GeroV
Established
I've been shooting almost exclusively digital SLR for the past two years, with a roll or three going through my Rolleiflex TLR during that time. Yesterday, my M4-P arrived, and I loaded it with a roll of FP4. Today, while my son was at a birthday party, I strolled around Mt. Vernon Square in Baltimore, taking shots, testing the VC Meter II, and getting a feel for the Nokton and Summaron lenses I got along with the camera.
What is so refreshing to me, along with manually winding film and having to make all the manual adjustments, is the mystery that is hidden on the spool of film, that unlike the image on the histogram, I won't see until I finish the roll and develop the film.
Anyone else feel that way?
What is so refreshing to me, along with manually winding film and having to make all the manual adjustments, is the mystery that is hidden on the spool of film, that unlike the image on the histogram, I won't see until I finish the roll and develop the film.
Anyone else feel that way?
FrankS
Registered User
Yes, with every film. During the time before the film is developed and the pictures made visible, the images one has made can be enjoyed as being pure perfection. 
GeroV
Established
What took me a while to get used to was making adustments on the meter and then forgetting that I also had to adjust the camera itself:bang:
:bang:40oz
...
um, yeah
I walked around out in the cold today taking pictures, mainly just to see how a new lens worked. I thought about taking my digital along just for fun, and decided I really prefer film, even down to taking the image. Because there is no instant fedback, you have to be a little more careful, and take your time to set up the shot, exposure settings, etc.
Just using the camera is pleasing. Turning dials, adjusting focus, setting shutter speed, even hearing the shutter mechanism unwinding. There is something satisfying about it. I think it is the focus, the fact that you need to really see the things you are shooting, in order to get a decent image. I am interacting with the scene, not merely passively observing at that point. Interacting with a brick wall, trying to suss out how to best capture what I know is there. Give it a little more shutter, take away a bit of aperture, step to the side and forward to frame out the overhead wire and move the foreground post to an innnocous position. Playing with perspective and angle, crouching or climbing in an attempt to approximate the scene I can see in my head.
The fact that I forgot the cold until after I got back into the car was a testament to the effort, in my mind. I don't even care if I got zero pictures off the 2 rolls shot. I have the view in my mind, and I doubt I would have made an effort to see what I saw today if I wasn't carrying a camera.
I walked around out in the cold today taking pictures, mainly just to see how a new lens worked. I thought about taking my digital along just for fun, and decided I really prefer film, even down to taking the image. Because there is no instant fedback, you have to be a little more careful, and take your time to set up the shot, exposure settings, etc.
Just using the camera is pleasing. Turning dials, adjusting focus, setting shutter speed, even hearing the shutter mechanism unwinding. There is something satisfying about it. I think it is the focus, the fact that you need to really see the things you are shooting, in order to get a decent image. I am interacting with the scene, not merely passively observing at that point. Interacting with a brick wall, trying to suss out how to best capture what I know is there. Give it a little more shutter, take away a bit of aperture, step to the side and forward to frame out the overhead wire and move the foreground post to an innnocous position. Playing with perspective and angle, crouching or climbing in an attempt to approximate the scene I can see in my head.
The fact that I forgot the cold until after I got back into the car was a testament to the effort, in my mind. I don't even care if I got zero pictures off the 2 rolls shot. I have the view in my mind, and I doubt I would have made an effort to see what I saw today if I wasn't carrying a camera.
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arbib
Well-known
Well, at first with a Kiev 4a I had. I had a bit of anxiety because I was so used to digital previews on my Dslr and knowing now, if I had captured the image I wanted. With the Kiev,I was using the Sunny 16 rule for the first time in many years. But after a few rolls turned out fine. I am better now.
I now have a Bessa R2. and I am confident about the capture now. Even though I have to wait for processing. I can previsualize again. and that is a good feeling to have.
I have found that RF photography has brought be back to slowing down and thinking about what and how I want to record what is in front of me.
Sure, A DSLR can be have the same results. But I have found that, because of all the automation, preview and delete available with it, I don't think as much before the shoot. I guess it is a state of mind. But RF photography has quite a different state of mind for me anyway.
I now have a Bessa R2. and I am confident about the capture now. Even though I have to wait for processing. I can previsualize again. and that is a good feeling to have.
I have found that RF photography has brought be back to slowing down and thinking about what and how I want to record what is in front of me.
Sure, A DSLR can be have the same results. But I have found that, because of all the automation, preview and delete available with it, I don't think as much before the shoot. I guess it is a state of mind. But RF photography has quite a different state of mind for me anyway.
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charjohncarter
Veteran
I have three digital cameras, two are DSLRs. I would never be as passionate about photography if it was only digital. I love the mystery of developing. I love the trial and error of agitation variations. I love all the problems of what they call today 'post processing .' Although, my post processing love is with film. Besides, I think you get a better product when it is shot with film. OK, let me have it, shoot me down, jump my bones. I'll be in Mexico I won't have to read you remarks.
GeroV
Established
charjohncarter said:
Let me unpack my flamethrower
I haven't decided on that yet, but I love the fact that you have to give so much more time to each image when you're shooting film
RdEoSg
Well-known
arbib said:
YES to everything!
I was really struggling with the decision when those lovely Leica bodies and lenses showed up at the camera store I work at one day in July. Could I justify the purchase? Would I use the thing? Wasn't I going backwards in technology? But I said I am NEVER going to be happy until I own an M6 and as we happened to get the exact 35 summicron asph I wanted as well I finaly said ok I'm doing it!
Well 6 months later I haven't picked up the digital at all!