TAO RAN
With a background in landscape architecture, I explore the world through both design and lens.
Originally from China and now based in the UK, my work is shaped by years of living, studying, and traveling across the world. I’m drawn to quiet moments, dramatic light, and the poetry of everyday life. Whether digital or film, every frame is instinctive and personal — because I film what I feel.
Little behind the scene
All my cameras
Sony A7Cii
(2024-Now) DIGITAL
After seeing so many stunning videos on social media, I finally decided to upgrade to a camera that could shoot in LOG — and I picked this one up while studying abroad in Japan! All the videos you see on my Instagram were shot with this camera, and most photos I took in Japan came from it too.
I paired it with the 28–60mm kit zoom lens — not the best glass, but for now, compactness matters more to me. As a budget-friendly full-frame option, the A7C II strikes a great balance between portability and performance. It’s small, reliable, and it’s been my go-to ever since.
Canon 200D II
(2020-2024 Use) DIGITAL
A lovely gift from my cousin when I started university.
It’s a beginner-to-mid level APS-C DSLR that’s incredibly user-friendly and lightweight, with a built-in flash and support for RAW format. I’ve used it to capture memories across Europe, and it’s never let me down. Despite being a DSLR, its compact size fits perfectly into my little Uniqlo bag, making it super travel-friendly. It even shoots up to 4K video — not bad at all for a starter camera.
Minolta X-700
(2022-Now) FILM
A vintage manual film camera I bought from the same shop as the Minolta Riva Zoom — it was in mint condition and came with a fixed 50mm lens. I always felt unsure if the film was loaded properly (a classic struggle for manual film camera users), and yes, it could be a bit painful at times. But once I got the hang of it, it was actually pretty easy to use — and I had a great time shooting with it!
The image quality is really impressive, with no light leak issues at all — solid and reliable through every roll. The 50mm lens also creates a beautiful shallow depth of field, giving that soft, creamy background blur that makes subjects pop perfectly. Honestly, I even had such a great time just looking through the viewfinder — there’s something really special about seeing the world framed that way.
A vintage compact film gem with a bit of family history. My uncle gave it to my dad about 20 years ago, but he never ended up using it. I discovered it hide in our bookshelf in 2023 — still brand new in its leather case, in a stunning burgundy finish. It takes brilliant photos and has a built-in flash.
Like many plastic compact film cameras, it does have some light leak issues. So if you ever spot a photo with a dreamy light flare at the bottom… that was probably shot with this stunner!
Olympus μ2 Limited
(2023-Now) FILM
Minolta Riva zoom 140Ex
(2022-2024) FILM
Back in 2022, when film photography started trending again, I picked this one up from a local camera shop in Sheffield — my very first compact film camera. Super beginner-friendly and perfect for learning the basics. Unfortunately, I dropped it a few times (oops), and the focus started acting up, so some of the photos came out a little blurry… Eventually, I passed it on to a friend. Hope they’re enjoying it as much as I did!
Nikon D90
(2012-2018) DIGITAL
The ultimate OG, Rest in Peace…
This camera holds so many memories from my childhood. I travelled with my parents to many places across China, and this was always with us. It truly captured the early moments of my love for photography. But as a kid, it was just too heavy for me — and over time, I drifted away from using it and started borrowing my dad’s phone instead.
So here’s my honest advice to anyone thinking about their first camera: go for something compact! It’s more important to actually carry and use your camera than to chase specs you might not need yet.
