An Intro: The Journey, Process, and Passion
- Anastasia
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
First things first, I am so happy you're here! It's taken me a long time to find the will to create a public space to share more in depth about my work and my travels. Since this is the first entry, I wanted to share about more about my story and my process. Hi, I'm Anastasia!
My Journey Into Photography
I was 11 years old when I got my first camera for Christmas. It was a small Polaroid point & shoot, the iZone 300 & I LOVED it! It fit right in my pocket, it was
all of 3 megapixels, and I always carried it with me. I took photos of the silliest things, of nothing and everything. I am definitely guilty of having taken selfies.. but it was cooler back then I swear! The next year I got a new camera again, enter my first Canon SX series.. I wish I knew that model but I don't. Upgrade? Maybe not significant, but 12 year old me was stoked on the extra megapixels and zoom. So it continued; What seemed like a hobby turned into something so much more. I found myself getting more creative, inviting my best friend over just to go out and "take pictures". Walking around my neighborhood daily looking for things to photograph. It was just what I liked to do. So for my 13th birthday, I'll never forget it; My late father brought me into NYC to buy the camera I really wanted. What was that? That, ladies and gentlemen, was the Canon Rebel XS. An interchangeable lens camera. A REAL camera! The salesman, despite my request, started off showing me a bridge camera. He suggested to my father that the bridge camera was more suitable for someone my age.... Well, that salesman had another thing coming! I knew what I wanted, why I wanted it, and it was MY birthday! So... that was that. I came home with the Canon Rebel XS 18-55 kit and I thought I was a pro.
From there, my love for the craft really just deepened. I continued calling up my friends just to go take pictures, which turned out to be the best creative outlet. I'd frequent a park and a small patch of woods by my house and just take photos. Photography became something bigger to me than taking snapshots of just whatever - it was my first, true passion.
In 2009, my grandmother would take my brothers & I on a trip to Greece which would, and did, change who I am as a person and photographer. I was 14 years old.
I remember going to the house my grandmother grew up in. The village was full of charm, the beaches unlike anything I'd ever seen before, and the local people full of love. That summer, I took more photos than I knew what to do with. I enjoyed using my camera so much.. until I had to charge the battery. Mind you, I was in Europe were the outlets were round. I didn't know much about converters or adapters back then.. and well, when I plugged my charger into the converter it just popped and starting smoking! Yikes. Being that I was on an island in Greece.. the battery and charger replacement would take too long to be delivered. At least I had my point & shoot along, so the picture taking didn't fully stop.
In general, I remembered feeling so at home and inspired on the trip. I made so many friends, learned about my roots, discovered my favorite foods, and so much more life. It was the best summer I had ever had. I couldn't help but imagine myself visiting more often, seeing more of Greece and Europe in general. I fell in love with these ideas. Unfortunately, it would be a long time before I would return.
In high school, I was the unofficial photographer. I contributed to the yearbook and always had my camera around events. I knew it was what I wanted to do. However if I am being honest, though I loved photography, it took a lot of courage to pursue it as my career choice. Nonetheless, in 2012 I went to Paier College of Art in Connecticut and obtained my BFA in Photography. It was there that I learned the analog process and fell in love with it. Freshman year, I was gifted my first 35mm film camera - the Canon F1-N (yes, I was fortunate!) It is still the camera I use today. I spent countless hours in the darkroom, obsessed with the process and really trying to understand every technical aspect of the craft - from exposure to development. I loved the control I had over my images, and the permanence of negatives VS digital files. I mainly shot black and white, and didn't really start shooting color film until after college, which is sort of funny for me to think about now.
B&W film photographs I created as a student, between 2012-2016
During my sophomore year, one of my professors offered me a part time job at his studio. My first job in the field, and honestly it shaped me so much. I ended up working at that studio for nearly 6 years, where I learned portrait photography, studio lighting, social media, sales, and so much more. It was the best start for me, and I am forever grateful for my dear friends and mentors, Marie & Glenn Curtis.
In 2016, I graduated college and decided it was finally time to return to that place where I had felt so at home. That special island that stuck with me through the years. I returned to Chios, Greece for the first time since 2009. It was an emotional reunion, and the start of something bigger. By 2017, I had moved to the island. I stayed for about 2 years, teaching English to support myself. Living in my own apartment, walking everywhere or taking the bus, learning more Greek than ever... and of course, endless photographs. I mainly shot digital during that time. It was an experience I still cherish today. And if you're wondering.. yes, I absolutely intend on moving back someday!
See more photos of Chios here
It's 2026 and I spend the majority of my time planning trips, taking trips, and taking photos. I have visited few countries so far, and am so intent on visiting more. I am passionate about exploring the outdoors, embracing new cultures, and learning about life all over the world. I am passionate about what I do, and feel grateful to pursue a path which allows me to combine my favorite things in this life.
Why I Choose Film Today
I am a firm believer that the best camera you have is the one on you. That being said, if I have the choice I am sticking with film. Aside from the color and texture from film, I am more in love with its permanence. Though fragile, I feel a sense of security knowing I can return to my negatives time and time again, through the decades to come. Digital files scare me as I have already lost so many through the years. Truth being told, if the moment is important to me, I am shooting it on film.
I also appreciate the mindfulness of the process. Shooting film is not inexpensive, and I am much more thoughtful about the images I create because of it. I won't shoot 2 or 3 of the same frame the way one might on digital. I feel that I work a bit slower but more thoughtfully in composing and exposing my frames.
Developing / Scanning
Currently, I am fortunate enough to work at a camera retailer & lab where I have for the last 4 years. I have my color film processed at work, I develop my own B&W, and do all my scanning myself. I have been scanning my negatives for about 6 years. I have used a flatbad scanner in the past, but in the last 2 years have been perfecting my camera scanning set up. I use a Sony A7RII & the Sony 90mm f/2.9 Macro lens. I currently use the Cinestill CS-Lite as a light source. I do the conversions using Negative Lab Pro. Between the flatbed scanning and this, I have found the camera scanning to work better for me.
I develop B&W film at home, right in my bathroom! You don't need a darkroom, just a solid dark bag, good tank, and some patience! It's actually a lot of fun to do. I prefer Kodak HC 110 developer - not too picky about the rest!
Some photos of me doing what I love, 2016-2020
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, photography has always been my way of slowing down, noticing, and remembering the small things that shape a life. If you’ve read this far, thank you for being here and for supporting my little corner of the internet. I’m excited to share more stories, more travels, and more frames as this space grows.
Til the next one,
Anastasia
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