Film

So, yesterday I broke out my old film camera from my pre-digital days. I don’t know what gave me the itch, but I felt the need to buy some film and burn it up. I haven’t shot with any film in YEARS, so it was a fun, nostalgic experience.

I think that one would have to like photography more than the average joe to understand why this would be considered fun. But I’m sure there are people out there that totally get what I’m putting down.

(My film camera)

Anyway….

Shooting with film is crazy expensive! Once you buy a roll, have it developed, and have the photos added to a disc, it costs $20. For only 24 pictures. With digital, you can shoot and shoot because your not limited to buying expensive film, and best of all, you can delete your mess-ups. Let me be clear here: digital is the only way to go….especially from a financial standpoint. My $1200 DSLR has probably paid for itself. Actually, I’m certain it has.

However…..Shooting with film can be really fun. And the pictures look awesome if done right. I think that color is more enhanced with film photos, and I also love the slight grain produced from low speed films. (Though I am not a fan of heavy grain from high speed films.) I also think the prints look better, though I’m not sure why this is. Maybe it’s the aforementioned grain and enhanced color. (Though, admittedly, all of this could be a figment of my imagination.) And…since I’m not worried about my son touching my old film camera, I let him take a few photos as well, and he did a really great job. (If he even breathes on my Canon 50D, I begin to have a rather frightening psychotic episode.)

 

I confess…..after snapping a pic with the 35mm I looked down at my camera about 10 times to see the photo I just took. And felt slightly perturbed when I couldn’t view the pic. Dear technology, you spoil me.

Also….trying to explain this film thing to my 10 year old son was interesting. We would take a picture and he would say, “Let me see it!” Then I would say, “Sorry. Can’t. Remember what I explained to you?” Him: “Oh, right.” We did this about 3 times.

 

My old, unimpressive film camera felt a little silly taking a picture of my 50D. I mean, the poor thing, he knows when he’s in the company of a superior being. But I told him to be strong and just take the pictures. He did, and when the pics came back, I showed them to him, and he felt much better about himself.

 

 

My oldest took this picture.

Yes, I am restraining the kid in the picture. It’s necessary as he never stops moving for any reason. Literally. 

 

And, the jewel of the the entire 24 exposure roll…….

 

I. LOVE. IT.

It may not be that spectacular of a picture to some people (or a lot of people), and I could see why, but it’s one of my new favorites. Maybe my biased opinion comes from the fact that my boys are the models.

 

 

 

Now, I’m not going to make film photography an often thing (too expensive), but I would like to continue to do it on occasion. It’s fun, and it’s a good learning experience for my son. So, considering that I’m breaking out the film after years of pretending it’s dead, I would like to explore the photography world a bit more with one of these…..

OH!!!! Isn’t it beautiful?!?!?! I think vintage cameras are so sexy. Don’t you? The heavy duty construction, the weight of it in your hand, the clicking sound the shutter makes…….yep….totally sexy. I’m stalking a few of these little beauties on ebay right this moment.

Okay, okay…the reason I want one is to test myself. I have a pretty good working knowledge of exposure and all that photography jazz, but with cameras today it is just SO EASY to take a good picture. With these vintage models, you really have to know what you’re doing, or the shots come out like crap every time. And, well, I think I know just enough to do one of these sexy little cameras justice. So, I wanna give it a go.

(Note: While I do find the Canon AE-1 to be a sexy beast, it should be clarified that I in no way find this camera to be sexier than my Canon 50D. That would be ridiculous. And stupid. And really, really dumb.)

 

Alright. Weird, random photography post is now abruptly concluded.

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