My son asked to shoot a film camera today...joy!

[crosseyed-cricket]

Although it is my passion, I've never pushed photography on my 15-yr-old son. Today, out of the blue, he asked if he could shoot some film on one of my cameras.

I set him up with a Pentax Spotmatic / 50mm f/1.4 and some Ilford 400 B&W. The meter in the camera is broken, so I showed him how to use a little handheld meter and he has been happily clicking away all evening.

He should be ready for me to show him the joys of developing his own film in a few days...or maybe tomorrow at the rate he's shooting!

Now, I must show restraint and just let him explore with the camera....much joy!

 

[Coopersounds]

fantastic news

 

[Iestrada]

Good luck with the restraint!

 

[SolaresLarrave]

I'd be ecstatic! 🙂

My son likes to play with his mother's digital camera. I'm not too crazy about it because he doesn't really take photographs. He just plays with it. But then, what can one expect from a 5 year-old?

Yours is 15... there's hope in the world. And I think it's good that the meter is broken in that camera. He'll learn to meter (and that's a rare skill these days).

 

[Richard G]

My son, 17, wants a "DSLR". On the plus side he has used the X100 and sees its merits. My daughter wanted a film SLR at 16. Six years later she finally concedes she should read the manual for the F3. You are doing much better than me. I still think it will be like fishing (for you): let out a good amount of line. Hopefully it won't end up like fishing for him – as in tedious and boring.

 

[lynnb]

That's good news. It's rare for young people to show interest in picture devices that don't give instant feedback. I hope his interest grows, and all his friends tell him how cool his film pictures are.

 

[John Bragg]

Fantastic news ! I hope it becomes as much of a lifelong passion for him as it obviously is for you and many of us here ! You do right to let him explore the world of film at his own pace. Good luck and enjoy having this in common.

 

[leicapixie]

Many young folks regard Film and Film cameras as "real" photography.
Try to encourage by giving fully working cameras and lenses.
The beauty of the Spotmatic/K-1000 is TTL meter.

 

[KRaZiGLiTcH]

Awesome stuff
also alot of young photographers are starting to switch from digital to film at the moment ^_^

 

[ronnies]

Great ! My 6 year old son is currently putting a film through the Nikon F65 his grandad used to have. He's claiming the camera as his now. 🙂

Ronnie

 

[crosseyed-cricket]

That's good news. It's rare for young people to show interest in picture devices that don't give instant feedback. I hope his interest grows, and all his friends tell him how cool his film pictures are.

I agree. I told him that this camera allows him to make the photograph all his own....not some little computer making decisions for him. I could see the wheels turning.

He's fine so far with the handheld meter...another neat toy to play with. We're going to practice with the sunny-16 rule too. If it starts getting tedious for him, I'm sure a camera with a built-in meter will find its way into his hands.

 

[oftheherd]

Sounds great. I remember how happy I was when my oldest daughter asked for a camera. She still has that Fujica ST801, although she usually uses a P&S digital now. I don't mind that. At least she isn't afraid to take photos, and still has a good eye for photos.

 

[crosseyed-cricket]

Ahh...the Fujica ST801...I used one in my younger days...and still have it!

 

[oftheherd]

They are great little cameras, but I prefer my ST901 for it very accurate automatic exposure. And of course the Fujinon lenses are incredible.

Just out of curiosity, did you ever find a use for 1/2000 second?

 

[the hoarder]

Although it is my passion, I've never pushed photography on my 15-yr-old son. Today, out of the blue, he asked if he could shoot some film on one of my cameras.

I set him up with a Pentax Spotmatic / 50mm f/1.4 and some Ilford 400 B&W. The meter in the camera is broken, so I showed him how to use a little handheld meter and he has been happily clicking away all evening.

He should be ready for me to show him the joys of developing his own film in a few days...or maybe tomorrow at the rate he's shooting!

Now, I must show restraint and just let him explore with the camera....much joy!

That is so good to hear, a passion might well be brewing which will stay with him for the rest of his life.
My kids, 28 and 26, never showed any interest in 'complicated' film cameras. But I'm happy to say my son has a new girlfriend who is mad keen on photography and film…. he might get bitten by the film bug yet .

 

[_goodtimez]

It's cool to start young. I started at age 15 using my parent's camera, a Minolta SR7. I still got it, among many others 🙂

 

[crosseyed-cricket]

Just a follow up...we finally got around to developing his first roll today. Here's one of his images from that roll of HP5 plus.


Reach by David, on Flickr

 

[CMur12]

Very cool. He's thinking outside the box.

- Murray

 

[AZPhotog]

Hooray !!!!!

The more film "fanatics" the better !!!

 

[Rodchenko]

Excellent.