What’s In Your Kit? with Johanna Wallin

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Johanna Wallin

Johanna Wallin

I first discovered Swedish photographer Johanna Wallin’s work through her blog and was instantly entranced by her moving and atmospheric photography. Using medium format and 35mm cameras, Johanna paints beautiful portraits of people and life. She has an ability to capture the essence of the bigness of cities like New York and Tokyo whilst still painting a picture that is warm and inviting. I particularly love her beautiful and timeless ‘snow’ essays as shown in the photographs above. They look like something out of a Sigur Ros video.

She of course does amazing things with her film cameras, but her digital work is also beautiful. I was convinced she was a strictly film shooter when I discovered that some of the photographs that I thought were film, were in fact shot with her Canon 5D.

Johanna kindly answered questions about her equipment and shooting for the What’s In Your Kit? feature.

MB: What is/are your camera/s of choice and why?

Johanna: Hasselblad

MB: Which are your favourite lenses to work with and why?

Johanna: Prime lenses, such as 35mm and 50mm (80mm with medium format). I want normal perspective and the option of big aperture.


MB: What equipment do you prefer to use to shoot portraits?

Johanna: Hasselblad 500c/m with 80/2.8, loaded with Astia 100F and (depending on the light) a hammerhead flash.

MB: Name a camera that you just love to have fun with.

Johanna: LC-A is great for just random shooting,  being so small and automatic. I always have lots of fun shooting instant film as well, with Polaroid 635 or just Hasselblad with polaroid back.


MB: What do you carry your equipment in?

Johanna: Mostly on my shoulder in the strap, or in a tote bag. I never had any case/bag/etc for my equipment, I want to be casual with my cameras and bring them everywhere. People may think I’m not being protective enough, but I never broke a single thing.

MB: Is there one piece of equipment/set up that you would recommend to a newbie shooter?

Johanna: Buy a used digital Canon 5D and a cheap 50/1.8 lens, or use the money on a Nikon FM and lots of film. Both alternatives are great, and not just for newbies.


Thanks for answering the WIYK questions, Johanna! Make sure you check out more of Johanna’s work at her links below:

Johanna Wallin website
Johanna’s blog
Johanna’s flickr

All photographs were taken by and copyright Johanna Wallin.

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13 thoughts on “What’s In Your Kit? with Johanna Wallin”

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  6. oh this post is so inspiring. =] how wonderful. what a fantastic interview. thank you!

    ps-i don’t comment too often, but i just wanted to say that i absolutely adore your blog! it has helped me a lot with my photography (that i am just now really sinking my teeth into) and is always fun to read =]

  7. I followed her blog, and always stunned by how beautiful her pictures are. I couldn’t differentiate when she was using a film camera and when she’s using a digital one. Totally immersed into her photographs (:

  8. Those pictures were taken in Chicago! I get very excited when I see photos of my city :) Gorgeous! Now I can’t wait until winter rolls around again for all the snow shot opportunities.

    I love these “in your kit” profiles.

  9. Oh wow gorgeous! Those soft colors are just magnificent.

    I really like like “What’s In Your Kit” not only for the exposure to great photographers to discover, but also because I learn about so many new film types and cameras. I’d never heard of Astia, but now I want to try a roll or two…