Miami: South Beach
Whether you are a local or a tourist you usually head down to South Beach to enjoy the sun, get some shopping done, show off your expensive car, get some food and drinks, or head to the beach for it's famous nightlife. There's no doubt that South Beach is the biggest tourist trap in Miami but, even the locals are trapped.
I headed down to the iconic island for my dose of pastels, exotic cars, and one of a kind people. Being away for 3 years usually means things have changed in your hometown since you last visited and chances are they catch you off guard. One place that changes but somehow remains true to it's Art Deco design and color scheme is South Beach. Although much has and is still in development, I noticed even the new condo's and houses in the Beach were staying within boundaries of it's unique aesthetic.
I saw everything differently as I mentioned in my previous post, Miami: Calle Ocho. All the colors were so much brighter and every corner I turned felt like I had never been through those alleys or streets, as I did hundreds of times before. It's interesting the way you perceive a place you live in for a long time compared to how you experience it when you come back after being gone for so long. It's a sense of nostalgia mixed with excitement of being someplace new, almost like experiencing déjà vu.
I headed out to spend the day shooting some film with my amazingly talented friend Amy. I hadn't seen her in ages so it was wonderful to catch up, especially over a day of shooting which we never did together while I was still living in Miami. Amy was shooting with a Mamiya 645 and I took out my Leica M6 for the day. We headed to Española Way to take advantage of the beautiful Spanish architecture.
Photo of me by Amy Ramsaran
Film shot on Fuji Pro 400H with Leica M6
We did some street photography and people watching as we made our way down to Ocean Drive, the most popular street in South Beach.
The exotic cars come by the dozens on the Beach.
Fuji 400H, Leica M6
Can you tell which is digital and which is film? <3
We headed down to the sand where I dug my feet in as deep as I possibly could. It felt so great to be barefoot on a beach that I couldn't get hypothermia from. The sun beaming down on me, wind in my hair, and sand in my toes made me miss living in the tropics.
Fuji 400H, shot with Leica M6
The alleys are truly unique in South Beach. The colors and art deco decor make for some great color-coordinated shots.
Fuji 400H, Leica M6
Fuji 400H, Leica M6
It's safe to say that Miami's South Beach is definitely one of the most beautiful places to visit and photograph. Once we got our dose of gorgeous pastels, we headed out to watch nature's natural display of said pastels: sunset.
Fuji 400H, Leica M6
Fuji 400H, Leica M6
When I received a DM from Kodak’s very own Tim Ryugo asking to be a beta tester of the new Kodak Gold 200 in medium format 120, I couldn’t believe it. Talk about having your dreams come true for someone who is a film photographer! I am so honored to have been selected for this project. All photos were shot on my Pentax 67 of my dear friend, model, and muse, Emily.