When the trip to Penang was planned, I set myself a very ambitious project. It was to capture images on a film camera using redscale film. Redscale film is a negative film was flipped back to front when the picture is captured, the image is exposed to the back of the film instead of the front. The back of the film is "thicker", under normal exposure the image captured has a red-orange sunset tone, this is where the name redscale came from.  However, if the picture is overexposed by 1 to 2 stops the red-orange tone will drop off and the whole image will get a 'vintage' look as the mix of blue and green tones starting to appear. I was using the Lomography RedScale Negative 50 - 200, shooting at ISO 50. 

Here are some of the shots on the red scale film processed and scanned by Hillvale: 

A younger Trishaw driverJalan Sehala means one way street.

Popular spot for photosThis is one of the very popular street art spot for tourists.

As I mentioned before, it was a very ambitious project, too ambitious that I have overestimated the results. Not all the images turned out to be the ones I had in mind. Again, there are lessons to be learnt here - How to chase the light when shooting red scale film. 

This shot below was shot at direct a bright sunny day. I wanted my images to turn out like this and this is the nostalgic look I was after.  Overexposed by 3 stops, maybe? 

Post boxMy favourite shot of the red scale film

However, I am still quite pleased with the overall results of the shots.  

Tourists reading mapsTourist checking out map to their next destination in town. Love lane Couple checking direction on iPhone.

Staircase and photographersStreet art inside the camera museum

What do you think about the red scale film? Can the same effect be recreated through post processing? I would love to hear from you, please leave your comments below. 

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