Testing the Legend (ep.2) | Nikon Nikkor-H Auto 85mm f/1.8

There’s a certain kind of magic that only vintage lenses can capture. The soft haze, the imperfect blur, the warmth that clings to the frame like memory itself.

This session was about texture. Rust and dust. Patina and presence. The Volkswagen Type 2, often affectionately called a “Bus,” holds history in every creak of its door.

Shooting it through this vintage lens brought out the soul of the machine.

Inside the cabin, the light filtered in like an old film. You can almost hear the hum of the road, feel the years soaked into the vinyl and steel. Every speck on the glass became a part of the story, not something to be removed or retouched.

What I love about working with old lenses is their resistance to perfection. Autofocus? Forget it. Sharp corners? Maybe, if you’re lucky. But that’s the point, you work for each shot, and each one feels earned, brings me back to when photos weren’t about likes, but about holding onto a feeling.

Thanks for riding along.

Location: Oahu, Hawaii

Filmed w/ Nikon Zf & Nikon Nikkor-H Auto 85mm f/1.8