Polperro Village on Expired Film: 35mm & medium format.

There’s something magnetic about Cornwall’s old fishing villages—and Polperro Village might be the most enchanting of them all. With its winding lanes, weathered stone walls, and quiet harbour, Polperro feels untouched by time. It’s the kind of place that invites you to slow down, observe, and shoot with intention—especially on film.

On this visit, I brought along two favourite cameras: the Nikon F3 and the Mamiya 645, each loaded with expired Kodak Portra—400 in the Mamiya, and NC 160 in the Nikon. The unpredictability of expired film added a beautiful sense of texture and tone to the images. Colour shifts, subtle fading, and grain only deepened the sense of nostalgia this place naturally evokes.

The day was thick with coastal cloud cover. I had hoped for a dramatic sunset over the harbour, but the soft, diffused light gave me something else entirely: even exposure, quiet tones, and a gentle, muted atmosphere that worked beautifully with film. The lack of strong light meant less shape and drama in the shadows—but more mood overall.

Shooting medium format with the Mamiya 645 gave me rich, detailed frames of the harbour boats and cliffside cottages. The Nikon F3 was perfect for street-level shots—faded shopfronts, forgotten corners, and local life going on undisturbed. Portra NC 160, despite its age, rendered the soft Cornish light with a painterly elegance.

I also self-developed both rolls—something I’ve started doing more often. The results were better than expected: good density, lovely colour, and just the right amount of character from the expired stock. There’s something satisfying about being involved in the full process, from shutter click to scan.

Unintentionally, I seem to be starting a theme on my site—visiting and photographing old fishing villages. There’s a timelessness to these places that keeps drawing me back. And Polperro Village, with its quiet corners and weathered charm, might just be my favourite so far.

If you shoot film—or simply enjoy capturing places with soul—Polperro deserves a spot high on your list.