Life of Stefan

Boston, MA // Ektar 100 // Nikon FM

10.7.17 & 10.8.17 - Nikon FM - Ilford HP5 400

New York City is one my favorite places to visit.  Growing up in Texas, never imagined I would be able to visit there yet have a brother go to school in the city.  Spent the weekend with my younger brother and explored.  I shot with black and white film which was very exciting, happy how they images turned out. I had a roll of 36 but choose my favorite 12 to post.  I am sucker for the black and white aesthetic which you can tell with my earlier photos. Touched them up a bit in Lightroom but made sure not to alter the photos too much but add life and my personal touch them.  Shooting on film has definitely challenged my eye and patience when trying to find the right moment to capture.  Hope you all enjoy these as much as I do.  

Best,

10.3.17 - Nikon FM - Fuji X-Tra 400

Finally got a 35mm film camera, a Nikon FM, 50mm 1.8.  After three years of hesitating, I pulled trigger and got a Nikon FM.  Coming from a filmmaking background and shooting with Canon T4i, I wanted to start being specific in my shots in terms of composition, lighting, and color.  

About two weeks I went to Boston with my buddy Jim to shoot with Fuji 200, sadly Jim’s lens was broken and I foolishly, tried to take the finished roll out to quickly and did exposed the film to light which ruined everything. A valuable lesson was learned that day to make sure you research and not rush the process.

On October 3, as I walked to the coffee shop that I have been doing some writing in for a new short, I decided to get back in the saddle and document my walk from my house.  Providence is where I call home and these photos are taken on N. Main St. These photos are straight from the scans I got back, in due time I will learn to edit these but I am happy how these turned out and thought to show the world. I have a roll from NYC that I am excited to get back and see, so stay tuned. Thanks for reading.

Best,

Stefan Puente

Snowtraits 

I sit here in my kitchen at home playing music and thinking about the past year. I was fortunate to do well in school and have my short film “Dagger” when the PC film festival and be accepted into the Slater Bros International Film Festival. I couldn’t be more proud of what I accomplished this year but what scares me is what’s next.  A man could climb the mountain and be proud, but how long must one stay on top before he goes back down to climb a bigger mountain.  Martin Scorsese if I am correct once said that a filmmaker should always be scared at his next project.  I sit here trying to plan stuff and I am nervous to an extent.  I know what I want to film and how I want it to look, but can I execute it?  The trials of being a better a filmmaker is that I always know how I want my films to look, but getting there requires a great deal of learning and practice.  As a kid I always compared myself to others, why was I not that good, why couldn’t I skate faster or shoot harder then them ( I played hockey). Yet, what’s cool about film and art is that there is no need to compare my work to others too much if any, my goal is just to make my next film greater than my last.  In the words of the great Bill Walsh, “the game takes care of itself” meaning, if I keep studying film and working hard, my films will get better.  I am excited for what the future has in store!.... Here is “Dagger”, i’m really proud of how it turned and props to my roommate Brian Kozak for starring in it, kid’s amazing, https://youtu.be/Rm35dUyDSwc.