I have been shooting with a film camera more than using my Fujifilm X-T4 in 2022. I love to shoot with the Kodak Vision3 500T because of its cinematic color tone. I have been testing out and experimenting with the 35mm film day and night. Finally, it is about time for me to compile a list of the best cinematic photos which I’ve learned using the basic photography techniques that I’ve learned throughout the year.
I like this motion picture film because of actual films and movies shot with the Eastman Kodak. Other than shooting with film, I also create film recipes for the Fujifilm fanboys and girls out there to try out recipes. I also love trying street photography in Malaysia although I’m not good at it and have to practice more. Most of the photos that I’ve also shared previously were some of my favourite SOOC street photos as well as best portrait shots in 2022.
I love to shoot films with my Contax G1, which is my dream to own this 27-year-old film camera. I love to shoot night scenes to get the cinematic film look, especially with the Kodak Vision3 500T. Well, honestly I haven’t tried the CineStill 800T but I think the film is too expensive for me. Yet, it is the same 35mm film as the Kodak Vision3 500T but with the ramjet removed. I still like the original Eastman Kodak.
My Best Photos With Cinematic Look, Just Like A Movie Scene
As always I shoot with my Fujifilm X-T4 paired with the only lens Fujinon XF35mm F2 R WR. I find this lens is good for me when it comes to shooting portraits and streets. I always wanted to invest in a wider lens but the 35mm is just good enough. Wherever I go or travel, the 35mm lens will always be with me. Alright, let’s get started with some nice cinematic photo dumps in this post, which are also some of my best cinematic shots of all time!
Explore a stunning array of captivating street photography in Kuala Lumpur, masterfully captured using brand-new lenses and featuring an exquisite range of diverse styles.
This is one of my favourite photos I have shot with my Fujifilm X-T4 at the Great British Circus in Malaysia and it does look like a scene in a movie. I listed this as one of the best cinematic shots because there are the background, foreground and subjects.
Here is another one of my best shots which I took at the circus. This photo is similar to the point of view of an audience and there is layer separation which includes the background, center-focused subject and foreground.
This candid photo that looks like a movie scene was shot during a vacation photoshoot in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur with a candid street photography concept, shot with Fujifilm X-T4. I like the candid shot which is very film-like and also because of the colour tone of my film recipe.
I was strolling around in a Japanese garden and was approached by one of the strangers as they wanted me to help them take a picture. So I helped them. As I was walking forward into the bamboo area, I turned around and actually found out they are about to take a selfie, they noticed me but didn’t care, so I quickly take the shot. I like how the hair of the lady freezes in the air just like that gives meaning to a moment of those two enjoying themselves. This photo was shot with the LomoChrome Metropolis 35mm film at a Japanese garden in Malaysia.
This is another creepy shot with the Kodak Vision3 500T that looks like a movie scene you watched in the cinema. The film is pushed 1 stop underexposed for more light. I also have the diffusion filter attached to my film camera lens and this is the end result.
One of my time favorite film shots I’ve taken during my first time going out for night photography on film with my Contax G1. In this image, we can see the subject is within the frame, there is a gesture and also odd numbers of people. I took the risk and actually have no idea whether this shot through the glass window will be in focus or not. I was just lucky enough.
I love shooting portraits with backlight, as this gives me the cinematic glow when paired with the diffusion filter. This was shot with the Fujifilm X-T4 using the Carbon Obscura recipe during the golden hour before sunset.
This is an interesting shot as I tried to aim for the legs in a low-light condition and it was quite dark. I like this photo as I was trying to use the rule of thirds without any framing guidelines on my Contax G1 viewfinder. This was shot with the Kodak Vision3 250D film.
I find these bumper cars to look quite interesting. I like this cinematic look and I was actually wondering how good it is if there is a red balloon there, then it will look like a horror film! This was shot with the Kodak Vision3 250D film.
I really like this Wong Kar Wai look-alike colour tone, although these cinematic portraits are shot in low light with the Kodak Portra 400 35mm film stock.
One of my best cinematic photos was shot with the Kodak Vision3 500T. I like this shot because of the two blurry females, one was drinking a cocktail while the logo is in focus.
Once more, the subjects are in the frame within the frame composition. This was shot on the Fujifilm X-T4 with a cinematic film recipe called Cine Obscura which is meant for night photography.
This is one of my favourite movie-like photos, I like the pattern of the roof and also the leading line of the pillars. This was shot using Kodak Vision3 500T.
I like this photo because of the frame-within-a-frame that I’ve used. This composition is usually used in street photography and movie films. This was shot handheld with the Contax G1 with Kodak ColorPlus 200 film. I was lucky to get this shot in focus and sharp because shooting in low light required a very steady hand because the shutter speed was really low while taking this shot.
This was shot during my night photography with a film camera in the Chinatown area. I found this back alley looks quite interesting with the tungsten lights illuminating the entire back alley with leading lines. The shutter speed was quite low in this shot.
I find this photo very mysterious and creepy because the area is very dark and does not have much light. My shutter speed is quite low, probably around 1/15 seconds but I still decided to take the shot with a steady hand.
This is one of my favourite black & white photos shot with the Ilford Delta 100 35mm film. I didn’t expect anything while shooting and was trying to snap as fast as I can when I see the guy running around.
This photo was taken during the Hari Merdeka 2022 rehearsal (Independence Day rehearsal) in Kuala Lumpur. Shot with the Kodak Vision3 250D film. I like the composition of this shot where the officer is standing. There are no framing guidelines on my rangefinder film camera so I have to figure out myself by trying to use the rules of thirds.
Conclusion
I’m not claiming to be an expert but I think these are my favourite photos that are movie-like. For me, there is still some room for improvement when it comes to composition. If you are keen to learn how to shoot cinematic style, you can first learn the basics of compositions and slowly move to advanced street photography techniques to achieve shots that look like movie scenes which are also frequently used in cinematography.
By watching some movies, you will also be able to learn and understand which composition they are using and then use these techniques when you’re out shooting on the street. You can get started by using the most basic photography skills such as the rule of thirds, leading lines, and depth of fields.
To some of my readers and Fuji shooters who have landed on my blog, I do hope these best cinematic photos of mine will inspire you in your next film photography projects or assignments. If you are into film photography, you might also want to check out where to get 35mm films in Malaysia. Hopefully, I will be able to shoot more cinematic styles and compile even more movie-like photos to share in the next blog post.
