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When Art Meets Education

‘The kids in the creative phase.’ ©2023 Anatol Gottfried

Imagine a world where a photograph doesn’t just capture a moment; it can help build a future. That’s the vision behind Art Meets Education (AME), a project we’ve had the honor to be part of, using our craft for a good cause.

This Berlin-based non-profit gives children in low-income communities in the Philippines the chance to fund their own schooling through their own photography.

Since 2024, we’ve been able to be a small part of their story, developing and scanning all the film shot by the AME kids free of charge so they can get the results of a professional lab at no cost, to produce the best possible images so they can be seen (and enjoyed) around the world!

THE SPARK BEHIND AME

Nico, AME’s founder, grew up spending his summers in the Philippines. In his grandmother’s neighbourhood, there was always a boy named Johnny standing on the same corner selling BBQ.

While Nico went from elementary to high school and later to university, Johnny stayed in the same place. That image stuck.

‘The kids are off to school.’ ©2023 Anatol Gottfried

Years later, as a trained photographer, Nico would hand his camera to the kids in the neighbourhood—and was always amazed by what came back. One day in 2016, he saw two children: one going to school, the other playing on the street. And something clicked.

Two weeks later, the first pilot project in Manila began—with ten kids, ten cameras, and a dream: to let children use photography to fund their own education. By the end of that year, Art Meets Education was officially founded in Germany.

But how does a photo become a school year?

FROM A FRAME TO A FUTURE

1. It all starts with the kids. With the help of schools and local officials, AME identifies children between 5 and 9 years old whose families can’t afford school expenses—but who are ready and eager to attend.

2. The workshop. In one day, the kids learn how to use a camera, explore the basics of photography, and share their stories. Each photo is now linked to a face, a voice, and a dream.

3. The creative phase. Over a weekend, the kids set out with cameras to capture the world as they see it. No interference—just pure, intuitive image-making.

4. From roll to print. The film comes to us for development and scanning, AME then selects the images to print in limited editions, as posters, or postcards.

5. Selling the work. The art is sold at exhibitions, events, and online—with each piece framed, signed, and carrying the story of its young creator.

6. School begins! The proceeds cover everything: uniforms, shoes, meals, supplies, and long-term support to make sure each child stays in school until graduation.

Ready To Go, by Rhanz Raylden Magno

The best part? The kids understand exactly what they’ve achieved—their creativity directly funds their education.

Film photography is tactile, permanent, and deeply personal—just like the futures AME is helping to build. Each print is a record, a work of art, and a piece of a bigger story.

OUR GRAIN OF SAND

For us at Carmencita, film has always been about connection—slowing down to notice, to feel, and to tell stories that matter. When we heard about AME’s work, we immediately wanted to help. Since 2024, Carmencita has been developing and scanning the kids’ cameras so their art can reach the world.

Helping bring these kids’ visions to life, knowing each frame helps keep them in school, is exactly the kind of work that reminds us why we do what we do. A small way to give back with the work we do.

Last year, we received a box with 19 disposable cameras shot by Micaela, Daphny, Rhanz, Marielle, Yahuir, Eithan, Skye, Dayne, Symoone, Axel, Lance, Jayson, Maedan, Chris L., Christopher, Trisha, Samantha, Chadrick & Shadi Marco. That is 684 images!

Sorry P, by Prince Michael Liwanag

To be fair, aside from the good cause, we had an absolute blast processing them! There is something unique about witnessing what a child captures, not only what they focus on but also their eye level!

We usually keep a low profile with our pro bono collaborations, but this time we felt the project might resonate with many photographers who, like us, felt in love with the initiative and want to support it. If by helping spread the word, more prints can be sold and more funds directed to kids in need of schooling, we had to write a blog post about it!

HOW TO HELP

You can purchase the kids’ artwork directly at artmeetseducation.de or follow them on Instagram @artmeetseducation. Every photo you purchase means more than a print—it means real access to education.

Mahal Kita (I love you), by Jeymee A. Sison

Get your Artwork

If you don’t need artwork, you can also support AME with a donation or a supporting membership. They’re also always looking for volunteers! You can find more information on their ‘About Us’ page.

 

Head of the lab since 2013 and currently managing the team, developing new projects and trying to bond the international film photography community. These are only my personal thoughts; you may or may not find them relevant, I believe there is nothing healthier than a good debate!

– Albert Roig, Manager at the Lab

 

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[VALENCIA AID] A CALL TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY

Images: NASA Earth Observatory

Valencia has faced the most catastrophic floods in its history, and the scale of the devastation has been much worse than any of us could have imagined. As each day passes, the reality sinks in further, and it’s heartbreaking. 

At the lab we’re fortunate to have been spared the direct impact, but just imagining what it would mean for us to face the same fate as many other local businesses—well, it would mean the end of the lab as we know it.

We simply cannot stand by, watching the devastation unfold just 6 kilometers away on the southern side of the Turia River. Nearly everyone knows someone from one of the flooded villages, and it feels incredibly close, so close that it hurts. 

