Exploring Kew Gardens with my Rolleicord V and OptiColour 200 (NC200)
After testing OptiColour 200 on the coast, I took the second roll to Kew Gardens to see how it handled lush greens and softer light.
After shooting my first roll of OptiColour 200 along the coast, I wanted to try something a little different with the second roll.
Jan Gottweiss
The film’s rendering of blues and greens stood out to me, so I figured a more lush, garden-heavy setting would be the perfect for the second roll. So I loaded the second roll into my Rolleicord V and headed to Kew Gardens.
I started around the Waterlily House, one of my favourite spots at Kew. The colours in those first frames really impressed me—muted, natural, and paste like. OptiColour seems to handle rich greens and blues with a nice, understated balance that avoids looking overly processed or too punchy. Especially when slightly overexposed.
From the Waterlily House, I moved on to the Princess of Wales Conservatory, taking my time as I walked through the different parts of the Garden.
Some of my favourite frames came from the Agius Evolution Garden near the conservatory. The square 6x6 format worked beautifully here—especially with the way the light played through the leaves and petals. Once again, the tones felt natural, subtle, and atmospheric.
The final shot from that day has ended up being my favourite frame from the entire roll—simple, but it really captures the mood and colours I was hoping for.
I'm pleased with how both rolls of OptiColour have turned out so far. The film has a nice character that works beautifully in calm, natural settings.
Next up: I’ll be shooting the third and final roll during golden hour and in lower light conditions, just to see how it holds up when the shadows deepen and the highlights start to glow.
Cheers,
Jan - @jan.onfilm
Disclaimer: Optik Oldschool provided me with three pre-production rolls free of charge.
