaboration will result in a truly remarkable book that you won't want to miss. Stay tuned for more updates.
What A Day! Sunshine, Cameras, and Conversations.
I'm writing this just a few hours after wrapping up the second ever Process Photo Walk, and I have to say, it was an incredibly fun and memorable experience. Around eighty passionate people joined us for a three-hour exploration of beautiful Amsterdam, following a surprise route thoughtfully designed by Thor. Meeting so many of you for the first time and reuniting with familiar faces was very joyful and, as the Dutch say, "gezellig"1.
One of my favorite aspects of these photo walks is watching people connect over their shared love for photography. Photography can often be solitary hobby or profession, but in these moments it transforms into a catalyst for new friendships. I listened in on conversations about obscure cameras2, tips about how to pull film, and which hidden gem lens might be great to pick up for your 1970’s SLR. It's wonderful to witness the joy and sense of community that forms when people bond over a shared passion.
As we strolled through the city, we stopped at charming bridges, picturesque neighborhood parks, and other hidden gems along the water. We took a group picture at the waterfront steps to commemorate the occasion. Midway through the walk, we needed to split into two groups for our coffee break due to the size of our party, but luckily Amsterdam is full of cafés so we were only a block apart enjoying our drinks.
At the end of the walk, we landed at the legendary creative space Vrij Paleis, where artists of various disciplines have created pretty magical things for decades. Although the poetry event held that day meant we couldn't gather inside as initially planned, we found a cozy outdoor terrace at the Irish pub next door. This venue change proved to be a perfect twist, as it allowed for casual mingling and drinks.
From there we organized small group tours of the brand-new Doka 107 darkroom and a makeshift portrait studio, where I had the pleasure of capturing half-frame portraits of almost everyone in attendance and their cameras.
Above the behind-the-scenes, below the result! Each person got about a minute, snap-snap and onto the next. There were a few moments where I knew someone blinked and I had to do the full diptych over so the contact sheet would still work.
As the day came to an end, I felt both exhausted and invigorated. The physical exertion of walking, chatting, and shooting portraits of 60+ people was balanced by the thrill of meeting such a warm and enthusiastic group of photography lovers. The bonds formed and the energy shared throughout the day were genuinely uplifting.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Thor for his help in planning the route, setting up the portrait studio, and documenting the event. Thank you, Taylor, for your assistance in guiding participants to the photo studio. A big thank you to Barry for co-hosting and founding the Analog Club Amsterdam, and to Vrij Paleis and Doka 107 for their hospitality. And, of course, a huge thank you to all of you who joined us on this gorgeous day, sharing your time, talent, and friendship.
I'm incredibly grateful for your presence and the contagious enthusiasm you brought to this Process Photo Walk. It's remarkable to see how photography can bring people together, fostering a sense of community and shared passion. I eagerly await the chance to see all of the wonderful pictures you captured, and I'm inspired by the idea that this experience may lead to more creativity and exploration for us all. Until next time! Speaking of…
Next Process Photo Walk Announcement
Process Photo Walk III — Antwerp — May 18th. (RSVP HERE)
Process Photo Walk IV — Amsterdam — July 21st (RSVP HERE)
Contact Sheet
Below is the contact sheet of all the diptych portraits I took after the walk. A bunch of wonderful folks and their favorite cameras. A special thanks to my friends at Carmencita Film Lab for their incredible support in developing and scanning these photos so fast and so well. I'll be sharing these images in a proper gallery soon for everyone to enjoy, but for now I hope you enjoy the contact sheet.
Full Gallery Of Diptych Portraits
Below, you'll find a sneak peek, but be sure to visit this gallery for the full collection, as well as a selection of photos I shot during the walk. Kudos to my friends at Carmencita for their stellar job developing and scanning all these amazing pictures!
The full set can be found in this gallery on my website.
Next Week: The fifth step in making my new photo book "NOTICE Journal Volume One": Making A Photo Book Dummy + Editing/Revising
Keep shooting and take good care of yourselves and others. <3
Wesley
PS Marcel wrote up the walk over at Darkrooms.
PPS Would you like to support Process? Please order my photo book NOTICE. <3
Gear & Tools Used
Camera: Thor’s photos were all taken with the Fujifilm XT-4. Nick’s shots were on the Fujifilm X-Pro3. Michiel used his Leica M11. I shot on an Olympus Pen-F.
Film Stocks: Double X.
Shout out to MPB.com, my go-to place to buy, sell, and trade used cameras and lenses. I love their service and am a paying customer. MPB caters to over 625,000 visual storytellers and provides a 6-month warranty. Thanks for the support, MPB! <3
Lab: All my analog work is developed and scanned by my friends at Carmencita Film Lab. They’re my favorite lab in the world. Use code “PROCESS” to get a free upgrade.
Can’t get enough Process? Browse the Process Archives.
Gezelligheid is a Dutch word which, depending on context, can be translated as 'conviviality', 'coziness', 'fun'. It is often used to describe a social and relaxed situation. (Source: Wikipedia)
Y’all, Taylor brought a quarter-frame (wut??) Nickelodeon (WUT??) camera.
That looks like a fabulous event, thanks for sharing. Is there a hashtag to check out some results from the group?
It does look such a great day! Looking forward to the one in Antwerp :)!