shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
You are attacking (high-horsing, really) a single discussion, about how best to keep the oldest, and cherished photography medium alive, in a photography forum.
And you mentioned being out of touch with reality...?
Ok, man
EdwardKaraa
Well-known
I am currently in the process of selling all my digital gear, actually almost done. Going back to the basics with film RF cameras and lenses. That's because I'm not shooting professionally anymore, so no pressure from clients. And because I enjoy shooting film more, and I like the results even more.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Taking away the pleasure of wallowing and self-pity? Oh Will, you spoil the primary human pursuit!
colyn
ישו משיח
I couldn't agree more and with that I say from now on we ignore the "film is dead" whiners..
semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
I now have enough bulk-spool 35mm ACROS and 2TMY in the freezer to last five years or more. They are both amazing, wonderful films. As I use up these film stocks they will be replenished with whatever is similar and available. My current intent is to shoot the ACROS until it's gone, and to replenish the 2TMY with more 2TMY or with Delta 400 or HP5+, for as long as these films are available at a price that I can reasonably justify.
I also have a lot of XTOL on hand, though of course other good developers can be easilybought or mixed from scratch. But I've standardized on XTOL so I'd prefer to stay with it. The other chemistry is also easy to prepare from scratch.
I also have a lot of XTOL on hand, though of course other good developers can be easilybought or mixed from scratch. But I've standardized on XTOL so I'd prefer to stay with it. The other chemistry is also easy to prepare from scratch.
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maddoc
... likes film again.
... that would be my aim, too. However, I use ~ 100ft per month so 12 x 100ft rolls per year and 60 x 100ft rolls for 5 years .... No way, I can store that much film in the freezer without running into trouble ...
semilog
curmudgeonly optimist
^--- I don't shoot that kind of volume. More like 300-350 feet a year.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
... that would be my aim, too. However, I use ~ 100ft per month so 12 x 100ft rolls per year and 60 x 100ft rolls for 5 years .... No way, I can store that much film in the freezer without running into trouble ...
That's four or five rolls per week ... I used to be able to shoot that much but not of late!
Tom A probably does that a day!
maddoc
... likes film again.
That's four or five rolls per week ... I used to be able to shoot that much but not of late!
Tom A probably does that a day!
Me, lately neither because of to many business-trips without any opportunity to photograph something. Otherwise it is easily 4 ~ 5 rolls per weekend and one roll over the week.
TomA uses Rapidwinder -> Easily !
whitecat
Lone Range(find)er
I have shot about 90 rolls this year and developed about half of that.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
That's about 60 rolls per year, isn't it?
I have consistently averaged 1 roll per week for the past 5 years.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Well ... I hate to say it but film isn't going to survive with those sorts of figures mate.
Up the pace a little if you can please!
cameron.knight
Member
I usually try not to reveal my identity on forums, I don't like to mix work with pleasure. So I apologize in advance for the vague language.
I'm the photo editor of a weekly newspaper and the editor of a photography tutorial website. I'm 28 years old. I actually have a college degree in photojournalism. I learned on film in college, but by the time my four years were up, digital was the only way to work.
I probably own close to hundred film cameras. Nikon F3, Pentax Spotmatic, Zorki 1, Zorki 4K, Lomo LC-A, Bronica SQ-A, Horizon Perfect, Lubitel 166, Nikon L35AF, Brownies, Zeiss folders, plastic 80s point and shoots, a funky Bell & Howell, and the list goes on. I own two digital cameras - a Nikon D700 and a Nikon P7000.
Every film tutorial we put on our website always gets great response. I've written for Lomography.com and let me tell you, regardless of what you think of the Lomo look, that is one strong film community. They make NEW film cameras (some cheap and plastic ones) but new! They release new films!
Basically, I don't think film is going anywhere. Shot portraits for an acquaintance a couple weeks ago, they requested film. There are a lot of people out there that love and respect film and more people getting into it every year.
And finally, a story: In 2006, well into the digital revolution especially in photojournalism, I was awarded Best Photo Story of Year from my state's AP. I shot that story with a Pentax Spotmatic (manual focus, stop-down metering, no hotshoe), a 50mm, a 24mm and a 2x teleconverter and about 30 rolls of Tri-X. I developed the film in my kitchen and scanned it with a Coolscan IV. The daily paper I was working for at the time ran the story on A1 with a double truck on the inside. You do not need $5000 worth of the newest camera gear to make good photos, you just need a camera.
