Enough Wallowing about Film

shadowfox

shadowfox

Darkroom printing lives
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Ladies and Gentlemen,

Enough of this mourning about your favorite film being discontinued.
Enough of this complaining about the cost of developing/scanning/etc.
Enough of this worrying about whether we'll have film or not and extrapolating statistics from ebay used camera sales while pontificating about collecting vs using.

Today is a good day for us who love to shoot with film to show that we actually care about film's future. We still have plenty of choices and plenty of film. It is up to us to keep film available, and enjoy it while doing so. I don't know about you, but I have the full intention to let my daughter shoot film when she grew up if she chose to.

If your favorite film disappeared from the market, it's time to try out other emulsions and coming up with a new method to achieve the images you like. Miss Plus-X? Try FP4+, or Adox CHS 100, or the new APX 100. Be creative!

If developing in the labs are expensive with unsatisfactory results, develop yourself at home. It's safe, cheap, and fun. Be daring!

If scanning is expensive when outsourced, get a scanner. Plustek has several new models available, don't sweat the quality differences, get to know your tools and make the best of it. That's how masterpieces came to be. Be resourceful!

If film is expensive in your area, band together like-minded souls in your town/city and order bulk, from USA, from Germany, from Japan, whatever it takes. Be enterprising!

Let's roll!

* forgot to put up a soapbox first. oh well...
 
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Thanks. It's about time we started looking at the glass half full. We have film, we have good paper from Ilford and others, and we have chemistry. Nuf said.
 
The only thing I worry about is that I have enough time to dump my analogue cameras before they loose all their value. I couldn't give two ****s about film. It's the pictures that matter to me, good pictures, regardless of the medium used. Film dead? Good riddance! Photography's still alive and that's what matters.
 
Phantomas said:
The only thing I worry about is that I have enough time to dump my analogue cameras before they loose all their value. I couldn't give two ****s about film. It's the pictures that matter to me, good pictures, regardless of the medium used. Film dead? Good riddance! Photography's still alive and that's what matters.
Click to expand...

I have to disagree.. Yes, photography will always be very fun and enjoyable, but half the fun (for me, personally) is the whole process of shooting film! In my opinion, no digital camera can compare to using a Nikon F, SP, S3, etc. or any of my Zeiss cameras..
 
Excellent post Will I'm with you 100%.
Some of these threads lately looked like though would do more tO keep Kleenex in business than Kodak :p

I'm shooting a roll every other day. Feels like it always did.
If folks spend much time on flikr with the 20yo something members.
It's clear to see, enough film is being used to keep plenty of businesses selling for some time to come. A lot of new interest every day from new people.
Even here we see new younger members than ever before. It's definetly a glass half full and filling up!
 
f16sunshine said:
I'm shooting a roll every other day. Feels like it always did.
If folks spend much time on flikr with the 20yo something members.
It's clear to see, enough film is being used to keep plenty of businesses selling for some time to come. A lot of new interest every day from new people.
Even here we see new younger members than ever before. It's definetly a glass half full and filling up!
Click to expand...

I'm not so sure there can be a real film resurgence without mainstream support.
 
jsrockit said:
I'm not so sure there can be a real film resurgence without mainstream support.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure there will be either. But there is enough new folks coming in to make up for people like Phantomas leaving. It will be a niche market in the future but, certainly will exist if you look at current interest and how that interest is expanding.
 
Teuthida said:
And remember, you can pick up most film cameras for a song and a prayer.
Click to expand...

Which should be a real indicator or where film's resurgence really is... :D

That said, I did pick up a film camera recently... though I am completely happy with digital. However, old cameras are fun so I'll deal with the hassle of film. ;)
 
"If folks spend much time on flikr with the 20yo something members.
It's clear to see, enough film is being used to keep plenty of businesses selling for some time to come. A lot of new interest every day from new people."

Unfortunately, the young these days have amazingly short attention spans.
 
I don't know about you but every year I shoot more film than the year before. I got it down to a science where I made Diafine work for me so that I'm not pouring developer down the drain and processing costs are just a few pennies of fixer.

I also loaded up the truck with short dated Arcos from Freestyle so I'm good for a while.

Also I would like to thank the guys at the Kodak booth for the free film at the PhotoPlusExpo.

Cal
 
What's all this about the end of film? I've been spending too much time rolling my own, developing and scanning to notice! ;)

Besides, I'm just not sure this digital thing will really take off...
 
shadowfox said:
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Enough of this mourning about your favorite film being discontinued.
Enough of this complaining about the cost of developing/scanning/etc.
Enough of this worrying about whether we'll have film or not and extrapolating statistics from ebay used camera sales while pontificating about collecting vs using.

Today is a good day for us who loves to shoot with film to show that we actually care about film's future. We still have plenty of choices and plenty of film. It is up to us to keep film available. I don't know about you, but I have the full intention to let my daughter shoot film when she grew up.

If your favorite film disappears, it's time to try out other emulsions and coming up with a new method to achieve the images you like. Miss Plus-X? Try FP4+, or Adox CHS 100, or the new APX 100. Be creative!

If developing in the labs are expensive with unsatisfactory results, develop yourself at home. It's safe, cheap, and fun. Be daring!

If scanning is expensive when outsourced, get a scanner. Plustek has several new models available, don't sweat the quality, get to know your tools and make the best of it. Be resourceful!

If film is expensive in your area, band together like-minded souls in your town/city and order bulk, from USA, from Germany, from Japan, whatever it takes. Be enterprising!

Let's roll!

* forgot to put up a soapbox first. oh well...
Click to expand...

+10.... Moments for capture are fleeting. So back away from the keyboard and start shooting!:p
 
Well said Will.

My 18 year old (motion pictures arts student) daughter keeps "borrowing" both camera's and film from me. Usually the first I know about it is when I go to the camera bag to fing a camera has vanished along with a few rolls of film. The point here is that she and her friends are getting into film and love it.

Now all I have to do is work out how I get her to pay for her own!

As for dumping your analogue gear.. if you have anything good let me know.. from what I can see prices are holding up well in the classic camera market.
 
Folks, just buy film and shoot it! Mainstream? I have never been mainstream in my life and the day I do will be the day I am dead but I suspect it won't be digital based, just simple analogue.;)
 
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