Always behind the curve with film (small rant)

[froyd]

The past decade taught us to expect near instant replays of photographed events. No sooner a family get-together is over that cellphone shots of it are shared electronically and are waiting for me before I even get home. With the instant gratification placated, a round of obligatory follow-up comments occupies the clan for the next 24h.

Fast forward to two or sometimes four week later when I finally get around to process my roll from the same event, scan the images, and post them in a shared Flickr album that's been curated to focus on a handful for solid pictures. Then... crickets. A week later and the album has a only couple of views. Call around to see if they've seen the Flickr link and all I get are variations of "I did not click on it yet because I already saw the pictures from Aunt Mildred, Cousin Emily, and the ones from Ziggy's new boyfriend. He's such a nice guy. He has an iPhone 7, you know."

Mostly I take pictures for myself, but I see the ones at family gatherings as a record for the whole family, a shared memory, and I work hard to capture memorable photos. Unfortunately, the shared memory, more often than not turns out to be some blurry, not focused, overexposed mess from a flip-phone 0.7mp camera.

If you can't beat them, join them? Maybe not. Or at least not yet. So far, I have a secret weapon that's served me well...everybody gets a couple of prints from my favorite shots!

 

[kxl]

Same here. I use an iPhone or tablet for Uncle Bob's bag and post images to FB before dessert. I use my cameras for my own entertainment.

 

[daveywaugh]

I had a good laugh - I totally know how you feel 🙂 But think of it as quality v quantity. Every now and then you'll get someone who says "wow - that's really different". No use even trying to cater for the masses... think bespoke and it won't do your head in! That's how I rationalise it anyway.

 

[lynnb]

I share your pain. The prints are a nice idea and will probably outlast the digital images, which few people bother to back up or to print. I hope you annotate the prints with date, event and the names of the people in each picture.

I'm not sure whether most people make prints of significant family and life events from their digital devices. I'm guessing not. However photobooks might offer the best chance of longevity, in place of the traditional photo album or box of prints.

Social media is transitory of-the-moment, like the 24hr news cycle. Next day's story pushes out today's. Prints and photobooks are - hopefully - for future generations to enjoy. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.

Anyway, you're enjoying making prints and giving them out, so that's an end in itself. One can only hope they have lasting value to the recipients.

 

[Greyscale]

I use the "Facebook profile picture" standard for such photos. If a friend or family member uses one of my photos as a profile pic, then I know that they are appreciative. 😉

 

[02Pilot]

Prints seem like the best option here. Have you considered not posting the photos online at all, and simply distributing the prints at the next gathering? It might keep things fresher (since they haven't seen the shots before) and thus prompt more of a reaction from the recipients.

 

[x-ray]

Most people do t care about prints. They share as you say on the Internet and on their phones. Prints wind up in the bottom of a drawer and never looked at again.

If you really feel like distributing prints, buy a moderate priced digital P&S and Qimage software (PC only) and print your own digitally. Qimage is $69 and is a really easy to use RIP software. I use it to make prints for my clients. You can do multiple prints on each sheet of paper very easily and quickly. The quality is excellent.

A modest priced digital P&S will produce excellent quality images as well. No need to spend a bunch of money. Save time, make great quality prints and satisfy the urge to send prints to each family member.

Even easier, get the P&S and take the files to Walmart and make prints.

 

[Larry Cloetta]

The only real solution is to get better relatives. <;^)

 

[mcfingon]

My happy thought: I think there is a growing number of young people who appreciate B&W film pictures, even if they are scans and shared digitally.

 

[michaelwj]

Why do you take pictures?

If it's for the praise of taking a great photo, then film doesn't seem like it's working for you. Why does it take so long? Dev when you get home, scan a few hours later.

If it's for your own enjoyment, then stop posting online which seems to be leading to disappointment.

Your choice, neither are wrong choices.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

😱
I must be from weird family and having strange friends. None of us is posting, sharing get-together pictures on-line. I think, only my mother takes pictures of relatives on mobile phone, but she is not on the social network...

 

[chikubi]

I'm just curious why everyone keeps mentioning prints when the OP said he scanned and posted the images on Flickr?

In any case, I can understand the OP's frustration. That's why for most family events I shoot images for myself and very rarely share them unless someone asks me for copies. And when folks do ask me specifically to cover an event I only shoot in digital due to the timeliness most folks expect these days.

One thing I would add is that, if you're aiming to get more viewing action on your shots, then you really need to give them something that they absolutely can't do themselves. Then, even if they have to wait a bit, they'll usually be more responsive and impressed, and your reputation will grow.

