Intimate Memories Through the Eyes of @reesevision (NSFW)

Reese Galupe noticed that as time went by she started to become more forgetful, and in order to remedy that she took to film photography. Wanting to be more thoughtful and to take things slower, she uses film as her diary to keep track of her eventful life.

Looking at her photos, it’s clear she is not afraid to be vulnerable and honest in a space that is so often used to curate and highlight certain aspects of one's life. She posts the many intimate moments she captures with her Olympus Mju II. We talked to Reese about her process, and she shares her personal stories about love and memory with the rest of the community.

Please introduce yourself. How did you start shooting film?

Hi everybody, I’m Reese, a 25-year-old ADHD-er, model, and photographer based in Manila, Philippines. I’m an advocate of holistic health, self-love, self-expression, sex education, and empathy. I’m also a UX design student and a relapsing sentimental memory hoarder. I started shooting film (and actually, getting into photography in general) in mid-2018. Prior to that, I was already very sentimental but would have other means to "capture” memories, such as storing receipts and making little notes on what I did on a certain day, but I was never consistent and felt like time would pass me by so quickly yet my bad memory couldn’t keep track of all the moments I had been living. One of my deepest fears is to forget my memories and, essentially, lose the life I lived. I was never really into photography as a technical art form. I did not relate to the rigidity of the study of photography, but I grew interested in photography as a medium to capture and keep memories in a quick and tangible way

I didn’t choose to shoot with my phone because I would take my photos for granted and mindlessly shoot away. I didn’t choose SLRs either because they were too bulky, and by the time I had my camera properly set up for a shot, it would feel like the moment had already passed me by and I was unable to capture it as well as be in it, so I decided that point-and-shoot film photography would be the way to go for me.

What gear do you use? And what’s your go-to setup?

When I don’t feel sad about the rising prices of film, I almost always bring one of my point-and-shoot 35 mm film cameras wherever I go. The one that feels most at home in my hands is my Olympus mju ii (aka Stylus Epic). I’m currently on my third model as the first two have already broken. I’ve been loyal to this camera since late 2018!
Since there aren’t many controls to tinker around with when it comes to point-and-shoot cameras, I look to the selection of film rolls as another way to change up the look of my photos, depending on my mood or objective.

When there are fewer variables that change the way your photos end up, and you keep a lot of these factors somewhat consistent (i.e. you use the same camera for years on end and go to the same three film labs in your part of town) you tend to build an experienced hunch over how your photos will turn out depending on the film you choose. My favorite go-to is Lomography Color 400, and I like to switch around and try other film stocks. I tried LomoChrome Metropolis and Lomography Redscale XR films recently and liked how the photos turned out.

How would you describe your style as a photographer?

I don’t have a proper label on my style, but I’m certain it’s primarily on the documentary side. Photography is very personal. It’s an extension of my eyes, mind, soul, and heart, and I think people see that because I tend to get comments that they find a lot of my images intimate, as if they were in the moment with me as a spectator, seeing through my eyes. I delve into photography not to produce the best photos out there, but to remember the memories behind the photograph. I always like to say that I’m not after people finding my photos to be good. I’m after being able to shoot fast and relive the moments I’ve captured afterward. Writing in a journal every day is too tedious for me, so I reach for my camera instead!

Mentioning that people see your photos as intimate, I wanted to ask about how you photograph moments that are more intimate and personal. How do you have the guts to post and document something so personal? And what is your approach to shooting these parts of your life?

I think I’m able to capture in an intimate way because I myself am very open and comfortable with my intimacy. So one can feel like they’re in the moment when they view my pictures, because I felt like I was very present in the moment, instead of feeling closed off or shy and coming off as more of a spectator to the people I’m shooting. Also, I am able to shoot fast with a point-and-shoot, so I can capture the moment while still living it at the same time.

On the posting side, I’m quite open with my emotions and don’t care so much about perceptions other people may have of me. My photography account on Instagram is a visual diary and creative safe space for me, and I intend on keeping it that way! Photography is also more of a hobby and not a mainstream source of income, so I don’t need to prioritize branding or think about how to reel in clients. I can just focus on staying true to myself and expressing myself creatively.

Growing up with the internet, there can be a tendency to post everything we do online. What are your thoughts on when to post and when to keep things private?

Good question. Funny. I don't think I'm able to speak for other people but posting on the Instagram grid shows a visually-pleasing record of photos I've taken. I don't think oversharing is a thing if I willingly post on my profile, which people are perfectly free to unfollow or subscribe to. In the end, Instagram has become a hybrid for memory logging and social interaction. Others may treat it differently. It's all up to the user. To each their own!

Can you share some of your favorite intimate photos and the stories behind them?

(Tokyo 2020) Days 10 and 11 During my Tokyo visit last March 2020, I caught the last train to Roppongi from Shibuya to meet someone I ended up falling for and these were two photos (of many more) I took of him. I took the first shot and found it amusing that he stopped smiling for the picture so I joked, “look at you, trying so hard to not smile!” And so he let out a big smile and, luckily, I was able to capture it.

He told me he was in love with me a few days after I last saw him when I was about to board my flight back home.

