A VERY RELEVANT SURVEY

[mooseontheloose]

You can help that cause by not posting images of you in the water with the cottage cheeze showing.
Talk about turning off a bunch of people to this site.

Are you kidding? Why do you think I joined?

 

[pbromaghin]

I now have 2000 sq.ft. of darkroom, a dozen enlargers, a nice Uv exposure unit, double Jobos, a nice chem formulary and nothing but darkroom fun!!

2,000 sq. ft? Boy, when you do a hobby, you don't mess around!

 

[cepwin]

Gee, that's impressive.
I live by the old saying that if I haven't grown up by 50, I don't have to! And that's the way it is.

Ah but who really want's to grow up

 

[Felinik]

Going 40 this year. I started to shoot in December last year and only two months later my brand new Pentax K-r stopped working and had to get back for warranty repair, I was in a flow, and very frustrated so I turned to the used gear ad pages and found myself a Pentax MZ-6 film body. The week after I got that film body I bought a Paterson tank and some chemicals, since then there's been no return... (though I scan and print digitally, no space nor time for learning darkroom again, touched the subject in school when I was 15-16 years old, but would love to take it up again one day though...) And the K-r, well, it can shoot video quite ok...

 

[papagene]

Almost 61 (oooooooh, that is hard to acknowledge). Bought my first camera in 1974 so I could document my painting and sculpture. What's this digital stuff you speak of????

 

[L Gebhardt]

41. Started with photography at 12 in school and using my step-father's darkroom. Took a break from it after college until I had kids. Then started shooting a lot of 35mm slides and for some resin picked up a 4x5 and a few medium format systems. Built my own darkroom as well. I also shoot a lot of digital for shots of the family, or for things destined for the web. Honestly I like digital and film about equally, but for different reasons. I can't see being in only one camp since they both have very strong advantages.

 

[CatLABS]

I teach a photo class at a university in MA. ALL of my students under 20 (makes me feel real old), this is a wet darkroom class with film and such.
Sure they are all taking it because its easy credit and gotta be a fun class, i guess that was the point of the OP right?

 

[ME Super]

Posting on behalf of my 12-year-old son, who does not have an APUG account. He just finished his first ever roll of film (slide film - he's a chip off the old block like me) and I dropped it off a couple days ago for processing. He's looking forward to getting the slides back from the lab.

 

[Klainmeister]

Also aside from me, my best friend (22) shoots 4x5, a good friend in Cali (23) shoots 8x10 slides, another best buddy in Oregon (24) shoots 6x7 and 35mm, and my girlfriend (28) is shooting 35mm and MF. We're out there!

 

[David Lyga]

Klainmeister: Good, you ARE out there. But I do hope 'to stay'.

As stated previously, it is true that most are veering towards, or already are (as expected) middle age. So it does become fascinating to discover WHY young people are attracted to this medium. Hopefully, most will not be doing this solely because it is 'trendy', as trends end. As I said before: I like to see, first hand, what I have captured.

Krifartida, you said what I did not want said: that your students are taking the course for no reason other than easy credit. Try to impart subjectivity to these fledglings in order to turn this relationship into something more enduring. - David Lyga

 

[Steve Smith]

I teach a photo class at a university in MA. ALL of my students under 20 (makes me feel real old............
i guess that was the point of the OP right?

No. he wanted to know how old you are!


Steve.

 

[removed account4]

Klainmeister: Good, you ARE out there. But I do hope 'to stay'.

As stated previously, it is true that most are veering towards, or already are (as expected) middle age. So it does become fascinating to discover WHY young people are attracted to this medium. Hopefully, most will not be doing this solely because it is 'trendy', as trends end. As I said before: I like to see, first hand, what I have captured.

Krifartida, you said what I did not want said: that your students are taking the course for no reason other than easy credit. Try to impart subjectivity to these fledglings in order to turn this relationship into something more enduring. - David Lyga

he also said its gotta be a fun class ..
if it is a fun class, and they have a way to process and (whatever ) their film
then they might stick with it, so i guess it is exactly what you are hoping for.

the main problem i see is that without a way to process film ( or paper negatives ) it is not likely that someone will continue to do wet photography.
not all people want a darkroom or have a way to process film, labs are closing down left and right, drug stores no longer process ...
its as if what eastman started in 1884 had a long long run, but is almost stopped, and it is just home processors that will keep things alive ... ( like pre 1884 )
so if it is fun then maybe it will create the want to continue ... if it is not a fun class, and just something to dread, well, i think the electric thing wins ...

 

[David Lyga]

jnanian: you are correct with inferring that there has to be more than mere 'fun' involved. Certainly, and I have stated previously, that, in a theoretical sense, digital is superior (no deteriorating media, immediate evaluation, histogram for thorough tonal evaluation, etc). I mean that.

But there is more to life than theory. The 'cost of entry' to make photos as good as relatively inexpensive analog is capable of, is rather formidable. Also, there is an element of craft with film. Also, though the unexposed film might go bad with bad storage, the final print, if processed correctly and especially if in traditional B&W, lasts and lasts.

Whether how I feel is really proved substantiated with future film sales remains to be seen. Folks, a horse and buggy is inferior to the automobile, but in Old City (Philadelphia) they still operate! Not trying to prove anything through faulty analogy here, but there are other sides to examine mindsets than through strict, quantitative efficiency. Have I just shot myself in the foot? - David Lyga

 

[Bill Burk]

Folks, a horse and buggy is inferior to the automobile, but in Old City (Philadelphia) they still operate! ... Have I just shot myself in the foot? - David Lyga

No, but just watch where you put your feet...

I am 53. Had to double check my earlier post because at dinner last night we were talking about how I always forget how old I am, and I thought for sure I had posted 52 to this thread...