Case in point, I work IT for a public school system, and luckily happen to work in the same building my son takes classes in. Normally, before I worked for the district, I used to go to events like concerts and the like and shoot photos of him which I kept for myself. Now however, I shoot the shows as just a normal event and share the photos with the school which they use for their website, yearbooks, internal videos, and so on. Since I have better access, pro-grade gear, and know what I'm doing, my photos blow away anything parents, teachers, etc. can take on their own, so now after a bit of time, I've become known for my work and I get called to shoot all kinds of things for the district, and not just my school's stuff. It's fun, I'm at work anyway, and it gets me away from the daily grind stuff that can make up the better portion of my job typically.

 

[John Bragg]

Your lovingly made film photos are likely to be still around in 100+ years. Can the same be said for the iphone images that will last until the next phone upgrade and then be lost forever ? I print and share only those photos that I am proud of and I consider to have historical documentary value. Be the sniper not the machine gunner in your approach. That is what works for me and sets my shots apart from those churned out by phone wielding relatives.

 

[anerjee]

Same here, I feel your pain. In my case, over a period of time some people have come to appreciate my black and white stuff, but it's a small circle. I do it because I like to shoot film.

I've kinda co-opted social by sharing some small jpegs over email, with a link below for more.

The past decade taught us to expect near instant replays of photographed events. No sooner a family get-together is over that cellphone shots of it are shared electronically and are waiting for me before I even get home. With the instant gratification placated, a round of obligatory follow-up comments occupies the clan for the next 24h.

Fast forward to two or sometimes four week later when I finally get around to process my roll from the same event, scan the images, and post them in a shared Flickr album that's been curated to focus on a handful for solid pictures. Then... crickets. A week later and the album has a only couple of views. Call around to see if they've seen the Flickr link and all I get are variations of "I did not click on it yet because I already saw the pictures from Aunt Mildred, Cousin Emily, and the ones from Ziggy's new boyfriend. He's such a nice guy. He has an iPhone 7, you know."

Mostly I take pictures for myself, but I see the ones at family gatherings as a record for the whole family, a shared memory, and I work hard to capture memorable photos. Unfortunately, the shared memory, more often than not turns out to be some blurry, not focused, overexposed mess from a flip-phone 0.7mp camera.

If you can't beat them, join them? Maybe not. Or at least not yet. So far, I have a secret weapon that's served me well...everybody gets a couple of prints from my favorite shots!

 

[FrozenInTime]

Most non photographers just don't see the world as we do:
That craftfull cinematic lighting and focus differentiation are lost on them - they likely just want Aunt Mildred and the others standing in front of the christmas tree.
You might as well shoot jpeg color 95% of the day for the group and just catch a few off guard moments on film for yourself ... or just be happy with just those half dozen decisive moments that will show true character in many years time.

 

[sleepyhead]

Hi, I've been where you are.

I solved the problem by getting a digital body that takes the same lenses as my film camera. (In my case, a M9 to complement the Leica M3.)

I bring both to gatherings of friends and family, and use the digital for the instant gratification stuff, and the film body for my own pictures.

Of course a small pocket digtal such as a Sony RX100 could work too. But I enjoy the simplicity of the 2 Leicas, no thought required to switch back and forth. I use the M9 as a light meter for the M3, which also simplifies things.

 

[robert blu]

Don't worry froyd, print your pictures and store them anywhere, even a cardboard shoes box could be good and in a few years you'll be bale to see and show them to your friends and relatives...not so sure about the ones posted on various socials 🙂

robert

 

[Bille]

Fast forward to two or sometimes four week later when I finally get around to process my roll from the same event, scan the images, and post them in a shared Flickr album that's been curated to focus on a handful for solid pictures. Then... crickets.!

No One Cares How Hard You Worked
http://theonlinephotographer.typepa...2011/05/no-one-cares-how-hard-you-worked.html

 

[user237428934]

😱
I must be from weird family and having strange friends. None of us is posting, sharing get-together pictures on-line. I think, only my mother takes pictures of relatives on mobile phone, but she is not on the social network...

Same here. No facebook or similar at all in the family. My daughter posts her drawings on instagram, that's all.

So when someone takes photos at an event, they are exchanged via mail in the following days. Very slow, so film could work here.

 

[dmr]

I think the answer here (challenge?) 🙂 is to produce and show some images, not on line but in print, which are artistically and technically such that they will make others take note.