Analog Film: Women’s March Through a Hopeful Lens

The analog film has never disappointed me, and this roll of film that I took during the Women’s March on October 2nd has proven to be more than aesthetically pleasing. The texture of the film, its unique sensitivity to the sunlight, has made the film appear uniquely hopeful, promising, and inspiring. 

P1. 

I wonder how much historical richness a photo could entail, and this photo has coincidently and beautifully captured so many elements unique to our time. The hand sanitizer on her bag, the mask on her shoulder, all of which are unique elements of our era. Just after Texas announced their abortion law, China also made an official announcement to “reduce non-medical abortions.” The Chinese protest sign she’s making reads: “ To give birth or not; To get an abortion or not; my own choice.” The sun light on the bench, highlighting it and the words as if nothing could ever be more hopeful than this little moment. 

P2. 

She’s about to transcribe these words to the poster, and is imagining herself carrying all her rage, shouting into the crowd, “Why is Abortion a crime when stealthing (non-consensual condom removal) is legal?” Why is it always the case that women have to bear all the burdens and risks throughout their lives, while men always get away with their wrongdoings? 

P3. 

Feel the power of the crowd, feel it. Did you see RBG looking right into your eyes? Did you hear the crowd shouting so loud, as if the power could transcend towards the sky, as if the power and hope could carry over to the women in Texas?...and did you have tears in your eyes, slowly out of focus? 

P4. 

You’ve been standing for more than two hours now. Go get some rest. Let consumerism take over your mind for a while. Surely it wouldn’t hurt buying a few pins…and maybe taking a selfie with your sign! Create an Instagram story, just to prove that you’ve been here, and you’ve done something. 

It’s always fascinating to examine political events while thinking about intersectionality. There are so many different angles to document political events. The cultural, historical, and even performative aspects are all present simultaneously in this one single event. Photography struck my desire to document them and present them through my way of seeing the world. 

Moreover, analog film gives me a feeling of distance from the photo I’ve taken by myself. The actual image developed is always so different from my memory when taking it, not only because I have to wait for it to be developed, but also because it gives a special texture and mood to the image. It invites you to recreate new interpretations of the image; the film recreates your memory of the event. That’s the magic of analog photography.