Through the Grain: Shooting Ribes de Freser with Lomography 92 & Nikon F
The Journey & First Impressions
A short train ride from Barcelona takes you to Ribes de Freser, a charming mountain town in the Catalan Pyrenees. The journey itself sets the tone, shifting from bustling urban scenery to winding valleys and crisp alpine air.
Ribes de Freser greeted me with stone bridges crossing the Freser River, terracotta rooftops glowing against a pale winter sky, narrow streets with vintage shop signs, and the sound of rushing water as a constant backdrop. It felt like a place where time moves differently, slower, softer, with space to breathe.
The Gear, the Film & the Process
For this trip, I brought only the essentials:
Camera: Nikon F — fully mechanical, reliable, and beautifully tactile.
Film: Lomography 92 35mm — moody, cinematic tones with a fine yet noticeable grain. (an amazing surprise!)
Approach: One camera, one roll, no backup. A conscious choice to slow down and be intentional with every frame.
Shooting with the Nikon F is an exercise in deliberation. Its mechanical nature slows the process, forcing you to wait for the right moment, trust your exposure without instant review, and commit to the shot, imperfections and all.
The Lomography 92 was perfect for the soft winter light subtle, slightly desaturated tones where greens turn deep and cinematic, reds become warm but muted, and shadows gain richness without losing detail. The grain added a timeless texture, giving even modern elements an old-world feel. The roll is inspired by the color tones of the early ’90s — warm highlights, gentle midtones, and slightly muted saturation that feels cinematic. At ISO 400, it’s versatile enough to handle the shifting winter light in the Pyrenees, capturing both the cool shade of stone alleys and the sunlit glow on rooftops.
A Day in Frames
The day unfolded like a slow conversation between the place and my camera. Morning was spent wandering through the town, framing street scenes and architectural details. By afternoon, I followed the river into the hills, capturing pine forests and mountain silhouettes. As the sun dipped behind the mountains, golden light shifted into cool blue shadows — the last few frames of the roll.
Analog photography transforms a fleeting day into something lasting. The Lomography 92’s nostalgic tones mirrored the quiet charm of Ribes de Freser, turning simple scenes into textured memories. Sometimes, all you need is a train ticket, a single roll of film, and the willingness to see slowly to remember why you fell in love with photography in the first place.
