Test and Failure with the XPan
“ TENET “
Shot this image of Kim on the roof of the Opera House in Oslo.
Camera: Hasselblad Xpan
film: Portra 400
On Monday, June 9th, Kim and I were out shooting around Oslo. I brought the Hasselblad XPan with me. I’m still deep in the trial and error phase with that camera. This part of the process is all about figuring out focus and composition, and honestly, it's a whole different mindset compared to shooting digital.
In the digital world, you're spoiled with endless shots. You can experiment, adjust, reshoot. No real consequences. But with analog, it's the complete opposite. Every frame counts. And even when you think you nailed the shot, it might not turn out the way you imagined once it's developed.
Do I enjoy this process? Yes... and no.
There’s something I love about both worlds. With digital, I get control. I can fine-tune everything until the image feels just right. With analog, there’s this beautiful unpredictability, but also the constant pressure of limited chances. Every press of the shutter costs money. It’s like walking a tightrope between freedom and risk.
Yesterday, I spent two hours scanning 40 images. Then another 30 to 40 minutes converting them. Analog means time. A lot of it. But it also brings something digital rarely does: gratitude. Seeing the photos come to life after all that effort feels like opening a gift.
Some of the images turned out better than I expected. Others, not so much. I still have a lot to learn about exposure, focusing, and trusting the process. But that's part of the reason I keep going. Because even in failure, there's something magic about it.
