SHUGA SHACK CLUB

Photographing Shuga Shake Club on 35mm film felt intentional, almost like stepping back in time while standing firmly in the present. In a world where nightlife is often captured instantly and endlessly through phones and digital cameras, choosing film was a conscious decision to slow down and truly observe the space, the people, and the energy unfolding in real time.

 

In the old days, club photography demanded patience and instinct. Every frame mattered. Light was read, not measured. Moments were anticipated, not previewed. Shooting Shuga Shake Club on film brought that same discipline back into the process. Trusting the camera, trusting the moment, and trusting my experience. There was no instant playback, no second-guessing, just presence.

 

What makes the contrast powerful is that Shuga Shake Club exists in a modern world driven by immediacy and visibility. Today, nights are documented live, shared instantly, and often forgotten just as fast. By photographing the club on 35mm film, I was able to create a visual counterpoint. Images that feel timeless rather than temporary. Grain replaced pixels. Memory replaced immediacy.

 

The result is a body of work that bridges generations. The images feel real through body movement, an intimate feeling of classic club photography, while documenting a contemporary cultural space. Film allowed me to honor the spirit of the past while capturing the reality of the present.

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July, 2023

Los Angeles, CA