Returning to My Analog Roots: A Photographic Journey

Hi, I’m Gianluca.
I studied cultural anthropology, and I’ve always been fascinated by the different ways people live, move, and experience a place.
Rome is not only my city – it’s the environment I love observing, understanding, and sharing through these small stories.

Together with my wife Connie, we host travellers in our small hotel near the Vatican, where we enjoy meeting people from all over the world and exchanging perspectives – just as I do here in the blog.

If you ever feel like saying hello while exploring Rome, you’ll find us on our terrace as well, where every morning we serve breakfast with a view.

Gianluca

There’s something magical about analog photography – the tactile feel of film, the anticipation of developing negatives, and the timeless quality of black-and-white prints. Recently, I decided to revisit this old passion of mine. I purchased a used Nikon FM2 and started shooting with black-and-white film, with plans to develop and digitize the negatives using my digital SLR.

This journey took me back to my youth when I used to spend hours in the darkroom. After shooting my first two rolls, I gathered the necessary chemicals and development tank, eager to see the results. However, in my excitement, I made a classic rookie mistake: I mixed up the developing process. Instead of using the stop bath after the developer, I mistakenly used the fixer first, followed by the stop bath.

The outcome was far from what I expected, but it was uniquely fascinating. The mishap created some interesting effects, giving the photos an unexpected charm. Here are some of the results, all taken at QuodLibet B&B or in the vicinity.

This experience reminded me that even in the world of photography, mistakes can lead to beautiful surprises. I hope you enjoy these quirky shots as much as I enjoyed creating them.

Feel free to share your thoughts or similar experiences in the comments below!