the coldwater files

Harman Phoenix! in december 2023, harman  released the first uk made brand new emulsion. unlike other films which are made from other film stocks, phoenix was devised from emulsion to cassette entirely from scratch. and on a whim as i was looking for colour film for my medium format camera (not the easiest thing to do if you're on a budget), i found it on sale and picked myself up a roll. i was blown away. this is not your average colour film. it's contrasty as hell, it's punchy and bold. the colours - especially reds - hit you in the face. if you're looking for true to life colour or muted tones and a usual contrast, this isn't the film for you. which is fine! there's plenty of films out there already handling that.  what phoenix is, compared to the classical symphonic conductor you might get with an expensive kodak portra, is a grungy punk rocker. it doesn't care for realism. it wants you to feel something and create something new and bold. i could go on a...