Would you be bothered by this?

[dave lackey]

Funny...I get no ribbing from anyone about my shooting film...or Leica cameras for that matter. On the last project, I shot the whole town of local folks and if I went out of my way telling them that I was using black and white film, they were very impressed! Even the city council one evening.

Never a question or comment about the Leica cameras. Never a comment about digital or anything.

It was so nice as I was just working as a photographer going about documenting the town and the people who live there and they were appreciative, cooperative and downright fun!🙂

It seems that only certain photography-related people have a problem with our using film. Ignore them, or tell them to take a flying leap.😛 Whatever is your personality, I just ignore them.

 

[philipb]

True so long as you include Brian and exclude Bill.

If you include Brian you'd have to exclude Ronnie too. You still wouldn't have a bass player.

Sorry, very OT. Ignore the mockery of film, they're just jealous.

 

[unixrevolution]

I didn't let it get to me at the time, but I just thought it was an odd attitude for someone to have towards a brand new paying customer.

I like being "The film guy". The only guy I know who's more into film than me is Luke, and he is just allergic to electronics. Those of you who've said so are right to say it: "I'ts not worth being upset about." And I'm not. I'm just curious as to whether anyone else thought it was unprofessional. I can see a particularly curmudgeonly customer being put off, and taking his business to Dodge-Chrome in Silver Spring instead of this place in Beltsville.

 

[tbarker13]

There are lots of things in life to get upset about. This isn't one of them. Just start referring to what you do as "real photography" or something else equally silly.

 

[RayPA]

I think the response you got was a little unprofessional (if indeed this is a pro lab)--more so because of the familiar and informal attitude of the person's attitude (toward you). It wouldn't bother me beyond the front door of the business. If you want and expect a professional attitude, then that's probably something you'll have to drive on your end. BTW, did you really go shooting at Antietem or were you kidding in return? If you were kidding, then you shouldn't be bothered by his response. He probably thought you teed one up for him. 😛





/

 

[unixrevolution]

I really was shooting the Anteitam Civil War Battlefield with my Medalist. No joke.

I think the response you got was a little unprofessional (if indeed this is a pro lab)--more so because of the familiar and informal attitude of the person's attitude (toward you). It wouldn't bother me beyond the front door of the business. If you want and expect a professional attitude, then that's probably something you'll have to drive on your end. BTW, did you really go shooting at Antietem or were you kidding in return? If you were kidding, then you shouldn't be bothered by his response. He probably thought you teed one up for him. 😛
/

 

[Ken Smith]

I wouldn't be personally offended at the shop guy, but I'd have reservations about using them again on the basis that his anti attitude about fim could translate into lack of detail in developing my film. If he's so against it - he ain't gonna give it his best.

What I would do is talk to the instructor one on one. Let him know that while the market is awash in digital cameras, people are also transitioning back into film everyday. I'd let him know that there's a healthy market in 35mm, medium format, and large format film, and that all those film cameras from the 40's - 80's are being gobbled back up for use. I'd then let him know that with the decline in the corner drug store developing film while there is a growing interest in it again, he might be in a good position to get more than his fair share of the local market.

Finally, I'd let him know that perhaps the decline in film sales and developing at his particular store might be due to his partner's overt attitude toward customers that still use film. Others might feel insulted or more importantly, his attitude against film might cause them concern that his attention to detail in developing film might be lacking.

No matter the business, you don't bite the hand that feeds you.

 

[zauhar]

Maybe not a direct comparison, but there was a time some years ago when I heard, almost daily,

1)You still use a MAC?

2) But no one uses those anymore.

3) The whole world has gone over to PCs!

I don't hear those comments nowadays.

Randy

 

[swoop]

Maybe not a direct comparison, but there was a time some years ago when I heard, almost daily,

1)You still use a MAC?
2) But no one uses those anymore.

Being an Apple user in the 90's sucked. Things are a lot better now, but these days I use a PC. And the only reason for that is I need a laptop that can swap batteries.

In a related story, I have a tattoo of a roll of film. I once walked into B&H and a sales guy saw it and said "You should have gotten a compact flash card." It was irritating but whatev, it was just the one time. If I had to deal with that every time I walked in there I'd make a scene about it.

 

[wafflecakee]

I've had issues like this before. Just a very condescending attitude from the store owner, I was only buying a battery that I could have gotten for 10 dollars at walmart but paid 20 at his store.
I've experienced this numerous times, sometimes I know it was because of my lack of knowledge but rather than teaching me something the clerk was often rude and climbed onto his high horse before correcting me.

I've got an interview at a shop next week. I vow to never act like a snob to less knowledgeable clients.

 

[rogerzilla]

I am frequently asked, "Can you still get film?".

No, I'm shooting this camera empty just for the sound of it.

 

[Peter_Jones]

Working in a shop, my staff and I are always genuinely interested when someone is using something "out of the ordinary" - it means they are an enthusiast 🙂
As to banter with customers - it's a fine line to tread. Some customers love it, many do not.

 

[JoeV]

Just tell him, when you go in to pay for the film processing, that you're using this old-fangled thing called money, and you're not sure if it still works or not.

~Joe

 

[Chris101]

My recent trip to Walgreen's:

Me: "I've got three rolls of film for processing. I just want it developed, not cut or printed."
Heather (my friend who accompanied me): "I'll bet you don't hear that very often!"
Woman behind counter: "No actually we get a lot of film. It's mostly 'kids' and a lot of them don't want prints either."

It ain't dead here. And developers don't make fun of you either.

 

[Roger Hicks]

To quote the late, great Terence Donovan:

"Not my problem, sunshine."

It's amazing how many things aren't your problem unless you decide that they are.

Yes, you can get annoyed. But whose problem is that?

Cheers,

R.

 

[Disaster_Area]

My favorite question I get is "Wow... that's a film camera? How old is it, does it shoot just black and white, or can it do color?"

How quickly we forget how things work 🙂

 

[unixrevolution]

OP ==> As you said, it is a tad out of line. I'd feel free to give back some good ol' non-digi, 'real men use film' sarcasm 😉

"You're not using a digital?"
"No, I use real cameras."

I get the "can it use color" thing a lot, too. Especially with my old Brownie folder. People are amazed that it can shoot color pictures.

 

[Landshark]

It was inappropriate and rather than stew about it take it right to the source(bill) and explain how you feel. "You may be kidding but I don't know that" sort of statement. and don't be nasty or you will have to take your film elsewhere

I've done the kidding around with regular customers but very seldom with new ones.
The new ones that I would kid with may lead you into joking with them by talking about that old fashioned thing called "film"