Instant Photography at the City of Colours Street Art Festival
The City of Colours Street Art Festival happens annually in Digbeth, Birmingham, UK. It celebrates street art and graffiti and brings together local and international artists to create new works on the walls and buildings of Digbeth. Below is some instant photography of the City of Colours Street Art Festival I took in 2016 using Fuji FP-100C (peel-apart) instant colour film.
Shooting instant film at the City of Colours street art festival is an excellent way to capture vibrant and colourful street art.
Although Fuji discontinued production of FP-100C in 2016, brands like Polaroid and Fujifilm have revitalised the instant photography market. Today, many artists and photographers continue to cherish instant film and use it for its unique and beautiful results.
About the City of Colours Festival & Instant Photography
The City of Colours festival began in 2014 and has become one of Europe’s largest street art festivals. This free event features a range of activities, including live painting sessions, workshops, and guided tours of “graffiti” around the Digbeth area.
In 2016 the festival featured over 100 global artists, including well-known street artists such as Fintan Magee, SmugOne, and Zina. The artists painted murals and created installations throughout Digbeth, transforming the streets and buildings into a colourful outdoor art gallery.
On the 18th of June, 2023, the City of Colours Street Art Festival returns to Birmingham, where the outdoor art gallery in Digbeth will again become one of Europe’s largest.
Shooting instant film at the City of Colours street art festival is a fun and unique way to capture the creative energy of Birmingham’s most exciting yearly cultural event.
But remember, instant film has limited sensitivity to light. So it requires extra lighting or a slower shutter speed in low-light conditions. It is also important to note that the film has a limited dynamic range. So, it struggles to capture as much detail in highlights and shadows as other analogue film types or digital sensors.
Nonetheless, the unpredictability of results and the nostalgia associated with using instant film have all contributed to its recent appeal.
More Instant Photography taken at the City of Colours Festival
Here are more photos of the public space artwork at the City of Colours festival in Digbeth that I took using instant film (i.e., Fuji FP-100C). The vintage aesthetic of instant film gives them a unique and nostalgic feel.
Where
City of Colours Street Art Festival in Digbeth, Birmingham, UK.
When
Summer 2016.
What
Mamiya Universal Press medium format rangefinder camera with SEKOR 100mm f/3.5 lens and Fuji FP-100C instant colour film.
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