Black and white photography has historically been something that I don’t resonate well with. While I love the beautiful high contrast of Ilford film stocks, or the weird experimental nature of techniques like B&W IR photography (See Dracula 60 post), I have always had a much deeper connection to halation, light bloom, and over-saturation. A notable exception I found to my preferences of color over B&W film stocks is the Street Candy ATM 400, which added a deep, mysterious, special atmosphere to my images.

Things get old

Images off of my roll of film have a dirty, grainy, aged feeling to them. Ignoring the dirty nature of the B&W dark room we get images developed from (seriously every time we get film back from them, there’s dust everywhere) and the weird stripes on every single image, there is a very obvious grain in all of the shots. I think this ‘feature’ actually adds a lot of atmosphere, nostalgia, or longing to the images. Modern cameras and film stocks are often so clean that this feeling can be challenging to convey in 2025, and I appreciate being able to make the stylistic decision to shoot more raw and viscerally.

The shots earlier on the roll of film were especially interesting looking due to small light leaks from the loading process. The light leaks appear otherworldly and almost supernatural, complimenting the style of the film nicely.

A Bright Day on the Oregon Coast

Additionally, there is a nice haze in each image due to the relatively low contrast of the film (compared to other more common film stocks for B&W). While it may not for everyone (or everyday applications), the shots feel vintage and timeless. This image was taken on a clear, sunny day at the Oregon Coast. Despite the high(er) ISO for daylight, the film was still forgiving enough to prevent major blowouts from the sky or highlights in the water.

The best shot on the roll was this image of Heceta Head lighthouse. There was a lot of variation of light conditions where I was standing due to the clear blue sky contrasting agains the shadowy areas produced by the surrounding trees. Regardless, I love the drama of the silhouetted trees against the brighter sky, with the beautiful lighthouse peaking behind the hill. I would increase the exposure a hair if I got a second chance to take the shot, but overall I am quite pleased with the image in conjunction with the awesome stylistic direction of the film stock.

Contrasty subjects still look very good on the film, despite the overall film being more compressed than more standard B&W options. I like to think that the lack of prominent highlights/white leaves a feeling of danger or uneasiness. For example, this image was just of 4 old friends hanging out in camp chairs at the beach, but the final image feels much more esoteric and empty.

Some experimental shots

I was curious what shades of grey would be most prominent in an image of just the water and the sky. The texture of the highlighted portions in the water is hypnotic, while an ominous lens-flared moon looms over the ocean.

Silhouetted subjects such as these flowers look excellent against the clear-gray sky, without the sky or highlights excessively blowing out the image.

The old, grungy vibe of the film makes for compelling images of unsettling subjects, including these corvids perched on a power line, waiting to steal your fish and chips.

Conclusion

Street Candy 400 ATM is a real treat to shoot on. I was expecting high-quality, boring, professional-grade black and white images, but instead received very interesting, messy photos. This film stock is exactly what I have been looking for to use in a couple of projects and I will keep it in my back pocket for a rainy day.