It began with a friend’s camera at New Year. In this written conversation, Berlin-based film photographer Selen talks about skies, birds, learning from scans and keeping a hobby free from pressure.
Questions by Emiliano Vittoriosi / Berlin Photo Studio. Answers and photographs by Selen.
What first made you want to pick up a camera, and what keeps you photographing now?
Selen: My journey into film photography started quite by accident. Last New Year's, a friend had a Kodak Ektar H35, and I took a few photos with it. The idea of not being able to see the results straight away felt strange, but I really enjoyed it. There was something exciting about not knowing exactly what I had captured.
When I finally got the scans back, I fell in love with the nostalgic look of the photos, especially the grain and the feeling they carried. I liked how they felt a little imperfect, almost like memories.
I bought a Kodak Ultra F9 and spent the next few months shooting with it. As my curiosity grew, I started looking into other cameras and eventually got a Canon AE-1 Program.
What started as a spontaneous experiment slowly became something I genuinely enjoy. I think what keeps me photographing is the combination of anticipation, nostalgia, and the feeling of being able to hold on to a moment in a way that feels different from a digital photograph.
What people, places or small situations do you find yourself returning to?
Selen: I find myself photographing the sky quite often, especially when it's a deep blue with clouds drifting across it. I love the colours of the sky, but there's something about the way film captures them that keeps drawing me back. Sometimes it feels as though I'm seeing the most beautiful shade of blue through my camera. The nostalgic quality of the image makes it even more special. I also love photographing birds. There's something about them that gives me a sense of freedom.
I'm also drawn to candid moments in everyday life — people spending time together, cycling through the city, or simply enjoying a moment with someone they care about. I love noticing these little scenes that might otherwise go unnoticed. For me, it's often the simplest, most ordinary moments that hold the most feeling, and I enjoy capturing that feeling on film.
Could you tell us the story of one photograph that matters to you more than a viewer might realise?
Selen: One photograph that means a lot to me is a sunset I captured while coming down a mountain. We had gone up there to photograph people paragliding, so the sunset wasn't really the reason for the trip. But on our way back down, the sky caught my attention so much that we stopped in the middle of the mountain road just to watch it.
I remember taking in the colours and enjoying the moment before taking out my camera. The sunset itself was already beautiful, but the experience made me realise something about photography. Sunsets are an ordinary part of life; we see them all the time. Yet, if I hadn't been taking photographs, I might have simply passed by without really noticing it.
Having a camera with me made me stop, look closer and appreciate something I might otherwise have taken for granted. That's what makes this photograph special to me. It reminds me that photography isn't only about capturing what you see, but also about learning to see the world differently.
What changes in the way you look at a familiar place when you have a camera with you?
Selen: Having a camera with me has made me notice things I probably would have overlooked before. It can be something as simple as sunlight falling into a room at a certain angle. I find myself imagining how beautiful that light might look in a photograph, almost instinctively wanting to capture it.
I notice the colours of the sky more, the way light changes throughout the day, and the small, unposed moments happening around me. I also find myself paying more attention to people when they're simply going about their lives, without trying to be anything other than themselves.
I think photography has made me more observant in general. It has taught me that there is beauty in very ordinary things, and that sometimes all it takes is a little more attention to see them.
What do you enjoy about the process you use, and what sometimes gets in the way?
Selen: I'm still learning and discovering new things about film photography, and one of the things I enjoy most is trying different film stocks. I love going beyond the familiar brands and experimenting with films that are less common or that I haven't heard much about. Every film has its own character, and I find that really exciting.
When I take a photograph, I usually have an idea of how I imagine it will look. But depending on the film, the result can turn out quite differently from what I expected. I love that element of surprise. It makes every roll feel like a new experiment, and there's always something new to discover.
The challenging part is that I'm still learning the technical side of photography. Sometimes I get the exposure wrong or don't hold the camera at quite the right angle. With digital photography, you can check the result straight away, but with film, I often don't realise what went wrong until I receive the scans. By then, the moment has passed, and I can't go back and try again.
I sometimes wish I could see my mistakes as they happen, understand them immediately and correct them on the spot. Because of that delay, learning film photography can take a little longer and requires a lot of practice. But I think that's also part of the process: every roll teaches me something, even when the results aren't what I expected.
Has an unexpected result or a picture you initially disliked changed how you photograph?
Selen: One of the photographs that changed the way I approach photography was one of the first I took after getting a zoom lens for my Canon AE-1 Program. It was a simple scene: a few birds sitting on a wire against a cloudy sky. I hadn't expected much from the photograph, but I really loved how it turned out.
The lens allowed me to get closer to something that was physically far away and isolate a small moment against the sky. I began to realise how much I enjoyed this kind of photograph, where the subject stands out against a simpler background, with fewer distracting elements.
Since then, I've found myself drawn more often to these kinds of compositions. I started reaching for my zoom lens even more than my regular lens, and it made me curious about how different lenses could change the way I see and photograph a scene.
One of the things I enjoy about using a camera like the Canon AE-1 Program is being able to experiment with different lenses. That first experience encouraged me to explore more and made me realise that the equipment I use can influence not only how a photograph looks, but also what I'm drawn to photograph.
What would you like to understand or explore next, and what kind of connection would you like to find through photography?
Selen: There are still so many things I'd love to explore. I'm curious about trying different film cameras and seeing how each one captures the world differently, especially in terms of colours and the overall feeling of an image. I also really want to learn more about film developing. It feels like getting closer to the process behind the photographs, understanding what happens behind the scenes rather than only seeing the final scans. Maybe one day, I'd even love to develop my own film.
At the same time, photography is a hobby that makes me feel good. It helps me clear my mind, slow down and be present. I don't want to turn it into something with too many goals or expectations. Of course, I want to keep learning and discovering new things, but I also want to enjoy the process simply for what it is.
I'm curious to see where photography will take me, without feeling that I need to have it all figured out. For now, I'd like to keep exploring, experimenting and enjoying the moments along the way, wherever they lead.
About Selen
Selen is a film photography enthusiast based in Berlin. She enjoys capturing everyday moments, people and places on film, and exploring the unique character of different film stocks.
Follow her photography on Instagram: @onlygrainy.
Questions about Selen’s film photography
How did Selen start shooting film?
She first tried a friend’s Kodak Ektar H35 at New Year, then bought a Kodak Ultra F9. As her curiosity grew, she moved to a Canon AE-1 Program.
What does she photograph most often?
Skies, birds and unposed moments in everyday life keep drawing her attention. A photograph of birds on a wire encouraged her to explore simpler compositions with a zoom lens.
What does she want to learn next?
Selen wants to understand film developing and continue trying different cameras and films, while keeping photography an enjoyable hobby without too many expectations.
Continue exploring the people and experiences behind film photography in Developing Stories.