*Due to the urgency of the situation, we closed donations on Nov. 15th so that they could reach those in need as soon as possible.

We received 418 donations in 10 days and couln’t be more grateful to our community. A huge thanks from all the Carmencita Team ❤️‍

 

A CALL TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY

During these past days, once communication was re-established with our friends and family, we began to understand just how far-reaching the damage truly was. Even now, it’s difficult to fully comprehend the enormity of what has happened.

Sometimes, the weather can be ruthless, especially in this era of climate change. Yet what shocks us even more is the inefficiency of the authorities in providing help to those who need it most. In response, tens of thousands of volunteers—unofficial, everyday heroes—have taken to the streets to help. 

Every member of our team at the lab has done what they can individually, but we feel that we can do more, together, as a collective.

Image: Germán Caballero

AID FOR OUR TEAM’S FAMILIES IMPACTED BY THE FLOODS

Thankfully, everyone from the team is alive and well, but many of their relatives and loved ones have been directly hit. Larger NGOs play their part, but in this case, inspired by your direct messages, we want to build bridges between your will to help our team members and what we can do.

We want to raise funds and split them equally between all the families of our team members who have been affected, to help them overcome a nightmare that has just begun. Many lost everything, from memories to cars. Of course, there are insurances, but we know how those fly… we can do little on the emotional part, but perhaps we can help somehow on the economic part.

WANT TO HELP?

More often than not converting your will to help into actual aid is really complicated. Many locals took whatever they had and went to help those who were affected because there is still too many things to do.

The hard truth is that what is really needed is professional aid with heavy machinery to start seeing the light, and in that we can do very little. Nevertheless we believe we can help those we know directly in the aftermath of all this. Still it’s a grain of sand but we believe, at a human level it can make a difference.

CONVERTING DEV & SCAN INTO REAL AID

We offered ‘Valencia Aid Vouchers’ that buy you a Dev & Scan (L size) for any roll for 20€ each. 

All the funds gathered from these sales will be directly donated & split between all our team members’ families that have been hit by the floods. We also believe in common help and, in this case, the Spanish Red Cross will be treated as another family.

You can buy 1, you can buy 20. You can use them whenever you have some rolls to develop, you can gift them to film photography friends or you can just never cash them and just sent the help.

For each voucher purchased, Carmencita will also donate 20€, doubling your donation.

Again, you can buy 1, you can buy 20.

They are valid for a lifetime.

JOIN US IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE

We’re humbled by the outpouring of support that Valencia has already received, and we hope you’ll join us in this collective effort to aid those affected by these terrible floods. Let’s show what our community can do when we come together, and help our neighbors get back on their feet.

Together, we can bring hope and relief to those who need it most.

❤️‍ Thank you for all the words of support, concern and help. Even if we can’t reply ASAP, we treasure each one of them. This is the best solution we could find against the clock to help those we have the closest overcoming this disaster.

✉️ If you wish to help in any other way or have any questions, please contact us through valencia.aid@carmencitafilmlab.com

Head of the lab since 2013 and currently managing the team, developing new projects and trying to bond the international film photography community. These are only my personal thoughts; you may or may not find them relevant, I believe there is nothing healthier than a good debate!

– Albert Roig, Manager at the Lab

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Carmencita Editions – Yes, we publish books!

 

Carmencita Film Lab started 10 years ago to help photographers shoot film and not die trying. Now, Carmencita Editions is born to help photographers print their work with the same dedication. For us, it means we’re doing something special to keep film alive in new and creative ways, pushing the limits of what photography can do.

THE PROJECT

Carmencita Editions is a series of limited edition photography books featuring some very special guests. It explores the medium’s complexities and potential to connect people all over the world, both physically and digitally.

Each edition is the result of putting a photographer’s body of work through our kaleidoscope, finding the invisible threads that connect the images, and discovering new meanings. This initiative is a true passion project born from our team’s desire to delve into the world of print, completing the cycle of analog imagery by bringing it back to paper.

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS

This project marks another milestone for Carmencita, showcasing our growth and the fruition of the results of our efforts. Every new publication is meticulously curated, ensuring each project is crafted with care and precision.

These are the editions we’ve published so far!


#6

Intertwined by Christophe Boussamba

A profound exploration of identity and human connection. Inspired by Romanticism, this work examines how art, nature, and the human body reflect our essence and the balance between individual authenticity and societal expectations.

With a diverse and inclusive vision, Boussamba captures the vulnerability and grace of the human form.



#5

Day Dreams by 安藤瑠美 Rumi Ando

Rumi’s work navigates the boundaries between reality and fantasy, offering a bucolic image of urban life and a utopian vision where the city and its inhabitants exist in harmony, providing a peaceful escape from the chaos of everyday life.

Patterns, colors, shapes and light offer us dream-like scenarios of a city that might have never actually existed.



#4

Easy Easy Rider by Helena Goñi

Encountering someone, whether by chance or not, becomes a starting point for capturing their essence. Helena’s images exist within her accumulation of travels, experiences, relationships, and memories.

