This photograph captures a dimly lit night scene at Plaza Blok M, one of Jakarta’s bustling urban centers. Taken with an Olympus OM-1 and Olympus Zuiko 50mm f/1.8 lens on Cartenz 200 film, the image reveals a layered composition of modern city life — a warmly lit café above and a quiet parking entrance below. The upper level displays a restaurant interior glowing in red tones, featuring a large portrait of a smiling man, likely the founder of the establishment, under a sign written in cursive. Empty chairs and tables evoke a late-night calm, hinting that the day’s rush has already passed.
Below, two pedestrians walk past a yellow parking barrier, their motion blurred by the low light and long exposure, creating a sense of fleeting movement against the still structure. The wet ground reflects the dim lights, emphasizing the atmospheric mood of Jakarta at night. The film grain and subtle imperfections, including light scratches and color casts, enhance the nostalgic analog character, evoking the timeless quality of street and urban photography shot on 35mm film.
This image not only documents the architectural texture and lighting of Plaza Blok M but also captures the quiet human rhythm of the city after hours — a cinematic moment where modern infrastructure, warm neon light, and analog imperfection coexist beautifully.
