EP270: The Biggest Progress in Writing a Book — Minolta AF-C 35mm f2.8 with Kodak Gold 200

Roll 270

Film: Kodak Gold 200 (airport X-ray scanned)
Developed & scanned: DEP Lab 2025/8/5
Camera: Minolta AF-C 35mm f2.8

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I have been saying I would write a book for two years now. The biggest progress so far is that there has been almost no progress.

Since the rise of AI, the way I think about ability has changed quite drastically. I used to believe that technical skill was the most important thing. Now, I think the standard you hold for your work matters more than the skill itself. Because today, almost everyone's technical ability can be amplified by technology to its highest level. But if your standards do not improve, your output will still remain at a relatively low level.

There is a line I have always liked:

"The biggest problem is not knowing what your problem is."

That is a dangerous state to be in. These days, once you can clearly identify a problem, there is almost always a solution. What is difficult is not solving, but seeing.

This is also why writing a book has been harder than I expected.

Since deciding to write one, I have tried many different approaches. I have selected the photos, defined possible themes, and explored different directions. But the more I learn, the more I realize how little I actually understand. In that state, I no longer know what kind of book I am trying to make.

I have read books that focus heavily on gear. But as a reader, if I do not own those cameras, the experience becomes distant. You flip through the pages, but nothing really stays with you. Even the photographs, no matter how carefully made, fail to leave a lasting impression.

So I know that is not the path I want to take.

After going back and forth, the safest choice seems to be something closer to photographic writing. But the truth is, nothing particularly remarkable has happened in my relationship with photography. I treat cameras more like toys, and buying them more like a game. For me, photography is simply a hobby.

With a foundation like that, is it really enough to justify making a book? Or should I just continue building things through websites instead?

I do not know. I still do not have an answer.

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#1
This trip to the US was originally planned around the idea of "buying film at the source." I placed an order on Amazon after arriving, but unfortunately the package never arrived. I almost ran out of film and had to rush to a physical store to restock.

 

#2
Because my hand had not fully recovered during this trip, I kept my setup extremely light. Just two autofocus cameras, the Konica Big mini HG BM-300 35mm f3.5 and the Minolta AF-C 35mm f2.8. No full-size tripod, only a small one.

 

#3
I have always thought my brother's home looks great, so I wanted to document it. Even just the bathroom. If the bathroom looks this good, the rest of the space probably does too.

 

#4
Another mirror shot. I actually prefer the previous one, because of the unexpected light entering the frame.

 

#5
The main stop of the day was Costco in the US. We have always liked visiting familiar brands abroad as a way to observe cultural differences. In the past, that meant going to IKEA in Iceland or visiting ramen chains in Okinawa. It is always interesting in its own way.

 

#6
The Costco in Chicago looks almost identical to the ones in Taiwan.

 

#7
To be honest, I cannot quite remember how I took this photo. I thought I had handed the camera to my son, but he appears in the frame. It might have been taken using the self-timer on the Minolta AF-C, with the camera placed on the cart.

 

#8
A weekday checkout line at Costco in Chicago. In Taiwan, this kind of scene is almost impossible to see.

 

#9
This is my mom and my son. There was a period when my relationship with my mom was a bit tense. I felt she placed a lot of pressure on me and tried to control too many things. At one point, I even changed her contact name in my phone to "The Empress."

 

#10
A candid shot of a cashier at Costco. People often call this street photography, but in reality, it is simply photographing strangers.

 

#11
The Costco hot dog combo in the US costs $1.50. It is almost unbelievable.

 

#12
And it is an all-beef hot dog.

 

#13
A very Taiwanese habit, eating at Costco on-site.

 

#14
Leaving the suburban Costco, heading back home.

 

#15
Driver's perspective. Blind spot detection is essential.

 

#16
After arriving in the US, my son pointed out that traffic lights in Taiwan are usually horizontal, while in the US they are often vertical. I was surprised I had never noticed that before.

 

#17
People in Chicago seem less likely to walk while looking at their phones compared to Taipei.

 

#18
Maybe it is because the windshields here are so clear, but when I was taking photos of pedestrians from inside the car, someone crossing the street waved at me.

 

#19
Chicago sits right next to Lake Michigan, so the weather changes constantly. The building in the center is The St. Regis Chicago.

 

#20
Driving carefully, first-person perspective.

 

#21
A typeface I really like. This was in a parking garage.

 

#22
Today, my brother took us to see "Flyover" in Chicago. It is a simulated flight experience that completely exceeded my expectations.

 

#23
One of the pre-show spaces inside Flyover. I was drawn to the screen design.

 

#24
Realizing the roll was about to run out, I took a quick self-portrait before loading the next one.

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This is the full set from this roll, shot with the Minolta AF-C 35mm f2.8 and Kodak Gold 200. Thank you for viewing, and thanks to DEP Lab for development and scanning.