This volume explores themes of freedom and adventure. It creates a multidimensional journey that becomes an unorthodox family album.

‘Easy Easy Rider’ was our first to sell out!



#3

French Fries by Paco Poyato

The French fry has become a symbol of western globalization. Its simplicity is the key to its popularity, making it instantly recognizable almost anywhere in the world.

This edition explores pop culture, big cities, youth, and new habits that we often embody without noticing.



#2

Homesick by Tonje Thilesen

Brooklyn-based photographer Tonje Thilesen delves into themes of intimacy and nostalgia. Their captivating work manages to bring out the magic in the most quotidian of elements.

Suffused with golden light, luminosity lends their work a dreamlike atmosphere. These photographs evoke a sense of longing and tenderness, reflecting on what it means to miss home.



#1

Life Still by Raúl Pérez

Our first Carmencita Editions, a compelling exploration of stillness and presence in everyday moments. Raúl’s work captures the quiet beauty of life, encouraging viewers to pause and appreciate the subtleties around them.

Small portraits of a broken reality. Everyday objects that become poetic. Transforming landscapes into narratives that evoke but don’t concretize.



Editions

MORE THAN AN EDITORIAL

We see this project as more than an editorial; it’s about connecting photography enthusiasts worldwide. We’re fortunate enough to host launch parties at our labs in Valencia, Madrid, and Barcelona, where everyone can meet, connect, and celebrate!

Thanks to Cerveza Turia for keeping us fresh in all of our events!



All of our published books are available online as well as at our labs in Valencia, Barcelona, Madrid and Lisboa.

You can also find us at our drop points & other venues. Check your nearest shop here!


Online Bookstore

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[New Return Policy] – We believe your negatives should age by your side

While the convenience of digital archives is undeniable, let’s not overlook the actual, timeless value of your negatives. They aren’t just physical remains; they’re the core of your photographs. In other words, they are your ultimate backup!

As photographers, one of our main concerns is the archiving and preserving our work. That’s why we’ve updated our shipping-back process, so you can have your memories preserved forever.

 

YOUR NEGATIVES MATTER

Around 70% of negatives are left behind, forgotten, or unclaimed at the lab. Beyond the logistical challenges, there’s an environmental concern too; the process of sleeving negatives requires plastic and valuable team resources. 

Yet, these negatives hold immense potential—film is not designed to be a mere disposable product but a source of enduring memories for future generations.

With proper preservation, film can safeguard images for over 50 years. We firmly believe that your memories should remain close, for they not only connect you to the past but also serve as a legacy for future generations to cherish and see you as you are today!

So, if some day you lose your digital archive, you already know what your ultimate backup is 😉

 

 

WHAT’S NEW?

We introduce you our newest Order Form. Now you’ll be able to select what do you want us to do with your negatives: immediate return, shipment in 90 days, 365 archive or recycle.

 

Ship them back

You can ask for an immediate return of your negatives (9€) or for a shipment within 90 days (6€). You can always ask us to compile your projects and send them together!

365 Archive

For those who shoot frequently, we want to offer the option of storing your negatives at the lab for a while, so we can group your projects together at the end of the year and ship them back to you—again, optimizing shipping efficiency.


We will store your negatives for 1 year at the lab for 3,65€ per project.

Throw them away (recycle)

If you’re 100% certain you won’t need your negatives ever again, let us know upfront to avoid unnecessary plastic sleeve usage. We will send them off to the recycling plant directly. This option is free of charge.

 

HOW DO WE SHIP THEM?

Shipping plays a huge part in our everyday activities, just like in many other businesses. That’s why we make this process as green as it can be. In our partnership with DHL, all shipments from the lab are done with their sustainable package, GoGreen. Carmencita works under the highest level of the GoGreen program, which compensates up to 70% of the carbon footprint of every shipment.

 

 

We’ve seen over the years that most returns are not urgent, so we’re using DHL’s Global Mail service to send your negatives (fully tracked) via the Deutsche Post network. This translates to the best possible service optimization at the most affordable price. Although expected delivery dates within the EU range from 4-6 business days, this method is the most effective in the event of a negative return.

NOTE: All our Develop Only services will still be shipped by DHL Express GoGreen since we understand that in those cases, the rush is higher to get the negatives back.

KEEPING YOUR MEMORIES WITH YOU

Our goal is that your negatives age by your side, preserving your priceless memories at home. We often underestimate how valuable things will be in 20, 30, 40 years, especially images. Keeping your negatives at home is a way to ensure they will be passed on to future generations within your loved ones.

TIP: If you want to keep your negatives but don’t know how to keep them organized, check out our post on How to Archive Your Negatives in collaboration with Wesley Verhoeve explaining every detail step by step.

Check our Terms & Conditions for all details on our services.

Leica Store Frankfurt frontshop
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[NEW DROP POINT] Leica Store Frankfurt

Leica Store Frankfurt frontshop

This is a special one, something that we dreamed of and we can finally announce with pride: Leica Store Frankfurt has joined the Carmencita Family. Photographers in Frankfurt can now drop off their film at our new local Drop Point!

