Film keeps killing me

Paddy C

Unused film collector
Local time
3:07 PM
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Messages
848
You know, just when I think I ought to "become a man of my time" and move on to digital, just when I'm looking over my film gear and thinking of what I could sell it for and what it would get me in the digital world, I look at some film and think now why would I go and do that?

The "inconvenience", the not knowing if you got the shot, the scanning it on a flatbed because you don't have something better so you can share it...doesn't seem to matter. It's weird/silly/messy/anachronistic/contradictory but I kind of like it and I kind of don't care to move on if I really think about it.

So strange.

I have a nephew, Benton:

5913287415_8f8f9b2a5f.jpg


Zeiss Ikon, 35/2 Biogon, Tri-X
 
That shot is wonderful - thanks for sharing, and congrats!

I also like your choice of emulsion, btw.


Cheers,
--joe.
 
"The "inconvenience", the not knowing if you got the shot"

Really! Confidence! Only amateurs and incompetents need to check each shot. Even if you are shooting with digital do you or should you check after each exposure? Isn't that a waste of time?
 
You know, just when I think I ought to "become a man of my time" and move on to digital, just when I'm looking over my film gear and thinking of what I could sell it for and what it would get me in the digital world, I look at some film and think now why would I go and do that?

The "inconvenience", the not knowing if you got the shot, the scanning it on a flatbed because you don't have something better so you can share it...doesn't seem to matter. It's weird/silly/messy/anachronistic/contradictory but I kind of like it and I kind of don't care to move on if I really think about it.

So strange.

I have a nephew, Benton:

5913287415_8f8f9b2a5f.jpg


Zeiss Ikon, 35/2 Biogon, Tri-X

Not knowing if you got the shot is part of the appeal!

And you know what, if you DON'T have it, it's not like with digital you could magically back up and get it, right?

Beautiful kid by the way - be sure you introduce him to film photography at the earliest moment. ;-)

Randy
 
Before anyone takes umbrage with me let me illustrate my point. My brother who is not a photographer and only uses ps digital cameras never checks his photos. As he explained it to me in layman's terms: Why check what I am doing? I could be missing the next shot.
 
You forgot a couple there....

You forgot a couple there....

"The "inconvenience", the not knowing if you got the shot"

Really! Confidence! Only amateurs and incompetents need to check each shot. Even if you are shooting with digital do you or should you check after each exposure? Isn't that a waste of time?

Chimpanzees (hence "chimping") and other sub human primates. These all require immediate gratification, such as a half peeled banana or an LCD:p
 
I brought a Polaroid SX-70 when Nikki was born, along with an F2AS with 55/1.2, and a Leica Mini. I knew at least some of the shots would come out, and could give some of the shots away to family. Of course, that was in '98. I did not bring the DSLR. Did not see the need to shoot IR.
 
If I wouldn't steal your thread, I'd post another film image of the new portra 160... As you say "gotta love that film!" :)
 
Need to go through dad's attic and see if I still have some of my developing kit.

I, for one, find the darkroom very therapeutic. It's worth the trouble.

Some fill the dark with music, but I like the solitude. Probably a result of the all too ever present world we live in today.
 
And you know what, if you DON'T have it, it's not like with digital you could magically back up and get it, right?

True, but you know what I mean.

Beautiful kid by the way - be sure you introduce him to film photography at the earliest moment. ;-)

I'll have to compete with his father's love of fishing. That's one I don't expect to make much progress on.

Now all I need is a really good scanner for not much money.
 
"The "inconvenience", the not knowing if you got the shot"

Really! Confidence! Only amateurs and incompetents need to check each shot. Even if you are shooting with digital do you or should you check after each exposure? Isn't that a waste of time?

Yeah, right.

That's why we used to use so much Polaroid film until digital came along, when we were doing amateur advertising and amateur food photography and amateur car photography for magazines and amateur catalogue shots and... It's also why, whenever we could, we normally shot at least two sheets ('process one, hold one').

In other words, a lot depends on the subject matter. If you are shooting (most, far from all) set-up shots in the studio, you're a bloody fool if you don't check after each exposure.

Cheers,

R.
 
True, but you know what I mean.



I'll have to compete with his father's love of fishing. That's one I don't expect to make much progress on.

Now all I need is a really good scanner for not much money.

Dear Paddy,

Or 'darkroom', as we say in English...

Cheers,

R.
 
Dear Paddy,

Or 'darkroom', as we say in English...

Cheers,

R.

I knew I would be called out on that one. I will be looking for a darkroom in the fall and intend to make a few prints. But so much of what I shoot I want to share and that's where the scanner comes in.

I have some hang-ups (ironically) about chemicals. And the last two darkrooms I have used were not well-ventilated (IMO) and I couldn't continue using them.
 
well, with the chemicals I've got (HC-110, ilford something fixer, kodak something stop bath, all available around here) the smell isn't awful.

but maybe my nose is broken or something. I dunno.
 
Film is dead, Kodak will announce later to discontinue Tri-X and T-Max, then Fuji will stop most film available now, Ilford will sing alone for a while before they will decide to do the same, then what you will do, go to digital by force?

I hate film because i can't find it in my area and i have to order online, i think i spend a lot more than anyone of you buying film due to shipping, and processing color film in our only lab is way pricey, i do process at home, but i feel the fun is gone day after day due to many factors in my country, if i live in Europe or N.America or Australia then it is another story.
 
Film is dead, Kodak will announce later to discontinue Tri-X and T-Max, then Fuji will stop most film available now, Ilford will sing alone for a while before they will decide to do the same, then what you will do, go to digital by force?

I hate film because i can't find it in my area and i have to order online, i think i spend a lot more than anyone of you buying film due to shipping, and processing color film in our only lab is way pricey, i do process at home, but i feel the fun is gone day after day due to many factors in my country, if i live in Europe or N.America or Australia then it is another story.

If I cant get film any more I might just quit photography.

or worse, try and do it professionally to warrant owning such a disgrace as a digital camera :bang:

K I look at this **** like blade runner. digital is like the replicators; a facsimile. close to the real thing but ultimately trying to kill me. chemistry > physics for life.
 
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