Camera: Nikon F4
Lens: Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AI-s
Film: Shanghai GP3 400 B&W

Attempted to get my film camera Nikon F4 to shoot in black and white for the first time, using Shanghai GP3 film (ISO 400). The venue is PMQ (元創方), on the historic site of the old Hollywood Road Police Married Quarters.

Shanghai was one of the first places where Western film photography was introduced in China in the late Qing dynasty. In late 1950s, Shanghai was also the birthplace of the first roll of black and white film 100% made domestically.

Shanghai and Hong Kong also have countless connections on cultural and business levels in the history. To put the images of Hong Kong on an old Shanghai roll sounds like an interesting historical idea.

Shooting at night on film proved to be quite challenging — it challenges your skill as well as your patience. I was quite worried about photographs being over-exposure or under-exposure, and I had to hold my patience until I saw the photos developed in the dark room.

The images are definitely not the sharpest ones, but they all feel more real. I wonder if the famous Shanghai/Hong Kong photographer Fan Ho were still alive, how would he shoot the PMQ today?

(Read here to learn more about the lens, Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AI-s)