Needless to say, we’ve been huge Leica fans since forever, so collaborating with them still gives us shivers! And it’s not just because we’re slightly obsessed with great design. Their commitment to quality is unparalleled.

 

LEICA STORE FRANKFURT

 

Leica embodies the finest German engineering and a unique vision. They have long specialized in the field of perception, developing innovative equipment that has resulted in high-quality cameras and lenses. But can we say anything you don’t already know?

Recently, we visited the Leica Store situated in the heart of Frankfurt, as part of a very special analog meet-up, and let us tell you… this isn’t just a store. It also has an impressive gallery space, a cozy reading area, and VIP retreats. On three floors, it houses art and literature as well as the latest Leica gear and accessories. 

THE LEICA GALLERY

 

The moment we stepped in, we couldn’t help but notice the precision, fine work, and attention to detail that they are known for. Above all, the store’s ambiance inspires you to keep creating. And, as you may already know, one of Carmencita’s main goals is precisely to boost creativity and pass on the love for analog photography from one generation to the next.

The Leica Gallery serves as a meeting point for national and international customers, and Leica enthusiasts. The gallery showcases the work of photographers from all over the world, as well as young promising talents, embodying the analog community that Carmencita has been trying to cultivate since 2012.

DROP YOUR FILM

 

Sharing the same philosophy and passion for photography was key to teaming up. It is a privilege to have crossed paths with the Leica Store, and we are honored to announce this new collaboration in which both parties are committed to providing top-notch quality to our customers while also promoting the film industry.

So, if you live in Frankfurt or you’re just passing through, don’t hesitate to stop by the Leica Store. Not only will you be able to drop your film in our mailbox, but you will also live the full Leica experience.

Free shipping, official Carmencita prices, and on-time delivery!

 

More about Leica Store Frankfurt?

@leicagalleryfrankfurt

leicastore-frankfurt.de

 

All of our drop points can be found here and on our Instagram.

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SilvergrainClassics x Leica Gallery Frankfurt Meetup

 

Clear some time in your calendar and start packing your gear because we’re going on a trip! If you follow us on Instagram, you’ll already know what we’re talking about… On June 25, we’ll be special guests at the SilvergrainClassics & Leica Gallery Frankfurt analog meetup!

 

0Days0Hours0Minutes

 

Although we may not be the headliners at your favorite summer music festival, being a special guest at this extremely special occasion kind of makes us the Rosalía of the analog community, right? Okay, don’t shatter our dreams, at least that’s what we’d like to believe!

SilvergrainClassics and the Leica Gallery Frankfurt have teamed up to bring you a fantastic lineup of analog movers and shakers. We’re eager to finally meet in person again and we’ll sure make the most of it!  The best news is that you can get your tickets right now:

 

Get your Ticket

 

WHAT’S THE PLAN?

 

We’ll hear from Mirko Boeddecker (CEO of ADOX and FotoImpex), Lina Bessonova (Photographer and Influencer), Nicolas Llasera (Nico’s Photography Show), The SivergrainClassics crew, and Carmencita’s founder himself, Albert Roig.

 

 

Make sure you have enough room in your suitcase because there will be new and used Leica camera sales at the event! Workshops, photowalks, a Steve McCurry gallery show, a Q&A with Mirko Boeddecker, and some analog community news will also be held.

Keep in mind that you must reserve your spot in order to attend the SilvergrainClassics & Leica Gallery Frankfurt Meetup. The countdown has begun… We’re so looking forward to this day! See you around!

 

 

 

 

XXL and XXXL format comparison
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XXXL is here!

XXL and XXXL format comparison

Photo by Aida Chambó

XXXL RESOLUTION

We know that as film shooters you have several possibilities when it comes to getting your images scanned, and we’ve certainly come a long way from our M-size comfort zone.

Whenever we have the chance to upgrade your options, we try to figure out how we can deliver our best. So, for a few months now, we’ve been discussing the possibility of taking the XXL format to the next step. And we finally have something to show you!

 

 

As photographers, we understand the importance of looking for even the tiniest detail, and since we rarely carry a magnifying glass with us, this higher resolution is ideal for seeing finer textures, definition, and grain structure. So, basically, it needs to be a perfect shot, or else you will see all the flaws. No pressure.

Jokes aside, the XXXL scan expands the variety of possibilities. It also allows you to print it larger if you want to in the future. At the lab, we did our testing and in all seriousness, we just printed a whopping 110 x 170 cm print from the image you see below. And it looks amazing.

We know that nothing beats drum scanning, but more often than not it’s complex to perform, expensive and slow. Not available to everyone whenever a big size is needed. That’s where we believe the XXXL comes to fill the gap!

 

This service will only be available for individual frames, since it’s very time-consuming and requires way more time to prepare than a regular scan.

We hope this will give you a bit of an insight into what other resolutions look like. Bigger resolutions are necessary and perfect when it comes to printing BIG, but remember, in photography, bigger is not always better. For us, as a lab, it’s important to be able to show you the amazing capabilities that film has (for when they are necessary).

