Shooting CineStill 800T Film: Lessons From My Night Photo Walk

Even with the learning curve, some shots turned out pretty amazing. Chinatown’s soft tungsten lights created such a cool mood, perfect for the film’s style. I loved pairing the cold blue of streetlights with the fiery red of car brake lights for a two-tone effect. Reflections in puddles and shop windows added depth and made some shots feel even more cinematic. CineStill 800T really nailed the vibe I was going for—it’s like the city came alive in film. Learn some easy tips on film photography.

For this CineStill 800T film solo photo walk, I kept my Contax G1 set to a wide aperture at f/2, making night photography feel effortless. Learn how to nail your best night shots. With the G1’s reliable auto shutter speed and built-in light meter, I could focus entirely on composing the shots instead of worrying about the technical settings. The simplicity of this setup let me immerse myself in the process, which is exactly what I was going for on this solo walk.

All the photos were taken wide open at f/2, allowing the camera to capture as much light as possible in the dimly lit streets. This not only helped with proper exposure but also gave my shots a shallow depth of field, making the background blur into soft, cinematic tones.

My main goal was to find scenes drenched in tungsten light. That signature greenish tone from tungsten lamps paired beautifully with CineStill 800T’s color profile, and one of the best 35mm film for street photography bringing out the kind of hues you’d find in old-school movie scenes. Whether it was the glow from street signs, dimly lit alleyways, or shopfronts, I hunted for spots that matched that cinematic vibe.

CineStill 800T combined with the Contax G1 at f/2 felt like the perfect pair for capturing the glowing, moody charm of the city at night. It’s all about keeping things simple, letting the gear work for you, and just enjoying the act of photographing.