Fragments of Toronto
Behind the scenes at Memento Lab film photography studio.
Photos by Memento Film Lab.
Why is there a renewed interest in film photography? We can certainly draw an obvious parallel with vinyl records and other throwbacks to the past in the analog revival. Memento Film Lab opened its doors in 2023, founded by photography enthusiasts James Lai and Helder Matias, who gave us a tour of the studio. A chronicle of a renaissance in the making.
The studio serves as an unintentional archive of Toronto, told here through the eyes of its residents rather than its institutions. The poetry of the first snowfall, the cherry blossoms in High Park, the frenzy of the Blue Jays in the playoffs: at Memento Film Lab, there’s a whole range of images—nearly a thousand a day! —and visual combinations that ultimately weave a fascinating narrative of the city, like a reflection of its collective memory. “These images open a window into a daily life we’ll never know. It’s a way to glimpse the lives of others in their most direct, unadorned form,” Helder sums up.
Photography shapes the way we see the world. It requires us to observe and choose what to capture. Digital photography stands in contrast to film photography. More than just a technique, it becomes a discipline, a nostalgia inherited from the last century. Each image demands special attention; each roll of film requires a commitment—perhaps a theme, a project, or a specific intention. “It forces you to think about every shot, offering a moment of respite from the digital ocean we’re normally immersed in,” explains James. “The process is physical: touching, developing, drying, framing. Even the simple act of printing your images creates a stronger connection than a thousand forgotten shots on a screen,” adds Helder.
People choose to photograph much the same things as they did in the past—smiles, moments of everyday life, street scenes, or marginal, even clandestine, activities. That is the beauty of art; it evolves over time, certainly, but above all, it is a reflection of the human experience. And while that experience also changes—with its new moralities, technologies, and points of reference—it remains fundamentally the same. Our need to be seen remains. Perhaps that is where the power of Memento lies: in its ability to preserve what would otherwise be destined to disappear.
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