Never forget, M file scans will share the same color palette as XXXL scans and the most important thing is to have fun when shooting film. Happy shooting and let us do the magic behind the scenes!

 

SEE THE ORIGINAL FILE

We are so impressed with the capabilities of this new XXXL resolution that we don’t want to do any convincing, but rather encourage you to download the original file and judge by yourself 😉

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[NEW FILM] – KODAK GOLD 120 IS BACK!

 

This is undoubtedly one of the most important news for film photography for as long as we can remember. Bringing back to life such a popular film in the 120 formats is truly a game-changer for everyone. For the ones looking to get into 120 and not die trying, and for the professionals who need a budget option for shooting personal work or traveling on a budget.

We were privileged to test a couple of rolls before the official launch in order to provide feedback as a lab in terms of color rendition, development, and scanning. We are thrilled to be able to share it with you finally, so here it goes: our review of the new Kodak Gold 120! The good, the bad, and the ugly.

 

 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

 

As a lab, we can also give you feedback on how the negative feels and compares between other stocks, we think it’s also worth mentioning. When you hold the negative already developed, if you are used to handling negatives, you will undoubtedly feel it is thinner and more solid than other emulsions. From what we could understand, this is a new way to manufacture the film base so it can be manufactured a bit faster and speed up production.

Don’t worry if it feels “flimsy” at first; it’s solid, and the color of the emulsion is as good as the one with the older, thicker base layer 😉

 

Color-wise, this film delivers what you expect from our beloved Kodak Gold in 35mm with a big PLUS, the 120 format “plus”.

 

 

COLOR

We are talking about Gold, and you should expect gold indeed! The color palette will always lean a bit towards the warm tones when it comes to the overall feeling of the image. But also, if you are a bit more nitpicky, you will see that it also leans toward the magenta side of the spectrum when we talk about warmth (remember warm does not only mean yellow, it can also go magenta or green).

That being said, this was not surprising at all, even more, because we overexposed it a bit and the Portra family films always lean a bit towards the magenta side when overexposing a little bit more than you should 😉

 

GRAIN

The grain is almost nonexistent (for real!), only in heavily underexposed shots you can notice it a bit, but if you expose it within the normal range, we doubt you will be ever bothered by it.

When zooming in, you’ll see it. So, of course, it’s there, but we find it’s adding texture rather than distracting your attention or making the image look “dirty”. We were truly surprised by it, and we believe the engineers at Kodak did a superb job with it.

 

Underexposed frame under artificial light

100% crop from a M scan (2400 x 2400 px)

 

(NOT) FOR AMATEURS ONLY

After some testing, there is indeed a quality difference in the depth of color that Kodak Gold 200 120 has when we compare it side by side with the Kodak Portra 400 (the king the hill at the moment). Still, it is not something that everyone will notice and certainly not something required for every paid shoot.

Definitely, this film will be the go-to stock for everyone starting with 120 film. Still, we believe plenty of professional photographers will be squeezing its capabilities once it’s released and creating stunning images with it even though it’s not as flexible as our beloved Portra.

 

SKIN TONES

For this, we were able to shoot one of our test rolls with @paeulini! We tested the film under overcast conditions in Switzerland to see how it would respond, and the results were very interesting.

The Gold 120 has a much better ability to blend different skin tones in the same frame if we compare it to the 35mm, where everything looks flatter. What it’s true is that, again, it leans towards a gold-ish/amber tonality in the skin tone, even with an overcast light situation where the light temperature is usually colder. Is that good or bad? Well, it’s up to you to decide!

We are eager to see how our friends at the Carmencita Drop Points in Dubai and Japan shoot it with all kinds of different skin tones 🙂

 

Kodak Gold 120 200 Test Paeulini

 

PRICE

Oh boy, we wish we could have an answer to it! But unfortunately, at the time of writing this, we don’t know what the final price will be yet, but more affordable than Portra.

If we assume there will be a similar price relationship, as we see in 35mm, between Gold 200 and Portra 400 (~60%); at the time of writing this, the Kodak Gold 200 120 prices should be around ~6,90€ (plus tax), which is fantastic news for all the film community in our humble opinion. Fingers crossed!

 

 

OUR CONCLUSIONS

The Kodak Gold 200 in medium format is filling a gap that has been open for years, a non professional color option for everyone that wants to shot 120 film and is on a budget. We’ve always said in our workshops, if you are thinking about shooting film and you are already happy with your results with a DSLR, go to medium format to really experience the magic of it. Now, more than ever!

This is a film that stands on it’s reputation and will make many smile, both professionals and amateurs. Color-wise it has some limitations obviously and if you are shooting under very demanding light situations, Portra will still be king; but for the rest, we Gold 200 will deliver you great results and we are sure it will bring back medium format cameras in popularity (and helping our pockets too!)

 

NOTES: All shots were taken with a Hasselblad 503cx, exposed between ISO 125~200 in natural light and golden hour.

