Am I a Film Snob?

jamusu

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I believe that I may be a film snob. In fact I know that I am one.

Last week, two glassblowers began a week long exposition at my art center where I take darkroom classes. I decided to burn through a couple of rolls of film to kill some time. I was the only person shooting film, amongst many using digital cameras.

We, the spectators, were sitting on bleachers directly in front of their work station which was roped off with yellow do not enter tape. Once the glassblowers noticed that I was shooting film, especially black and white, they to my surprise invited me to enter their work station to take close ups as they worked.

Their furnaces and ovens were at full blaze, expensive work tools were scattered about, as well as precious glass blown objects that they had only created moments earlier. I documented them as they blew glass from many different close up angles. It was amazing! Throughout the week, I shot 9 rolls of film instead of the two that I planned to shoot. I shot my last roll this morning as they loaded up their equipment.

I could tell the digital photographers wanted the same opportunity. Some of them got as close as they could without crossing the yellow tape. I could since their frustration. It was at this moment that I realized that I was a, "FILM SNOB". I believe they could since my arrogance as I took my close up shots. In fact, I did not attempt to hide it, I bathed in it fully; "FILM SNOBBERY", at its greatest. To my dismay, I was quickly brought back to reality after noticing that I exposed my roll of Adox CHS 25 at an ASA of 400.

Please do not take this as a film vs. digital debate, but rather a sign of recognition for film photography in a digital era. Who would have ever thought that a guy with a Pentax K-1000 would be given such an opportunity over those using digital cameras.

Does my reaction merit a moment of "FILM SNOBBERY", or rather a moment of elation for a guy who was ecstatic to see film photography receive its much deserved recognition?

FILM lives!!!

Jamusu.
 
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papagene

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your camera was less likely to melt!!!

gene
 

David A. Goldfarb

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Well, I hope you sorted out the ISO setting before blowing through 9 rolls.
 

David A. Goldfarb

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Weegee said always to carry a big camera like a Speed Graphic, and the police would let you enter the crime scene, because you would look like you were supposed to be there. If a K1000 does the trick today, then, go for it!
 

Michel Hardy-Vallée

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David A. Goldfarb said:
Weegee said always to carry a big camera like a Speed Graphic, and the police would let you enter the crime scene, because you would look like you were supposed to be there. If a K1000 does the trick today, then, go for it!
Click to expand...

That is so true.

When I was at a local election party last year, I had people from the party making space for me because I had a Pentax SLR with a big flash head on top of it. Other people were stuck at the back of the cramped room, but I was walked all the way to the podium.
 

Kino

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It amazed me when I shot on-set stills for a local feature last Fall, how everyone on the crew and all the extras for a large party scene, got all misty eyed and nostalgic when they found out I was shooting 120 film!

"Hey he's shooting FILM!" "Wow"

Instant respect. Kinda weirded me out...

It had to be the only film camera around for miles and it was like I was holding the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.

Thats cool, but sometimes, I just don't get it...
 

Steve Roberts

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jamusu said:
I believe that I may be a film snob. In fact I know that I am one.
Jamusu.
Click to expand...

I think you do yourself a disservice! There's nothing snobby about using a film camera. You've simply chosen to maintain the high standards achievable with that medium via the necessary and not inconsiderable skills required whereas the others obviously made a conscious decision to take the easier route and to down-market themselves in the process. Ooops! Now I'm being a film snob in telling you that you aren't one!

BTW, you lost me when you said you were sitting on "bleachers". What on earth is a bleacher when it's at home?

Best wishes,

Steve
 

Steve Smith

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Steve Roberts said:
BTW, you lost me when you said you were sitting on "bleachers". What on earth is a bleacher when it's at home?
Click to expand...

My thoughts too. Please enlighten us!


Steve (another one).
 

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I think the snobbery comes more from the digital side. I can't tell you how many times someone with a DSLR will come over to me when I'm shooting, look at my 6 month old Linhof or 1 year old Fotoman, etc and comment on how nice it is that someone's still using antique cameras.
 

ted_smith

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Interestingly, my father-in-law was 'bragging' to his colleague at work the other day about my photography and he apparantly made a point of saying "Oh yes, but he also shoots film. He does it the hard way!" for which the response was "He must know what he's doing".

It seems that in the world of digital prominance those of us who still shoot film are increasingly being seen as 'proper' photographers.
 

