While attending The Hybrid Collective conference in San Diego, California I had the opportunity granted to me by Richard Photo Lab to experiment with the Contax 645 film camera. Since I started learning film a year ago through Julie Paisley’s Shooting Film Without Fear course, I’ve been dreaming of the day I’d have the chance to get my hands on this camera.

I woke up very early on the last day of the conference and was lucky enough to snag the last Contax 645 that Richard Photo Lab was lending out for the day. The super helpful staff gave me a quick lesson on how to load the camera and sent me on my merry way after purchasing a few rolls of film.

I ran back to my room at Bahia Resort Hotel immediately to wake my family up because I was literally like a child on Christmas morning. What an amazing opportunity I had sitting in my hands! My husband and I took our boys to explore two of our favourite places in San Diego – La Jolla Beach and Torrey Pines Nature Reserve and this was the result.

I’m overwhelmed with such gratitude to have had this dream fulfilled. I now get to look back on such a magical day with my family awhile appreciating this artistic medium on a whole new level.

Images scanned and processed by The Find Lab