 

 

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FILM FOR UKRAINE

 

We’ve always been and will be against any form of violence expressed anywhere. It was so unbelievable that it took a while to understand that there was an actual war going on, and we can’t stand on the side of doing nothing.

Our colleagues from @fotovramke, a fellow film lab based in Ukraine, reached out to us to support a campaign asking for bigger film brands in the industry to cut exports to Russian land as long as this war is on. Of course, we support them, but we feel we can go a step further; similar to what our friends from @kameratori have already done, we are willing to put money where our mouth is.

 

YOUR FILM HELPS

We’ve already been donating through MSF (Medecins Sans Frontieres / Doctors without borders) for a few years, and we have enough experience with them to trust them with every penny we have to support the cause.

– EVERY FIRST ORDER OF THE DAY WILL BE DONATED –

You can track all the donated orders here

 

From every of our partner shops, drop points, and local labs, the total amount of that order will go to support MSF to aid Ukrainian refugees. For as long as the war lasts. Period.

If your order is one of them, you will be notified, and you will be able to track and trace all the orders involved in our page /donations/ukraine

PAID INTERNSHIP

As a company, we have a bigger umbrella, and we intend to act accordingly within our possibilities.

We are offering 1 paid internship position that will be enough to cover basic needs in Valencia, Spain, for the next 6 months. Anyone coming from Ukraine as a refugee classifies. No experience is required. Open to all ages and genders.

 

UPDATE 12/03/2022: The position has been filled successfully. We deeply encourage other professionals & companies to do the same if they can. The response has been overwhelming and we wish we could take more people in.

#peaceforukraine

 

 

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CARMENCITA x DOMESTIKA – Introduction to Film Photography Course

LANGUAGE: The course was recorded in Spanish but it’s fully translated to English, French, Italian & Portuguese. Don’t forget to activate the subtitles by pressing the “CC” button down right 😉

It’s finally live! Our course in partnership with Domestika is available online for everyone that wants to dive into film photography. For the last 365 days, our founder Albert Roig worked along the daily lab schedule to concentrate all the knowledge we gathered about film photography for the last 10 years.

 

See the Course

 

The goal was to lay it out in such a simple and easy way for everyone to understand. Making quality film photography accessible to everyone has been in our DNA since day one.

 

 

FILM 101

 

Ever since we started doing our first workshops in Spain with “Claves para disparar analógico” we felt the need to make the course accessible to more people, dismantling that film photography is overcomplicated and only accessible a few.

This course is aimed at everyone that wants to know how to start shooting film and not die trying 🙂 We want to be an open book about every step involving the process of shooting film, from camera types to scanning your film.

The course is very ambitious and covers a wide variety of topics. It contains more than +4 hours of footage and extra resources that will guide you from purchasing your perfect camera, loading your first roll, and shooting in the best light conditions to get those images that you dream of.

The goal of the course is to be a smooth introduction to film photography, so once you are finished, you are ready to start creating the images you have in mind!

 

CARMENCITA x DOMESTIKA. Introduction to Film Photography Course

 

SHOOTING

 

There is a lot of content online about gear, endless videos about cameras and how they work, film tests, and comparisons, but not that many guides you through the shooting step by step. The way you will apply all the knowledge you gathered when taking your portraits will play a major difference in the result you obtain; even with the best camera, film, and model, many other things play a key factor.

 

 

Every image we see online is a magnificent puzzle of skill, technic, composition, light, preparation, and luck. We will visit each of these factors during the course and understand their role in our picture and how we can make it work in our favor. By the end of the course, applying the basic rules, we will review you will get out to the world, with your film camera in hand, and start taking those images that you always wanted to capture on film.

 

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

 

In Albert words, “It was an amazing experience since the beginning, I was nervous of course, but there was such positive energy among everyone. One of the best surprises was to realize that many of the crew, from art directors to producers, knew us from years ago, and many were film shooters themselves!

The first day started with the shooting since winter in Madrid is fairly unpredictable, and especially those days, the city had the biggest snowstorm of the decade. So shooting, recording, and explaining what you are doing simultaneously was harder than anticipated. Still, thanks to Esther and her incredible patience in front of the camera, things just started to roll out incredibly well!

 

 

It was magical to see how all the studio rooms and sets changed as the courses evolved through the week. At some point, it felt like a beautiful dance of furniture & colors dancing to the pace of screwdriver machines, fast footsteps, elevators ringing, and a distant voice saying, “we need another hard drive for studio 4!” or “Could you tell the cook we will be late for lunch? The lighting needs to be perfect, and we need to rearrange the set again.”

Seeing the result of it all a few months later makes it even more worth it; we have been able to put out there a far better course than we could have ever imagined, thanks to Domestika at a super affordable price and pretty complete for anyone that wants to learn the basics of film photography!”

 

 

SPECIAL THANKS

 

All of this would have never been possible without the team behind Domestika, mainly Guille, Camille & Arnau, the dream team behind every scene, and of course everyone from pre-production to scripting, cameras, sound, video editing, and many more faces that we haven’t even seen! Making an online course was a dream ever since the pandemic hit us, and there was no other option but to stay at home.

