Kodak Gold Days: Shooting Zürich and Lugano on 35mm Film

About a month and a half ago, my girlfriend and I visited Switzerland.

I wanted to shoot some film and decided to bring my Canon AE-1 with Kodak Gold 200.

I’m quite new to film photography, but I enjoyed it.

In this post, I’ll share some of the results with you.

The camera is paired with a 23mm f/2.8 lens. It has a built-in light meter that I use. It tells you the aperture that is required for a certain shutter speed.

The first part of our trip we spent in Zürich, one of the biggest cities in Switzerland.

The famous thing about Zürich is the lake.

We were lucky enough to have sunshine most of the time we were there, which meant perfect conditions for Kodak Gold.

The film really shines in natural light—it brings out those soft, warm tones that feel a little nostalgic and romantic, which matched the pace of the city beautifully.

In this photo, you see my girlfriend taking a photo of the lake. In the background, there are some boats, and even further, you’ll see the Alps.

Because you only get 36 shots, every frame feels more intentional. I take my time, wait for the right moment, and trust the process.

Another thing I noticed in Zürich was the light—it has this clean, almost golden quality in the late afternoon. Perfect for catching light leaks between buildings, shadows crossing old façades, and the slow rhythm of the city.

Zürich might be a major financial hub, but when you walk through its old town with a film camera, it feels anything but fast-paced. Everything slows down.

This shot was taken on a Saturday morning at a small market near the St. Peter church.

The scene was full of motion—locals chatting, picking up produce, sharing stories—yet everything still felt unhurried. What I like most about this frame is how it captures a slice of daily life.

No posing, no setup—just a real moment unfolding.

It’s one of those scenes you walk into and instinctively know you want to remember. The light was soft, the colors on Kodak Gold came out rich and warm, and the composition just felt right.

It reminded me that street photography doesn't have to be dramatic. Sometimes, it's about capturing what’s already there and letting the film do the storytelling.

Last photo of Zürich. The sun was dipping below the horizon, casting a rich, golden light that filtered through the trees.

There was a small wooden fence in front of me, and a few people walking in the distance—barely visible, but just enough to give the image life.

Now we’ll move on to the photos of Lugano, a city near the Italian border.

Starting with my favorite.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed watching my photos.