Home/Florida
Florida
Shooting film in Florida.
Twenty years of notes on the light, the heat, the humidity, and the locations. Florida is a difficult place to shoot film. It's also one of the most interesting.
The light
Florida is at 25 to 31 degrees north latitude. In summer, the sun is nearly overhead at noon. The light is harsh, high-contrast, and comes from directly above. Shadows are short and dark. Highlights are blown. The golden hour is genuinely golden -- the light at 7am and 7pm is extraordinary. The light at noon is brutal.
In winter, the sun is lower in the sky and the light is softer and more directional. The golden hour lasts longer. The contrast is lower. Winter is the better season for film photography in Florida, but summer has its own character that's worth pursuing.
The water -- the Gulf, the Atlantic, the lakes, the springs -- reflects light in ways that are specific to Florida. The turquoise of the Gulf in shallow water, the dark tannin-stained water of the rivers, the clear blue of the springs. These are colors that don't exist in most of the world.
Heat and humidity effects on film
Heat and humidity affect film in ways that matter. Unexposed film stored in Florida heat will degrade faster than film stored in a cool, dry environment. I keep all my film in the refrigerator. I take it out an hour before loading to let it come to temperature and avoid condensation.
Exposed film should be processed as soon as possible. Latent image stability is affected by heat and humidity. I try to process film within a week of shooting. In summer, I process within a few days.
The cameras themselves are affected by humidity. Foam light seals deteriorate faster here than in dry climates. I replace the seals on every camera I buy, and I check them annually on cameras I use regularly. The Hasselblad film backs are particularly vulnerable -- the foam in the backs can deteriorate and cause light leaks.
Metal parts can corrode in the salt air near the coast. I keep cameras in cases when I'm near the water and wipe them down with a clean cloth after shooting. The Leica M3 and M6 are brass bodies with chrome plating -- they're more resistant to corrosion than cameras with aluminum bodies.
Locations worth shooting
01
Everglades National Park
Early morning only. The light at 7am in the Everglades is unlike anything else in Florida. Bring the Pentax 67 and Portra 400. The heat and humidity by 10am make shooting uncomfortable and the light is gone anyway.
02
Canaveral National Seashore
The longest undeveloped beach on the Atlantic coast of Florida. No crowds, no buildings. The light in late afternoon is exceptional. Good for the Hasselblad 500C/M.
03
Ybor City, Tampa
The historic district in Tampa. Good for street photography at any time of day. The architecture is interesting and the light bounces off the brick buildings in useful ways. I've shot a lot of HP5 here.
04
St. Augustine
The oldest city in the United States. The old town is dense with interesting architecture and light. Good for the Leica M3 with a 35mm lens. Shoot in the early morning before the tourists arrive.
05
Florida Keys
The light over the water is extraordinary. The colors are different from anywhere else I've shot. Portra 400 handles the contrast between the bright water and the dark mangroves well. Shoot from the bridges at sunrise.
06
Gainesville
Where I started. The University of Florida campus has good architecture and interesting light. The surrounding natural areas -- Paynes Prairie, Ichetucknee Springs -- are worth the drive.
Film recommendations for Florida
Kodak Portra 400
Default for most Florida shooting. The latitude handles the high-contrast light. Expose for the shadows.
Ilford HP5 Plus
Default black and white. Stand develop in Rodinal 1:100 for compressed tonal range. Good for the extreme contrast of midday Florida light.
Cinestill 800T
Florida at night. The tungsten balance makes artificial light look natural. The halation around streetlights and neon signs is a feature.
Kodak Gold 200
Bright Florida sun. At ISO 200 in full sun, you're shooting at f/8 to f/11 at 1/250 -- exactly where most lenses are sharpest.
Kodak Tri-X 400
Florida street photography. The grain and contrast suit the harsh light. More graphic than HP5.
Related