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 blog series where we feature the amazing people who trust us to develop and scan their film. Today, we’re excited to introduce you to Michele, a Roman soul living in Berlin, whose photography captures the chaos, beauty, and unexpected poetry of city life.
Michele:
I’m Michele, a Head Hunter and Dancer. Originating from Colli Aniene, Rome, I’ve made Berlin my home for the past 13 years, following my mother, who was born and raised here.
Just before the pandemic began, I realized how incredible it was to live in Berlin, and I felt a strong urge to capture all the amazing and vibrant experiences occurring around me. The sunsets, the parties, the street life—everything fascinated me. I was much more inclined toward analog photography than digital. So, I jumped on eBay and found a rugged Canon FTQL that I decided to buy. From that point on, it turned into a journey of trial and error—mostly error, to be honest. Honestly? Not much has changed since then, and I love that.
Right now, I’m carrying a Yashica FR equipped with a 28mm lens and loaded with Kodak Vision 500T film. In my bag, I also have a roll of Double-X and another Kodak Vision as a backup. I frequently use a Canon Prima Zoom AF and a Minolta Hi-Matic, and I’m in love with several other point-and-shoot cameras. They allow me to bring photography everywhere, especially since I love to dance and do it almost every day. Chaos? Yes. Perfect? Absolutely.
Absolutely. One night, after dancing in Kreuzberg, we found ourselves at Repeat, a legendary smoky techno and house music bar. I had my Canon camera loaded with black-and-white film. I captured a few random frames during breaks from dancing and while enjoying drinks. The photos turned out dark and out of focus, pushed to their limits—yet somehow, they were beautiful. They perfectly captured the essence of that night.
I still can’t decide which film to use; it often depends on my mood. For black and white, I’m addicted to Kodak Double XX, which is almost always with me. For color film, I like to switch between Cinematic and C41. In my bag, you’ll often find Kodak Vision 3 and Wolfen NC 500.
It’s the unpredictability that makes photography special. I’ve only experienced a few moments when I looked through the viewfinder and thought, “This is it,” and then the photo actually turned out just as I envisioned it in my mind. But when that happens, it’s pure magic. Each picture has its own texture, feeling, and grain, making it feel like it has a soul. You never know when a photo will truly come to life.
I always take a horizontal shot followed by a vertical version right afterward. I can never decide which one will work better. I usually take pictures in bars and during live concerts without using flash, and most of the shots are taken while in motion.
I walked by and noticed a cool graffiti-style place that had opened up near where I used to live. I went in out of curiosity and met Emma. We chatted for a while in English until we both realized we were Italian. When that clicked, she exclaimed, “Ma vaffanculo!” and we both burst out laughing. I instantly loved the vibe.
I enjoy hanging film to dry after developing it. Additionally, scanning the images is also very satisfying.
Many of my photos are either not properly exposed or out of focus, so I rarely expect much. However, some shots I thought would be terrible turned out to be fantastic.
Express Yourself.
Just start. Shoot a lot. Don’t overthink. Keep going. Keep going.
Instagram: @mcerioni86
Welcome to Developing Stories, our interview series where we celebrate the people behind the film rolls we process and scan