LAB TURNAROUND – C41/BW/ECN2 – 3 WORKING DAYS – E6/SCALA – 7-10 DAYS
LAB TURNAROUND – C41/BW/ECN2 – 3 WORKING DAYS – E6/SCALA – 7-10 DAYS
Welcome to Developing Stories, our interview series where we celebrate the people behind the film rolls we process and scan at Berlin Photo Studio. Today, we’re proud to feature Sebastian, a film photography enthusiast living just around the corner in Berlin Wedding. His analog journey is grounded in nostalgia, curiosity, and an eye for resonance.
Sebastian:
My name is Sebastian, and I currently live in Berlin Wedding at Leopoldplatz, just a few meters from the studio!
I’ve always loved capturing photos. I believe I got my first camera when I was about nine years old (yep, it was still film back then!). After a few years shooting digital and experimenting with different styles, something pulled me back. I found an old Canon AE-1 that belonged to my grandfather, and something just clicked.
I started shooting film again, drawn to the slower, more mindful pace. I didn’t want to just take photos—I wanted to create them. Film helped me do that. It made me feel connected not only to the moment, but to the entire process.
I like to keep things super minimal. Just my camera, maybe a second lens… but nothing else. Simplicity helps me stay present when I shoot.
I don’t remember a specific photo—but I clearly remember the feeling. When I got my first film back a few years ago, I was struck by how different the images felt. They had more character. More mood.
It wasn’t just about the aesthetic. It was the fact that I had slowed down and taken those pictures more deliberately. That moment gave me the motivation to keep going—and keep shooting.
Both! I like to play with black and white because it emphasizes mood, light, texture, and form. It removes the distractions and forces you to focus on the composition. But sometimes, only color can tell the story—especially when it comes to emotion or nostalgia.
So I alternate, depending on what the subject demands.
Film is… bold. It’s brave. It’s real.
There’s a kind of truth in the experience that digital doesn’t give me. With digital, the process often ends at the shutter click. But with film, you carry the image with you until it’s developed. That waiting period adds emotional weight to the photograph—it matters more.
And of course, there’s something magical in the unpredictability. You don’t always know how a photo will turn out, but when it works, it really works.
Not that I’m aware of! But the one thing I always do is take some time to walk around before I start shooting. It helps me settle into the moment. Especially for street photography, I feel I need that little “warm-up.”
The studio opened up just a few steps from my place. I walked by one day, saw the “analog” vibe, and decided to check it out. And the rest is history!
Seeing my photos for the first time still gives me that rush—it’s like unwrapping a present. Especially when there’s been a longer break between shooting and developing, I sometimes even forget what I shot.
There’s nothing like the surprise of seeing something turn out better than you remembered.
Yes! I especially remember the results from a roll of experimental film I bought at Berlin Photo Studio. I had no expectations—but the colors? Incredible.
That’s a tough one. Maybe…
“I’d like to know what they say to others instead of me.”
(Spoken like a true poet.)
Pay close attention to what creates resonance for you. If something moves you, follow that thread. Sometimes what excites your senses may not be obvious to others, and that’s okay.
Also: don’t stress over technical stuff. Instead, try creating images that leave the viewer asking questions.
Instagram: @brunosebastian
Welcome to Developing Stories, our blog series where we feature the amazing people who trust us to develop and scan