Michel Hardy-Vallée

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ted_smith said:
It seems that in the world of digital prominance those of us who still shoot film are increasingly being seen as 'proper' photographers.
Click to expand...

I'm always wary of praise, simply because the subtext of such compliments is usually "Oh yeah, he's tough, but I would never ever be like him." It's like praising the ancient Greeks for what they did, but none of us bothers to do as such.

Only when someone hands you a contract and says "Son, because you're using film, you are the only photographer I have considered" will I take it seriously.
 
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jamusu

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Steve and Steve.

Bleachers are benches.

Jamusu.
 

Kvistgaard

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I don't get it? Why this love of film, when nobody wants to use it (except the distinguished users of this forum, of course)? Is it a matter of big companies with huge marketing budgets going against what their customers really want?

PS: There's nothing snobbish about using film, in my humble opinion. It is a conscious choice of tools for the job.
 
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Kvistgaard

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"'Digital photos can be downloaded onto a PC/website without any development. Film requires some development and the expense that goes along with it.'

There is more expense with digital. A digital camera is useless without a computer, software, internet connection, printer, paper, ink etc.

I shoot medium format transparencies. Buy the film, shoot it, develop it, look at it on a light table. A lot cheaper than what my digital work costs.

'...resulting in film cameras being used by a relatively few die-hards of declining numbers as they age and by nostalgia buffs.'

Why 'die-hards' and 'nostalgia buffs'? Why not experienced photographers who prefer the results they get from film? It is a lot more satisfying making your own photographs from beginning to end, knowing that at every stage you were responsible for that final image.
When I shoot digital I feel like I'm just the monkey who presses the button, and then manufacturers programming parameters take over."

- I like that comment a lot! Sums up why film still has a place in the world. What seems like a depressing bit of news turns into a good discussion that leaves me as a film user with some hope. Good stuff!
 

RobC

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In the old days not so long ago, the distinction in the eyes of the general public was that a professional was someone with a big flashy camera such as a Hassleblad or a large format camera. If you photographed a wedding with a Hassy and Zeiss lenses that would be good enough to convince anyone that you were a serious photographer. Mere mortals had little point and shoot film cameras.
Nowadays, the mere mortals have the same cameras as the professionals. How is a mere mortal to distinguish a professional from another mere mortal. They look for what makes them different as that is all they can see. i.e. their judgement is based purely on what kit you have which actually means nothing but fortunately they don't know that.
 

milkplus-mesto

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I'm 15 (why do i always feel the need to start all my posts like that?) - I think the main problem with digital is that people arent' looking to keep memories any more, i can't remember the specific post, but someone said "you can't leave digital photos in the back of a wardrobe for 40 years."
When i'm using my ME Super, i feel more at home than with my EOS 40D, then, when I get back into the darkroom, i develop my photos myself - i can cross process them if i feel the need, and achieve something different, and then when I come to making a print, it's the most amazing feeling seeing the image appearing on the paper in the developer, and then drying it out afterwards, that's real photography, digital seems too superficial for my liking.
 

PhotoJim

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It isn't quite the same, but I got a moment of pleasure today at the Vancouver Aquarium. I was shooting dolphins swimming in their aquarium (through a window, so I could photograph them while underwater). Lots of people were trying desperately to photograph the dolphins with their P&S digicams. Of course, the shutter lag was driving them to drink. Meanwhile, I was getting five or six shots of each pass by the dolphins, using my Nikon F5.

Yeah, I know there are some digicams that could keep up with my Nikon, but still, it was fun, especially considering that an F5 costs less than a midrange digicam these days.
 
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jamusu

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Kino,

I can understand totally what you mean about the instant respect part. The respect that I received from spectators in the crowd was mind boggling. In fact it was a bit strange. I am used to people's reactions after they notice that I am using a film camera, but this instance was different. It was one of what I later understood to be recognition.

I saw them as they watched in amazement as I used my camera. When I pulled out the 200mm, one guy who was using a small point and shoot digital watched me intently. He even mimicked me with a smile while talking to young lady who came with him.

Also, one of the glassblowers called me by name and asked had I had time to develop any of the film yet in front of everyone. Instant respect from the crowd. An elderly lady seated next to me asked me who I worked for. This really caught me off guard.

All eyes were on me as I shot and I knew it, embraced it fully, loved it; felt every moment of it. I knew then that there was no turning back and that a "FILM SNOB" was born.

Jamusu.
 
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