 

[HowardDvorin]

I will be 74 July 1. Now I expect happy biirthday wishes to come my way. I have been photgraphing,with film since I was 12.

I DO NOT use anything except film..

LONG LIVE FILM!!!!!

Howard Dvorin

 

[tigawoods]

(23)I started off on digital when I was 16ish and quickly became bored with it a few years after. I still shoot digital every so often, just for the convenience, but for the most part I have dedicated more of my time towards Medium format (Bronica ETRS & RB67).
Once I have a more permanent living situation (my current apt is crap and Im moving out in a few months) I would like to build a darkroom.

Funny thing happened the other day actually.
I meet up with a model (23) to do a fashion shoot and I had mentioned that I would love to come back to the spot we had just used and shoot some landscapes with film. She asked; video? And I said no, Film photography. She shook her head and said she doesnt know what that is.....:confused:

 

[Jim Christie]

Interesting thread. I'm 46, and have been shooting since I first took a photography class in high school. I showed up to the first day of class with a Kodak Instamatic, feeling a bit self conscious among a sea of SLRs in the hands of my classmates. I was fortunate to have a teacher who valued making good photographs over gear, and his enthusiasm and commitment to the craft remains with me to this day (and we still keep in touch).

The main reason I remain drawn to film is simply that I prefer the aesthetic look of photographs taken on film and printed optically. Another reason is that, at least to me, a film camera feels more responsive in the hand. It takes what I want, exactly when I want. Finally, I spend all day in front of a computer, and the last thing I want to do when home is to spend yet more time in front of the screen.

-Jim

 

[dnjl]

I'm 22 and I picked up my first camera two years ago. I've never had a digital camera and I don't intend to get one until the last roll of film leaves the factory. I currently shoot 35mm and medium format; someday, I'll get myself a proper 4x5 with movements and a real darkroom.

 

[pbromaghin]

Finally, I spend all day in front of a computer, and the last thing I want to do when home is to spend yet more time in front of the screen.

-Jim

We are not alone!

 

[labyrinth photo]

i'm 38 started at 16. my colleagues are a bit older, 55 and 63 ish. we have a whole range of clients of all ages doing all sorts of stuff. it is truly an exciting time for film. i remember the busy days of film but prefer the fact that nowadays we are experimenting more,
using old techniques and developing new ones.

 

[PKM-25]

I am 45, been shooting film for 36 years, digital for 21, use both in my career and always will to a degree. Goal is to shoot digi for less than 20% of my work, the rest black and white film printed in my darkroom.

Nothing beats a superb silver gelatin print and nothing beats shooting digi at ISO 12,800 in full moonlight from an airplane.

 

[jayvo86]

26 and have been shooting for a little over a year.

Started with film, then went digital.

Now I use a combination of both, but generally prefer film.

I shoot a alot of 35mm atm and a little medium format with my Mamiya RZ67.

I'm also thinking about shooting LF.

Lastly, I print all my film in the darkroom. (BW) I'm also in the process of starting to print color.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

I am the grand age of 42. I have been seriously shooting since 1988 my senior year in HS yearbook. Pretty much only film until a year ago when I inherited my wife's xti. Hey, I gave it to her so why not. Darkroom for only a couple of years. Not in the last year. Took it down as I was not doing anything. Kind of a re-prioritization. Mostly 35mm and MF with a smattering of 4x5.

So the rundown is
Age: 42
Shooting: 24
Film: 24
Digital: 2
Darkroom: 2

When I began I had no choice. At first, I dreamt of a dream digital setup. Then I simply kept plying at analog as I could not afford the other. Then I had apparently made the jump off the deep end of film. But with family obligations I did not have the time to enjoy it and no one to really enjoy shooting and darkroom with. After Faith passed, I simplified things. I sold the cameras. I still have her old EOS 630, my mom's old camera given to her. I had shot a wedding or two with it. And I still have the darkroom gear. Couldn't sell it and that is probably for the best. I have for a just in case down the road.

As to the Canon Rebel xti? Well, That is what I use anymore if I shoot as I am not doing darkroom stuff. And I must photograph. So, I still have access to film capture and processing if I want to. For me, now, this is easier.

 

[Adi N.]

Checking in here at 16, and I'll be 17 on the 2nd of July. I dare say that I'm one of the youngest posters in this thread, and probably one of the younger users of this forum! I got into photography back when I was about 12, and I actually started out on film! I admit, the main reason was that I thought my dad's Minolta Maxuum 3xi looked considerably cooler than his point and shoot, and that I was actually rather interested in photography. He gave me two rolls of film, told me that there were only 36 shots on each roll, and to make them count. After developing the first two rolls, i was hooked. I shot a few more rolls, ut then I became a digital convert. Although I taught myself how to shoot manual and all sorts of other photographic tidbits on digital (such as studio photography, etc), i learned how to compose an image on film.

Despite digital being my main format for quite some time (from when I was about 13.5-15.5), I picked up a film camera again this year when I took my highschool's photo program. For some reason, I had developed this "Spray and Pray" tactic of shooting some odd 500+ photos a day then trimming down to maybe 10 good shots. Shooting film gave me a new appreciation for taking time with my work, and I soon trimmed those 500 shots to 300/day, and when I picked up Medium Format, I soon became even more selective with what I shoot.
And I absolutely love working in the dark room. Its like the only time I feel truly at peace, or comfortable. It's my "safe place" so to speak. I'm actually moving in to start shooting 4x5 in addition to 35mm and 6x6 MF, so I reckon I can call me self a hard core film user!

 

[Peltigera]

I am 59 and started taking photography seriously at 12 when I was given a Brownie Vecta for my birthday.