Still of the Night - Toronto Street Scenes with Cinestill 800T 35mm and 120 film

July 19, 2022

Experimenting with unusual film stocks can add variety to your film photography experience.

In my previous post I shared about the unique results offered by Lomachrome Purple XR film.

In this post I will share some of my favourite images captured with Cinestill 800T film.

Cinestill describes this film as "based on the same gold standard motion picture technology used by top cinematographers around the world. Designed for difficult low light tungsten situations, this flexible film is suitable for use in different lighting situations to achieve a variety of looks."

Towers and Bridges

While this film can be used in the daytime...

Good Time Coffee

All Day Breakfast

Ulster Arms Tavern

Product of the Year

...I much prefer the look it gives when capturing nighttime scenes, especially neon lights.

William's Shoe Store

The images in this post were taken from January to February and October to November 2021 (two rolls of 35mm film) and in June 2022 (one roll of 120 film).

Fatima Jewellery

Cinestill film uses a film type that was used by filmmakers. From Cinestill's website:

Now, anyone can use film in the same lighting situations as new blockbuster movies and TV shows such as Inception, Argo, Lincoln, all of the Batman movies, Django Unchained, Man of Steel, Les Misérables, The Master, the new Star Trek films, the Star Wars films, all Wes Anderson's films, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Boardwalk Empire...

Speaking of movies - many movie scenes have been filmed at the Lakeview Restaurant. Click here for details.

Lakeview Restaurant

Take Away

Lakeview Restaurant - Cinestill 120 film

One key feature of Cinestill 800T (some would call it a bug, not a feature!) is the halation, or glow, it creates around lights. This is due to the removal of a "remjet" layer from the film. This layer served important purposes for filmmakers, but removing it allows the film to be developed more easily using the more commonly available C-41 process.

There are many great write-ups online about the technical features of this film, along with more sample images of what it can deliver.

Here are two trusted sites where you can explore more about this film:

- Analogue Wonderland - Cinestill 800T Review

- The Darkroom - Cinestill 800T Film Review

Lula Lounge

AAA Auto Glass

The Drake Hotel

Star Convenience

Distant Light

Superfly Alley

Superfly was a Parkdale bar that closed this past year.

Grand Electric Parkdale

I have to include some of what must be my favourite neon sign in Toronto...

Skyline Restaurant

Pay them a visit the next time you're in Parkdale. The Skyline is a true classic!

Rendezviews is definitely one of the best patios in the city. It is very colourful in the daytime, thanks to artwork by Clandestinos Art, but also has great atmosphere at night.

Rendezviews