I'm starting to get that look ...

I fall in that category that may not be the film camera....

I fall in that category that may not be the film camera....

I think it's more because I am somewhat disheveled, 69, wearing a tweed overcoat buttoned one button off, glasses with black frames, held together with a band aid in the middle, and when I open the topcoat, a full pocket protector in a white shirt pocket (mostly white anyway). Look down and you see scuffed black oxfords, filled with dingy white socks, and unpressed trousers, stopping about 4 inches short of the shoes. Oh, and the drool.

The film camera only seems to give a justifiable reason to grin darkly and openly at me when at the film station.

Presentability may be more the factor in my case. What about it Frank?

For me the justification will come when the big EMP's start taking out all the electronics. Soup your film in a rusty bucket in the woods at night and make contact prints by sunlight, with broken window panes, and a piece of plywood.
 
I always looked strange anyway, so I don't notice the looks I get anymore. Old guys love TLR's though. And everybody is afraid of mamiya press cameras. Using my big ugly box 8x10 gets people watching. Probably having no clue about what I'm up to.
 
DougFord said:
more often than not it's near impossible for me to discern the differences between the 'look at that pathetic loser' look from the 'look at that pathetic loser using a film camera' look. 😀
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baahaaaa! hmmm. Come to think of it, you're right, Ford. I get the same look whether I'm carrying a camera or not. 😀 😀 (especially from my wife *BooM*)
 
Melbourne has a pretty big and humming film scene, so generally actually people don't notice. It's not uncommon to see leicas or old minoltas/olympus SLRs around.
 
I finally got the look but in a different sort of way last weekend...I was out strolling and snapping with my Anscoset when someone asked me "what kind of camera is that?" Went through the whole spiel and he looked at me with the most dumbfounded expression and said "they can still develop film?" I wanted to say yeah but if they don't make a faster computer soon I don't think they will be able to do it anymore... 🙂

Sort of off topic but as I was walking around admiring the tons of DSLR and P&S shooters I was struck by one huge fact about all of them - not a single one was using a prime lens...they were all zooms...
 
I was in Chicago this past weekend. Went out once with just my 2 Bessa II's, one a heliar and one a skopar, to test which one I'll keep. I got a few looks but nothing to suggest they thought I was weird. One fellow about my age, 50's, struck up a conversation stating he had a couple cameras like mine on his display shelf. I think I talked him into getting it out and using it. It's just nice to come home and develop HUGE negatives from a trip to see what magic you might have captured, especially with amazing lenses. I get much more pleasure from that than from instant gratification of digitals.
 
PKR said:
I think that folks who worry about what others might think about this kind of "non dangerous" behavior, may have trouble finding their "own" photographic path.
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ooookay there. well .... sorry I wasn't clearer. The thread was actually started for a little grin with guys that can relate - the guys that are seeing the photo labs disappear and the film shelves shrinking. Do I get the look? Sure. Do I give a rip? ehhh, nope. sorry. care nada.

"Is this all the film you carry?"
"Huh? Yeah, I guess. You still shoot film? really?"
"Yep. sure. And hey, (pat on shoulder) I know, I know - you don't get it. But it's not your fault. Right? you can't help it. You were just born too late." *grin & walk*​

Thanks for the pep there, but in reality, now at 57 yrs. old, with my first film RF & TLR at 14, I'm ok. Me and *my path*, (backalley Joe overcoat disguise on the ready) are pretty secure, just fine.
 
I see a lot of film shooters here in Los Angeles. Saw a dude wandering around with a Mamiya 6 or 7 a couple weeks ago. I hadn't seen one in person before and seeing a giant sized rangefinder was odd. I was shooting a car show last weekend for my friend's website and saw a guy with a Rolleiflex. This was a big modern day magazine sponsored car show too, not a local classic car show where you might expect old guys with film.. heck, when someone sees me wind my lever after a shot, sometimes I hear the words "Film? Awesome!", (or something similar) escape their lips. Maybe i'm lucky to be in an environment like this? Dunno..
 
alliv said:
Some time ago I saw a man in his fifties, on a street taking photos with a vintage SLR - OM or FM something. Oh, he looked so out of place! Was he transported from the past? Or is he so poor that can't afford even the cheapest digicam? Or just released from a mental institution? I am in my fifties too, and I do not take photos with my film cameras on streets anymore. I am afraid to look funny...
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geeze, I saw his wife too.....😀


klick von deandare06 auf Flickr
 
Satruday I was shooting 4x5 on the beach at Sodus Point, and an older (than me!) gentleman came along and we chatted. He had started with Kodak in 1967, in charge of their film & paper advertising. We had a good talk. I was surprised that no one else stopped and commented.

Anyway, I just ignore the voices in my head that imagine what people are thinking. I find that's a good practice in all areas of life. 🙂
 
Not long ago, I was asked if this is a film camera, when I was out with my M3.
I am getting tired of being this asked.......hard to translate into english, but I just answered:

"Yes, I am already shooting with film, are you still using digital cameras?"

He was confused.
😀😀
 
I don't think people are giving you dirty looks because you're still holding on to film. I think they give you dirty looks because using analogue cameras may make you look like a hipster, possibly the most hated subculture ever.
 
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