Analogue Adventures: Bethany On Her Travels

Welcome to another Analogue Adventure 🎉 I was captured by Bethany's stories of travelling around SE Asia - especially as she has the extra challenge of managing her Crohn's disease on top of all the usual film photography travel difficulties!

Bethany - thank you so much for sharing your experiences with the rest of the analogue community! How I always start these chats: how long have you been shooting film and how did you get started in the hobby?

I started shooting film during lockdown, when I was sixteen. At the time I was struggling with phone addiction (isolation was a pretty good excuse to do nothing, including school work), and the three main uses for my phone seemed to be communication, music, and photos. I could get an old flip phone and resolve the other two issues, but I didn’t know what to do about the photo issue.

That’s when I discovered that film cameras were still a thing! I actually spent my first ever paycheque from my weekend job at McDonalds on an Olympus Trip AF 31.

A fantastic starter camera! What’s your favourite camera to shoot with these days? And what kind of film do you usually use with it?

I love point and shoots because I love photographing the behind the scenes moments that tend to get forgotten about on people's instagram feeds these days. So any point and shoot I can get a good deal on Ebay for honestly.

I’m currently shooting on a Ricoh R10. My favourite film ever would have to be Fujifilm Superia, although it’s extremely difficult to get your hands on, so I usually go for a C200.

What made you most excited about your SE Asia adventure, before you left?

The entire trip was really exciting to be honest. I had never been to any part of Asia before, I was excited for the food, the constant travelling, the beaches, and of course the partying. I was mainly excited to travel to the places I had seen so many photographs of before.

Southeast Asia, particularly big cities in Vietnam, are so well-photographed and still have really vibrant, artistic, film-photography communities.

What were the biggest photographic challenges you faced on the trip?

I often struggle with the ethics of taking certain portraits, especially when there is a language barrier. I was in many communities where tourism is such a big part of the local communities, and wanted to avoid being a tourist who exploited that at all costs.

There is a fine line between photographing something poignant that is culturally significant and interesting, and exploiting local culture.

Totally agree. And although there are some general rules of thumb, can often only be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Which camera and film were you using on this trip? Presumably some trusty Fuji!

I had bought my Ricoh R10 for the trip, as well as some rolls of Fujifilm 200 and Kodak Gold. These are the films I have used the most. Both captured the scenes brilliantly, particularly the vibrant, lush greenery in Vietnam (seriously, I think there are more shades of green in Vietnam than there are anywhere else), the rich reds and golds within the buddhist temples, and the vibrant sea blues.

Was there any part of the trip you were particularly excited about the photographic opportunities? And did the real experience of them live up to your imagination?

I was most excited for the street photography many Asian cities are known for. The vibrant neon signs and crowded overhead wires that make every photograph unmistakably Southeast Asian. I was also really looking forward to capturing the richness seen particularly within the Thai temples.

What is your favourite photo from the trip and why?

One of my favourite photos, is the one of the red chillies drying in the sun on the side of the road. It captures a small moment of Thai life that would never occur in the UK.

To me, it is significant, as you can see the sun directly hitting the chillies as they lay on the pavement outside someone's home, something you may not even realise is a “thing” until you go there. I could see it on the front of a Thai cookbook.

What is your most unexpected photo from the trip and why?

My most unexpected photo that I love is probably the one of my friend with the bowling ball. We were in Luang Prabang, Laos, where they have strict curfew. There’s this one bowling alley a few miles out of the city, which serves until the early hours.

We jumped in a tuktuk with a few strangers from our hostel and went one evening. The whole scene is just something completely unique, and her pose as if the bowling ball is a trophy, with the man smoking (indoors!) beside her, felt like such a special moment bottled.

Haha it is striking for sure. Is there anything you’d do differently - from a photography point of view - if you were to have the trip again?

In cities like Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh, I wish I would have taken more advantage of their street photography scene, particularly the iconic neon lights that are so well-documented. I also with I could have connected with more local film photographers/ had room in the budget to buy a few cameras at the second-hand markets!

I can’t imagine how complicated it is to plan a trip like this while managing Crohn’s. Were there any parts of the adventure you felt you had to ‘compromise’ due to health, or were you able to adapt as you went?

I’m lucky my Crohn’s is well managed, however my medication needed to be kept refrigerated the entire time, and in an insulated bottle with an ice pack on travel days. I guess that did make me feel ‘limited’, especially as someone who loves going ‘off-grid’ and disconnecting as much as possible. The staff at all of the hostels were always very understanding however.

What would you say to anyone who is curious about doing a similar trip to take photos?

On a practical level I would tell them to try to limit your films’ exposure to x-ray machines at the airport… I always felt too awkward to ask them to hand check it, but I’m fairly certain it caused some of the ‘light-leaks’ in particular one of my rolls. [Ed: honestly that would be an unusual presentation - but if you let our lab look at the negatives I'm sure we could help diagnose!]

I would suggest taking a point and shoot or something you are super familiar with and can use easily, as for me living in the moment is the most important part, and taking the photograph shouldn’t take away from that.

What is your next planned adventure, and which camera/film will you be taking to capture it?

My next adventure is far more close to home- I am going camping with my friends in Pembrokeshire to celebrate my birthday. I am going to be bringing a completely different camera- my grandads old Kodak Retinette camera I recently found in the attic. I’m hoping to get my hands on some colour positive film as a treat for the special occasion.

I looove slide film! Where can people go to see more of your photography?

I’ve got lots on my instagram @bowenffoulkes, although I’m not a massive poster. I’m also hoping to make more use of my Pinterest with the same name.

Thank you so much Bethany! I love your work - my fave is definitely that waterfall - and good luck with your granddad's camera 🫶🏼