Author: Michele

Fire Island Pines Film Photography | Fire Island on Film

Fire Island Pines has long been a creative refuge for the LGBTQ community, known for its modernist beach houses, legendary Tea Dance, and decades of cultural history. In this personal essay, photographer Michele Hamparian reflects on discovering Tom Bianchi’s iconic Fire Island photographs and how they inspired her to begin shooting film in the Pines, documenting architecture, community, and moments of island life one frame at a time.

My Best Friend in Tokyo: A Beginner’s Guide to Seeing a City on Film

When I shoot with my Canon AE-1, I am always chasing light and structure. Both Fire Island and Palm Springs have a strong sense of design, but in completely different ways. In November 2025, my best friend took her first trip to Tokyo, I could not be there with her. Instead of packing my own […]