We hope you enjoy it, find it useful, and help many more people fall in love with film photography again!

 

Get your course!

 

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[NEW DROP POINT] BOOK AND SONS – JAPAN

It’s finally here, after many months in the making and with a pandemic in between, we can finally say photographers from Japan can now send their film through one of our favorite spots in Tokyo: BOOK AND SONS. We’ve always been inspired by the photography that is being made in the land of the rising sun, but of course, due to geographical reasons, we were never able to get involved directly.

A few years ago one of our founders was able to visit Japan and get a dive into their film photography scene. It really cannot be more exciting, like with food, there are so many different flavors, colors, and textures, different ways of looking and doing the same craft we love; but at the same time differently yet fascinating.

 

BOOK AND SONS

 

Hidden away from the hustle and bustle of a nearby shopping street, just a short walk from Tokyo’s Gakugei University, Book and Sons is an oasis for lovers of everything print. The Japanese shop specializes in books and magazines on typography, design, photography and the arts, attracting college students, established magazine and graphic designers, locals and visitors to Tokyo alike. «I am a Tokyo-based web designer and I collect and study typography-related books as a hobby. After purchasing a new house, I lacked space, so I was looking for a place to properly store and display my books. When I came across this location, I decided to open a bookstore», says Osamu Kawata, the owner of Book and Sons.

The first time we discovered @bookandsons we felt it was the perfect spot for this collaboration. The feeling of the wood, the color palette, the attention to details and the careful selection of books & the love for photography (and coffee). If Carmencita was ever able to be in Japan, it had to be this way.

Wanna know more?
Read the full interview from Lampoon Magazine on BOOK AND SONS here

 

 

BOOKS

 

Osamu Kawata has a background in design and his love for typography is no secret, but soon after he opened BOOK AND SONS he started opening to different disciplines and today you can find a very carefully picked selection of beautiful books from photography to design, from typography to architecture.

Go with some time to spear because you will be trapped by the pages of so many beautiful titles!

 

EXHIBITIONS

 

The best thing is that is not only about books! We feel BOOK AND SONS play an important role inside the creative community by offering a place to showcase exhibitions, book presentations, and workshops in a true minimalistic environment that helps highlight the artworks.

We strongly recommend you to follow their blog to see all they are up to if you live in Tokyo or nearby locations.

Take a ride on Tõyoko Line, have a nice little walk around the Meguro area, and come visit BOOK AND SONS if you haven’t before. Enjoy an ice-latte, get lost in the textures of their books, check their current exhibition and perhaps, drop a roll or two in the Carmencita dropbox and wait for the magic to happen. It is the perfect plan for a sunny weekend!

 

Last exhibition of Hideaki Hamada at BOOK AND SONS

 

More about BOOK AND SONS?

instagram.com/bookandsons

bookandsons.com

 

 

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HAPPY FILM YEAR 2021 by @Camxatca

This year, we bring something special, something a little different to cheer us up for 2021 and perhaps help us “re-connect” a bit more with one and another.
 
This year we got to discover the incredible team behind @camxatca, when we saw their work, we immediately fell in love with it and started thinking about a way to promote them, and the Christmas postcard seemed the best idea 🙂 
 
Without a doubt this will be the biggest Christmas cards campaign we’ve ever had, we were so thrilled with the campaign that we printed 5000 copies of Camxatca’s work, but wait for it:
 
Every person who buys film or asks for their negatives to be sent back will receive five cards of one of the designs from Camxatca. The goal is to trade them with other film photographers who got different designs and collect the 5 ones! 
 
If you do, you will be rewarded with 1 roll of C41 M free credit for developing and scan!
 
Send us a picture of all the different cards at carmencita@carmencitafilmlab.com as proof, and we will explain to you how to cash your prize 😉
 
Gotta catch ‘em all!

 

5 DIFFERENT UNIQUE DESIGNS

 

 

It was quite hard to choose from the vast amount of designs that Camxatca has on their portfolio; we ended up making a selection of different formats and camera styles so everyone could find the one that fits them the most.

Of course, the goal is to collect them all and share the love for photography, BUT if you don’t feel like gathering the 5 designs, it’s totally fine! Please gift them and to anyone that love’s analogue photography or you feel they need some analogue photography into their life 🙂

If you need to buy some fresh rolls, or just wondering how your old negatives are doing at the lab, purchase your shipping back, and your negatives will come back flying to your home along with a set of 5 of these cool cards so you can trade them!

More about Camxatca?

instagram.com/camxatca

camxatca.com

 

 

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CDX – Carmencita Double X

Here it is! Our own version of the famed emulsion 5222, also known as Kodak Double-X. This film was originally created for cinematographers that wanted to record on BW back in the ’60s and seems like the emulsion hasn’t changed much ever since. If you’ve seen Schindler’s List, Raging Bull, or the latest The Lighthouse you’ve seen Double X in action at it’s best.