(April 2022) One of the first photos I took of this boy I'd eventually call my first boyfriend. We matched on Bumble while he was on vacation with his friends. He spontaneously booked a flight for me after touring around Cebu, left his friends, and by midnight, we were having our first IRL conversation. I snuck him into my house and we were trapped in my room for over 12 hours because my conservative grandparents would faint if they saw him, so we could only leave when they returned to their bedroom!
We ended up really getting to know each other during that time and it felt like I was talking to a true friend. He told me afterwards that it was during that time we spent just hanging out and talking for eight hours that he had feelings for me. Me too.

A portrait I took of him post-shower after we got to the hotel we slept at. The check-in process was a hassle! He had paid for a booking online and once we got to the hotel, the staff said they didn’t have a record of his booking so he had to book a new room. We had to separate after three nights because I was leaving for an out-of-town trip with friends and he had his flight going back to Australia. He told me he was on a phone call with his mom to which she exclaimed, “my boy! My boy is in love!” She asked him what he was doing and why he wasn’t rebooking his flight, and so on the day he was supposed to leave, he rode with strangers on a 5-hour ride to see me in La Union. I recall only being able to think about how I couldn’t wait to see him after a 3-hour hike I was doing with friends.

He looked into my eyes in a way no one ever has. I made it a secret mission to be able to capture that and I think I was able to accomplish it with this photograph. He told a friend of mine during this trip that he would look into my eyes and, at one point, he knew I felt the same way as he did. I don’t think any partner was able to read my body language the way he did. Because of my experience with him, I was able to appreciate the love language of non-sexual physical touch and intimacy. He's an arborist and works with trees and I’d joke around that he was like a tree too. I felt very grounded when I was with him. I felt so safe and secure.

We rented a private island and had limited resources but were able to cook up pasta that we enjoyed. He always ate so fast! I made champorado (sweet chocolate rice porridge) for him after and he gobbled it all up. I was touched. A green flag I found in him was that he was someone I could picture healthily building a life together with. Growing together as individuals and as a team, you know? It wasn’t all romance and sex with this guy. He became a genuine close friend. We became vulnerable and told each other things we had never told other people.

He got his first tattoo with me during our trip together. That was so special to me, especially since it was spontaneous. What a fool! For me! Very Scorpio behavior. I thought, "yeees yes yes. You will remember me forever." I also got a tattoo, designed by my friend, Yutse.

I wonder what he thinks about the tattoo. What fools, getting tattoos knowing we’d break up. We made sure to get tattoos that weren’t matching and had different meanings, but of course, the memory of us being in love and getting it together will always linger in the shadows of our memories. Sometimes, my pride gets in the way and I think, “I can’t believe this guy gets to say I got a tattoo with him in mind!” But then I remember that he did the same thing with me and I feel better.

I was really sad he had to go. The long-distance was a challenge when he left. His flight was in a few hours and we had to leave for the airport. We were so tired and didn’t get any sleep! A self-portrait a few weeks after. I was heartbroken. I wanted to push through with the long distance. He didn’t. My ego and my heart took a blow but I handled the break-up like a champ and I’m proud of myself for being present and there for myself.

(December 2022) This is a portrait of the last man I dated and fell in love with. We were both deeply infatuated with each other but realized we weren’t very compatible. He asked me if the ice cream I was trying out was any good and I asked him if he wanted a taste so I playfully brushed some ice cream on him and then kissed his lips! He said the ice cream was okay and the kiss was better.

We spent a lot of time cuddling in his living room where we would share a lot of the music we liked to listen to. He’s an automotive designer but is now based in Tokyo. Here’s a shot of him looking up music he wanted to share with me. He told me that he was a drummer for a death metal band when he still lived in Spain.

Being with this person was very healing. He brought out the passion, commitment, and dedication that I’d longed for so much in relationships. He was so loving and always so affectionate. I felt like he brought out a different side of me like I could be neurodivergent and not mask (ADHD term) with him. What a sweetheart. A friend of mine mentioned that she thought this guy was going to be the one and, at one point, so did I. But I see now that life has its ways of proving otherwise! I wish him the best and all the love in the world.

What is your advice or process when shooting something personal and intimate?

Well, first of all, ask for consent. Before I even touch my camera, I ask my partner if they feel comfortable being photographed in such an intimate moment. They usually express that they’re okay with it but worry that they don’t look good in the photos, and I assure them that I would not have had the urge to take their photo if I didn’t already see and feel the beauty radiating from them.

I don't have a conscious approach or technique when shooting personally intimate moments but what I've noticed in myself is that I love to capture the beauty I see in people, and with partners, be able to also capture the relationship and intimacy I have with them. I usually do this when both parties feel comfortable and ask if they're open to having their photographs being taken. Like I said, it's sort of like the world's been put on a brief halt, a freeze, and I feel this desire to capture the moment. I've gotten comments from peers mentioning that they feel the photograph as if they're in the moment from feeling the energy and intimacy radiate from my pictures. What an honor! I always blush from that.

Any advice you want to share with Lomography Community?

Let yourself experiment. I personally don’t like to look at other photographers’ work a lot of the time because I had the intention of exploring my own style, but, hey, to each their own. What works for me may not work for you. Photography, to me, is very personal. Open yourself up and allow yourself to feel and be in love with even the most mundane of moments.

We thank Reese for sharing her stories and photography with the community. Check out more of her work through her Instagram. Do you have any stories about intimate photography? Share with us down below.

written by rocket_fries0036 on 2023-02-10 #culture #people #love #point-and-shoot #valentine-s-day #lomography-redscale #valentine-s #intimacy #slice-of-life #intimate-photography