The Lost Art of’ is a collection of journals exploring analogue habits that are currently at the whim of the modern world. Sun & Shine Studio delves into how people expressed themselves before tech made things instant, infinite and just a little bit frictionless. Nostalgia incoming.
It has been the most glorious summer here in Europe, no better time to capture candid moments of larking around under the endless hours of sunshine. We are yearning to catch these falling stars and keep them close to our hearts and in front of our eyes but you know what? A phone camera is just not cutting it. The throwaway sentiment does not a precious memory make. And so, we are putting forward the case for a good ol’ point and shoot for the masses — one that we use as our primary form of capturing the moment. Let us make our case…
Film photography has a tendency to be considered an elite pursuit for hobbyists and professionals (think fancy camera and Kodak Portra film) but we are advocating for the use of a cheap but perfectly functional point and shoot. These plastic cameras came to the mass market in the 70s and 80s and were popular because they allowed anyone to take a picture just by loading the film and pointing.
SIDE NOTE:
For art, not artists.
This phrase has been living in our head rent-free and for good reason. Art is human expression and a point and shoot is a perfect way to express yourself. You don’t have to be an artist or even consider yourself creative, you just need to be someone who wants to slow down and see the beauty.
We recently grabbed a point and shoot camera plus film for a tenner down at our local high street store. Camera stores will now develop your film and send digital files to you, meaning you only need to print what you love. “But why would I bother spending a tenner when I can take photos for free on my phone?” We hear ya, let’s delve deeper.
At the start of the summer holidays we handed the point and shoot camera to our six-year-old daughter and in our most serious voices bestowed the following advice — ”You have 24 shots on this camera and six weeks ahead of you, capture whatever you like but make sure you only take photos of things that you find interesting and beautiful.” She looked at this plastic camera in her hands, and then up at us, two non-plussed green eyes staring doubtfully and after a beat, set it down on the table and carried on with her day. Hmm, not exactly the revelation we were hoping for….
But…over the next few days there were glimmers of hope. The camera tucked into a pocket of her backpack, her protectivity as she prised it out of her brother’s sticky hands. And then one day it happened. We caught her wandering around the garden, looking for something to photograph. Not just taking photos of anything and everything in sight but rather stopping, tilting her head as she assessed, positioning herself and breathing in before ‘Click’ - commiting the shot to film. A silent high five between the parents ensued.
We headed off on our summer trip and the camera dutifully followed. Dragged along sandy beaches, balanced at melting distance from the BBQ and dangled dangerously close to a swim in the pool but it survived to tell the tale, holding onto sweet memories from days gone by. Only once did someone try and open the back of the camera to see the pictures they had taken - not only is it a tool for slowing down, turns out it also keeps you on your toes. The last photo was clicked as we sailed silently towards the English coast, we tucked the camera into our bag and practised the art of patience.
The next day the digital photos were in our inbox and they were beautiful — grainy, carefree and authentic. It can be hard for children to express themselves; to verbalise what they enjoy and what they find uncomfortable, what makes them happy and what they stray towards. What they deem to beautiful. This point and shoot, above all, allowed us see our holiday through the eyes of our daughter. The moments she thought were too beautiful to miss. The moments she wanted to keep forever. And if nothing else, that is pretty special.
Summer 2025
So what are we advocating for? To give attention to the memories that we decide to commit to a photo, to practise the art of patience and to celebrate candidness over perfection. But overall , to see the world through someone else's lens. Afterall, a thoughtful picture tells a thousand words.
