March, 6, 2022
Sometimes, in a rare instance, insomnia can be a benefit. It was around 4:00AM on a Sunday morning and I couldn't sleep. Finally, I got up to see if something looked interesting in the kitchen. Standing in the glowing light of the refrigerator, contemplating a super early breakfast, I happened to look outside the window. It took a second for my brain to register that I didn't see any details outside, only the light gray of a movie screen. Fog.
As someone who routinely experiences sleeping issues, an internal debate ensued; should I wanter out into the dark morning fog with my camera or should I try to go back to bed? Knowing that getting back to sleep was a gamble, at best, I decided to go for it and see if I could get any good photos. Hell, it was a Sunday and I could take a nap later if I needed to.
I threw on some clothes, assembled my photo gear into a bag, check the batteries, and was out the door before the sunrise. Getting to the car, I contemplated various locations that might be perfect for a foggy photo shoot and decided on Lake View Cemetery, located on the top of the Capitol Hill neighborhood. What could be better than a foggy morning at a cemetery?!
Luckily, the gate was open when I arrived and the sunrise was starting to lighten things up enough to get a good exposure. After a few test shots, I decided I would mostly stick to black and white photography using a film simulation that mimics Ilford HP5 400 film. This film stock is know for having dramatic contrast with a little grain to give it character. Overall, I think the film Fujifilm film simulations hold up pretty well to the physical film characteristics.
I absolutely love the moody feeling and gritty texture these photos have. The fog stuck around long enough for me to do some experimentation, and I even had time to jump to a second location in the heart of the Capitol Hill neighborhood for some foggy street shots. It was incredibly eerie to be one of the only people wandering around at that hour in the fog.
What started out as frustrating morning of insomnia turned out to be one of my favorite photo shoots ever! Below are the photos that came of that early morning trip. The camera I used was a Fujifilm X100V.
