Whenever I go out to take photos, I always carry just one camera, either the Leica M6 or the Leica MP, with a roll of Ilford FP4+ pushed to ISO 200, which I find to be the perfect balance between image quality and that distinct analog character. If I were shooting digital, that setup would be the most logical, rarely does anyone need more than one body. But with film photography, things change quite a bit. Using two different film stocks, one in each camera, can offer greater flexibility when adapting to various conditions. I could, for example, load one with color and the other with black and white, but I’m not particularly drawn to mixing those two worlds, as black and white is by far my favorite format. Another option would be using two rolls with different ISO ratings, which would allow me to shoot in lower light or even try some nighttime photography.
Since I own two camera bodies, I’ve definitely considered it. But I like to keep things as simple and functional as possible: one camera, one lens, and full focus on the act of seeing. With the film I use, once the light fades past a certain point, shooting becomes unfeasible, and that’s when my brain flips the sign to CLOSED. From that moment on, I stop chasing photos and simply enjoy the scenery, look for somewhere to grab dinner, or just hop in the car and start heading home.
But sometimes, as in this case, the day surprises me with a bonus shot, something I wasn’t expecting, and that brings double the satisfaction. When I arrived at the Busto lighthouse in Asturias, it was already quite late. In fact, I hadn’t planned to go there at all, it was a last-minute impulse, a spontaneous urge to see the coast without really knowing what I’d find. As soon as I saw the lighthouse, I knew I had to take a photo. It wouldn’t be easy, there wasn’t enough light, but maybe, if I found something to lean on, I could extend the exposure time. And that’s exactly what I did. Leaning on a fence, I managed to capture the scene. It was a bonus photo, a gift from the day, one that brought me a quiet joy and left me with a lasting sense of contentment.