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CARMENCITA GRANT AWARD – SPRING 2020

 

András Zoltai

PROJECT: MAJULI
The day has arrived!! We finally have the very first project that will receive the Carmencita Grant in partnership with Kodak Professional Europe! As you may know from our previous post, the grant supports the selected artist with up to 50 rolls of any stock of their choice from Kodak and the developing & scanning costs of those, at any resolution desired.
We have to admit, it’s been a really really hard decision to make, the selection process was meticulous and that’s why it took us so long to consider all the entries received. First of all, we need to thank each and every participant cause the quality of the overall submissions was mindblowing! More +30 entries from more than 11 different countries that made us there is room for more grants to come!

All the possible factors were taken into consideration, the topic, the quality of the work, the involvement, the impact, the trajectory of the project, and the courage that it takes to complete. A jaw-dropping level of the images was also taken into consideration as we believe this is a major key factor along the body of work consistency and storytelling to make the project really succeed!

 

With all that in mind, and using some good old democracy, it’s was great to see that both the grant jury from @carmencitalab and the grant jury from @kodakprofessional_europe agreed in most of the core values that made András Zoltai the well-deserved winner of the Carmencita Grant of Spring 2020! Our most sincere congratulations.
PREVIOUS WORKS: ARMENIAN BOXERS

 

Gagik Xacikyan, multiple youth champion of athletics, is waiting for his daily training in one of the oldest gyms named after the Olympic champion, Albert Azaryan.

András Zoltai (1990) is a freelance documentary photographer living in Budapest, Hungary. It’s present in his photographs the concern as a photographer to be able to blend into the scene and tell the hidden stories for the vast majority of society with overflowing humanity while portraying social topics in a very respectful way, squeezing the maximum narrative power of his camera.
András’ work for this scholarship is based on Majuli, the largest inhabited river island in the world, where we see how its inhabitants enter conflict with the monsoon and its erosion of the island every year. This immediately grabbed our attention, although there has been a ton of photographic work done in India already, this was proposing another approach away from the colorful festivals and focusing on the raw living conditions of those away from the spotlight.

Locals attend every regional championship to see unforgettable moments and cheer for their friends and family members.

Ashot Gasparyan, senior coach at Albert Azaryan Gymnastic School is showing them how to do an exercise correctly.

One of the most important things that we take a look into is previous work, this provides a lot of inside on the artist, and when we saw the project made in Armenia we were just blown away. András blends into the walls of a boxing school in Armenia where he explores the relevance of sport in the society of this country. The way the images are executed is outstanding and we have to say, all selection is done judging only the images, and narrative provided for the project, no age, no CV, no followers are taken into consideration. When seeing the images, honestly, we were wondering if they were really taken back in the 70s for Magnum or Life magazine, we were truly mesmerized by them. It was hard to believe that the images were only taken a few years ago (on Portra film of course) but the approach, the treatment of the color was extremely interesting.
We can only express our most sincere gratitude to all those people who have participated, in Kodak Professional Europe for joining in this wild idea and all those who supported this adventure spreading the word and cheering for us. Muchas gracias! Only 1 Grant was available for now but we will open for new submissions in autumn and we can’t wait to see what projects come up!!

In rural areas training are the only community programs after school.

Competitions are their opportunity to be noticed by coaches of the National Team. They take it very seriously and fight for their last breath.

COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT

It’s clear that COVID-19 did not make this project any easier, that being said the project is set in 3 phases and 1 is already completed while the remaining 2 are scheduled for mid-2021 to be executed. All projects that are awarded the grant need to be completed within 1 year after the publication of the winner, so it’s very likely that by summer next year we will start seeing some of the results from the trip. In the meanwhile, we strongly recommend you to check Andás website to see more of his work.

These are some of the images that are already completed from the project, and we can’t wait to see more.

All images are shot on Kodak Portra 400 and with a Mamiya 7

 

 

 

 

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COFFEE & FILM – DRIP COFFEE ROASTER

We know how hard is to start a project, and if it wouldn’t be by the many photographers that supported us in our first steps Carmencita would never be the Carmencita we know today! So, whenever we have the chance to support a new project, especially coming from fellow film photographers, we try to figure out how could we give it some love.

Fabian Schmit is a film photographer that along with a friend kickstarted a small roaster in Bern, to be able to provide fresh quality beans for those who are serious about coffee!

SUSTAINABLE GREAT BEANS

Coffee is our second love (after film photography of course), and we know as photographers, those long editing days would just not be the same without the deliciousness and the energy boost of a great cup of our favorite black beverage. When Fabian showed us his project we just felt in love, not only for the minimal design and the great taste of their beans but also due a great sustainability program.

It made total sense to partner up in some way and that’s why starting this March, every time you get your negatives back you will receive a small bag of roasted coffee by Drip Roasters until we run out of units, we have 50 bags to share so do not hesitate!

If you need to buy some fresh rolls, or just wondering how your old negatives are doing at the lab, purchase your shipping back and your negatives will come back flying to your home along with a small bag of freshly roasted beans!

 

 

More info about Drip?

driproasters.ch/en

@driproasters