Stepping Up My Game with the Contax G1 Street Photography
I’m thrilled to share my latest adventure in street photography in Malaysia, this time with my beloved Contax G1 using flash. The project is called “Can the Contax G1 do street photography?” and it’s been a wild ride of learning, experimenting, and pushing my creative boundaries.
In this project, I’m diving into storytelling through street photography, focusing on advanced techniques like layering and creative composition. Unlike the typical “shoot and pray” approach with film, I’m making a conscious effort to thoughtfully compose each shot. It’s all about finding the story in the scene and capturing it with intention.
Breaking the Rules: From Yashica to Contax with a Twist
My previous project had me shooting street photography with the Yashica film camera, and I was pretty pleased with how those turned out. The Yashica was all about mastering the fundamentals of street photography. But this time, I’m shaking things up. Instead of sticking to the rules, I’ve decided to break a few.
For this project, I’m using motion picture film stock and introducing a flash into my nighttime shots. Yup, I’m shooting with a flash at night! As someone who’s always been a bit skeptical about using flash—especially on the streets—I thought it was time to step out of my comfort zone.
Since it was my first time shooting with a flash, I was pretty confused about the settings. Luckily, a fellow photographer friend came to the rescue. With their help, I set the flash to 1/8, shooting at a distance of 3 meters, with a shutter speed of 1/60s and an aperture of f/2.
Just to be safe, I also took some shots without the flash in case the Contax G1 flash photos didn’t turn out well. My main goal was to avoid shooting blindly and wasting film, so I focused on capturing only the best moments. It was a fun and rewarding experience! To be honest, my flash project on film has failed.
My Contax G1 Flash Gear: Enter Godox Lux Junior
To start with my Contax G1 flash street photography, I got myself the Godox Lux Junior flash. It’s a neat little flash that’s perfectly compatible with the G1 and just right for what I had in mind. I’ve always wanted a Contax G1 flash that would work well with the film camera, and the Godox Lux Junior fit the bill perfectly. I have a few flash units, like the Godox A200Pro and Godox TT685II, but they’re too big and distracting.
For my first foray into night shooting with a flash, I headed to Bukit Bintang, a bustling shopping district in Kuala Lumpur. It’s vibrant, chaotic, and full of life—an ideal backdrop for street photography. This was my first time popping a flash on subjects at night, and let me tell you, it was both nerve-wracking and exhilarating.
Do check out my Godox Lux Junior review and some sample photos.
Experimenting with Motion Picture Films With Flash
I’ve always been fascinated by the unique look of motion picture films. Whether it’s the cinematic feel of Cine-styled 800T or the versatility of Kodak Vision3 500T, these films bring a distinct aesthetic to street photography. Usually, I shoot with ambient light to see how these films render nighttime scenes. But this time, combining them with a flash opened up a whole new world of possibilities.
This Contax G1 street photography flash project has been all about growth and stepping outside my usual boundaries. Using the Contax G1, motion picture film, and flash has taught me so much about street photography and storytelling. I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next and to keep experimenting and learning along the way.
Stay tuned for more updates and, as always, happy shooting!
Contax G1 Street Photography Samples
