US Cross Country Roadtrip: Canon EOS 300 + Kodak Gold 200
Written and Photographed by Daniel Palát
Artist
My name is Daniel Palát, a photo enthusiast based in Prague, Czech Republic. Started with digital some 11 years ago but have since moved more onto 35mm film over the past three or four years. I still do some digital too, although not very often. I am always looking for new inspiration, so feel free to get in touch via Instagram.
Shooting Film to Slow Down
Do you love taking pictures? Lucky you then. I hate it. The creative process has always been a pain for me. Every time there was a camera hanging on my shoulder, I felt a terrible urge to use it, but at the same time always thought I shoot either too much, or too little, or not good enough. Resorting to film helped me to overcome that personal struggle.
The Series
Driving across the United States is a life-changing experience, especially for us Europeans. There’s no grand story to these photographs. They were not fueled by a specific plan, but rather simple curiosity and an inclination towards specific types of objects and locations. The images are therefore not supposed to deliver an explicit message; they just happen to have been all captured during one awesome vacation.
Film Stock and Camera Used
Kodak Gold 200 always delivers a fine result, especially for the price. Those tones have just enough warmth and a nice balance while still providing a very distinct analog look. For me, it’s even better than the slower and more expensive Ektar, which at times seems too neutral, too perfect. The camera and lens combo used, there is nothing special about them; a not exactly beautiful but cheap and reliable Canon EOS 300 with Canon 40mm f/2.8 STM. Having such focal length seemed like a nice compromise for almost every situation - plus you can always crop your scans, right? It’s a brave little lens too, with a rubber-like focus ring and a small-diameter front element that provide good impact protection.
Hope you like the set!
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