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Kaylin Arason

Pentax Spotmatic F + Asahi Super-Takumar 55mm F2 + Tamron 28mm F2.5

For the longest time I loved shooting people, mostly my friends. It wasn't until I spent 7 months living alone in Bangkok, away from my community, that I realized that I could be my own subject. The whole process is kind of magic—setting up the tripod, making sure I'll be in frame, using various objects in my home to focus on. My work centres the body—its lines, curves, and the imprints on its skin. Aside from sharing the raw beauty of bodies, my photography is both a personal and political process, uncovering what it means to occupy a diasporic space. My body holds the stories and teachings of my ancestors, the trauma of my mother who immigrated from the Philippines, and the pain and trauma I carry as a mixed-race woman. My images seek to translate this pain, trauma, and the beauty of it all.

This is the first analog camera I ever bought. After I destroyed my first one from accidentally drowning it in beer in my backpack, I replaced it with a new one because I loved it so much. This camera's simplicity makes it versatile, and its durability makes it perfect for strapping around my body for any occasion. I love that it's fully manual, and it has a vintage feel but also creates clear and sharp images with its original 55 mm lens. It has a built in self-timer which is perfect for self portraits, and the sound of the shutter is just magic.

This 55mm lens is mega sharp and clear. It captures the lines and imprints on my skin so well. I use my 28mm for everyday stuff but it also works great for portraits! The 2.5 aperture allows for a super wide shot but also a good depth of field.

My manfrotto tripod is crucial for self portraits. It's lightweight, durable, and gets the job done. Mirrors are important for me too. I use them to see what I look like behind the cam, and they're also fun to play with to capture more dynamic portraits. Not pictured here is the film I use. To be honest, I load my cam with whatever I can get my hands on. Anything by kodak is affordable and reliable (gold, colorplus, etc.),and if I feel like treating myself I'll pick up some portra, but I'm not picky.

Kaylin Arason camera kit 002

Kaylin Arason

My name is Kaylin. I'm 23 years old and I'm currently vibing out and taking pics in Victoria BC. Taking photographs is everything to me. It's always felt natural to have a camera in my hand, but it wasn't until I snagged my first pentax spotmatic at a garage sale for $15 that I fell in love with the process of analog photography. This hobby has taught me everything about the beauty of light, the power of being patient with the process, and the healing and transformative power of self portraiture.

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