I started my first roll of Agfacolor 400 in the garden, mostly as a test to see what it would do. I wasn’t expecting much, just wanted to see the colours and the grain, and get a feel for shooting film on the camera I picked up on a whim when I had serious FOMO surrounded by film camera lovers in Sweden.
Agfa 400 is a classic black and white film, known for its fine grain and flexibility. It handles a range of light conditions well, from soft overcast mornings to brighter sunlit spots. That made the garden an ideal place to start. It feels forgiving, but it also rewards attention to contrast and texture, which makes it particularly satisfying for anyone learning film photography like me.
When I looked at the developed negatives, I was struck by how it rendered light. Shadows had depth without becoming heavy, and highlights were clean, showing subtle detail I might have overlooked in a colour photo. The fine grain gave a smoothness to the images while keeping enough texture to remind me I was working with film. Even simple things, like a leaf catching the sunlight, the curve of a flower pot, or the weathered surface of black metal railings, seemed to gain quiet importance.
Shooting this roll made me slow down. I found myself noticing shapes and patterns I might have ignored if I were using digital. Lines of branches against the sky, the way sunlight fell on soil, the interplay of shadow and reflection on pots, all felt worth pausing for. There is something meditative about black and white film, a quiet encouragement to look closer and see differently.
Agfa 400 has a gentle character. It does not dramatize, it simply records what it sees. That makes it perfect for experimenting and learning, for taking small, thoughtful steps in a new hobby. After this first roll, I was already thinking about trying other black and white films in more varied locations to see how each one responds.
Even this simple garden test left me with a sense of quiet satisfaction. Film photography, at least with Agfa 400, feels like a conversation with the world around me. It invites me to notice, to appreciate, and to capture what often goes unseen. I am curious to see how other films will continue to shape the way I see.