Bolo Kukus
en vacances...
In the next few days I'll leave for another journey to Southeast Asia - this time for four or five months, visiting countries I've already been to (and photographed extensively) but with more time spent in less touristy parts of Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Sarawak. I want to get off the beaten paths and explore inland before mass tourism erodes what remains of the old traditional ways, as has happened in so many other Asian countries and sadly, is now changing just about everything about life in places such as Indonesia.
On past journeys I've taken as my photo gear arsenal, mostly Nikon DSLRs (a D90, one of my two D700s and my latest, a D800) with lenses ranging from 20mm to 85mm. My two most used lenses are 28mm and 85mm, then 60mm macro.
This time I'm seriously considering (am at about the 95% decision stage) a film camera or maybe two cameras instead. My latest choice is one or two Contax G1s, a 28mm, 45mm and 90mm, with UV filters and hoods. Also about 40 rolls of film, mostly B&W, as it's what I happen to have a big lot of in my home film freezer.
\if I feel the need to shoot more color, I can still pick up stocks of fresh color neg film in places like Singapore (my preferred stopover when I fly to and from most of my destination countries) and one or two photo shops in Kuala Lumpur on my way to Sarawak.
One big plus for me (I'm 72 now) is the kit even with two G1s is small and compact and easily fits in a padded camera bag in my backpack.
But then a big minus is I'll be shooting film and not digital, so no more instant gratification of being able to check on the spot and verify if my results are okay or not. I have to admit this is a major 'down' for me - tho' I console myself by saying I can always return and reshoot most things if my results are less than optimum in quality terms.
Some of my film dates to 2009 and 2010 but has been frozen since purchased new. Most dates to 2012-2015 when I finally bit the analog bullet hard and stopped buying 35mm film. (Please don't get me started on my 120 film purchases, I'll just say I have enough for eight more lifetimes!).
If I feel the need for a digital, my partner will be joining me in February or March for a month on the track, and can always bring my D800 and a couple of Nikkor lenses. So it isn't a cold turkey situation...
I do wonder if I have gone slightly mad in making this decision. I will add that I intend to process all my film in my home darkroom when I return to Oz in mid-2020, meantimes my exposed film will repose safely in the refrigerator of a friend in Singapore. So fewer risks, other than heat and dust when I'm on the road.
Am I living in a fool's world and just an old relic of a bygone film age? One or two local friends have politely hinted at this. Others are supportive and have made comments along the lines of "go with your heart on this".
As always, I am interested in and will value your good advice on this.
On past journeys I've taken as my photo gear arsenal, mostly Nikon DSLRs (a D90, one of my two D700s and my latest, a D800) with lenses ranging from 20mm to 85mm. My two most used lenses are 28mm and 85mm, then 60mm macro.
This time I'm seriously considering (am at about the 95% decision stage) a film camera or maybe two cameras instead. My latest choice is one or two Contax G1s, a 28mm, 45mm and 90mm, with UV filters and hoods. Also about 40 rolls of film, mostly B&W, as it's what I happen to have a big lot of in my home film freezer.
\if I feel the need to shoot more color, I can still pick up stocks of fresh color neg film in places like Singapore (my preferred stopover when I fly to and from most of my destination countries) and one or two photo shops in Kuala Lumpur on my way to Sarawak.
One big plus for me (I'm 72 now) is the kit even with two G1s is small and compact and easily fits in a padded camera bag in my backpack.
But then a big minus is I'll be shooting film and not digital, so no more instant gratification of being able to check on the spot and verify if my results are okay or not. I have to admit this is a major 'down' for me - tho' I console myself by saying I can always return and reshoot most things if my results are less than optimum in quality terms.
Some of my film dates to 2009 and 2010 but has been frozen since purchased new. Most dates to 2012-2015 when I finally bit the analog bullet hard and stopped buying 35mm film. (Please don't get me started on my 120 film purchases, I'll just say I have enough for eight more lifetimes!).
If I feel the need for a digital, my partner will be joining me in February or March for a month on the track, and can always bring my D800 and a couple of Nikkor lenses. So it isn't a cold turkey situation...
I do wonder if I have gone slightly mad in making this decision. I will add that I intend to process all my film in my home darkroom when I return to Oz in mid-2020, meantimes my exposed film will repose safely in the refrigerator of a friend in Singapore. So fewer risks, other than heat and dust when I'm on the road.
Am I living in a fool's world and just an old relic of a bygone film age? One or two local friends have politely hinted at this. Others are supportive and have made comments along the lines of "go with your heart on this".
As always, I am interested in and will value your good advice on this.