When I run into cocky photojournalism students who want to ask me what kind of gear I use and then ask why I don't have the coolest, newest lens, I pull out my Rollei 35 out of my back pocket and ask them if they want to have a shoot off.
Film ain't dead. They'll have to kill me (and from what it sounds like) a bunch of other people first. I ain't dead, yet.
I'm the photo editor of a weekly newspaper and the editor of a photography tutorial website. I'm 28 years old. I actually have a college degree in photojournalism. I learned on film in college, but by the time my four years were up, digital was the only way to work.
I probably own close to hundred film cameras. Nikon F3, Pentax Spotmatic, Zorki 1, Zorki 4K, Lomo LC-A, Bronica SQ-A, Horizon Perfect, Lubitel 166, Nikon L35AF, Brownies, Zeiss folders, plastic 80s point and shoots, a funky Bell & Howell, and the list goes on. I own two digital cameras - a Nikon D700 and a Nikon P7000.
Every film tutorial we put on our website always gets great response. I've written for Lomography.com and let me tell you, regardless of what you think of the Lomo look, that is one strong film community. They make NEW film cameras (some cheap and plastic ones) but new! They release new films!
Basically, I don't think film is going anywhere. Shot portraits for an acquaintance a couple weeks ago, they requested film. There are a lot of people out there that love and respect film and more people getting into it every year.
And finally, a story: In 2006, well into the digital revolution especially in photojournalism, I was awarded Best Photo Story of Year from my state's AP. I shot that story with a Pentax Spotmatic (manual focus, stop-down metering, no hotshoe), a 50mm, a 24mm and a 2x teleconverter and about 30 rolls of Tri-X. I developed the film in my kitchen and scanned it with a Coolscan IV. The daily paper I was working for at the time ran the story on A1 with a double truck on the inside. You do not need $5000 worth of the newest camera gear to make good photos, you just need a camera.
When I run into cocky photojournalism students who want to ask me what kind of gear I use and then ask why I don't have the coolest, newest lens, I pull out my Rollei 35 out of my back pocket and ask them if they want to have a shoot off.
Film ain't dead. They'll have to kill me (and from what it sounds like) a bunch of other people first. I ain't dead, yet.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Well ... I hate to say it but film isn't going to survive with those sorts of figures mate.
Up the pace a little if you can please!
Keith,
I'd rather be a consistent film shooter that will keep using film the rest of my life than a spur of the moment one.
And I strive to instill that to anyone who are intrigued by my still shooting film.
A hundred people shooting one roll a week will be much better than thousands doing rose-tinted, GAS induced, one roll stint to "try" film.
You and I got started almost at the same time, what is your rate these past years? I hope much higher than mine
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
Well, we just need a hundred more of people like you encouraging others to shoot film.
Thanks for the inspiring story.
Oh, and get yourself an old 6x4.5 folder so the next time some cocky student came along, you can pull it out, and point to the wall size photo you printed from it.
shadowfox
Darkroom printing lives
I did back in Spring.
And I have people here locally asking me to show them how to do it.
bensyverson
Well-known
Someone other than myself? Well, once or twice a year, I see someone using an 8x10 on the street in Manhattan. And I don't even live there.
However, the continued existence of color film hinges on the motion picture industry, so 8x10 is a bit of a red herring.
Any idea how many of these 71 skus of sheet film at B&H exist due to the motion picture industry?
Efke (23)
Foma (8)
Fujifilm (9)
Ilford (14)
Kodak (17)
The fact remains, none of these would be available in sheet film if there were not demand for them as sheet film.
Efke (23)
Foma (8)
Fujifilm (9)
Ilford (14)
Kodak (17)
The fact remains, none of these would be available in sheet film if there were not demand for them as sheet film.
bensyverson
Well-known
I said color film. B&W film is easy to make. Color film is still around because of the motion picture industry.
Of course, you're right, they keep cutting giant rolls into sheet film because people buy it. But there would be no rolls of film to cut down, if the motion picture industry wasn't keeping the doors open.
In color sheet film, we're down to Portra 160, Portra 400, E100G, and sometimes a little Fuji if you're lucky. So let's not pretend that sheet film is doing just fine.
But make no mistake—B&W film will never, ever go away. It's simply too easy to make.
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