Film photography as fashion and the decline of the hipster

[Muihlinn]

Predicting is hard, even harder if it involves future

 

[Truzi]

Although not related to "hipsters," I know a few people who have gotten into film by other means. One is a coworker who's friend found something resembling parts of a 4x5 camera in her father's estate. He brought it to work, and a couple of us couldn't figure out what it used to be (perhaps a cheap copy camera, there were only some parts: lens/shutter/board, a couple backs, and some odd pieces of wood. Not even a bed or rail). He wanted to turn it into some semblance of a camera for his friend, if only for display, for her to remember her father by. He thought it would be great if she could actually take a few pictures with it - even only once.

We told him how to "fake it" together enough to take some pictures. Instead of completely faking it, he bought bellows from ebay and forced it to work. Not correct, but it was now a "camera." He then bought some Ultrafine film. Another coworker and myself lent him equipment and chemicals to develop the film.

Considering it was his first time, and the camera was cobbled together, the results weren't great - but he really got into it. I lent him my Holga. Then he purchased a beat-up Kiev, his own tanks and changing bag, etc. Ultimately he bought a nice TLR (not sure what brand). He's not forsaken digital, but he is enjoying film... and in no way is he an "hipster." There may be more people into fads than people like him, but he will stick with it longer.

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Somewhere... I'll bet her dad was smiling.



Ken

 

[removed account4]

i got an email back from urban outfitter's parent company
which said that ... a reason why the lomo is not very prominent in stores is because it is from 2013 ...
that might mean their stores change their promotions every year and in 2013 one of their promotions
was the lomo, and this year its something else ... from my experience working in retail, the stores change their "look at me" stuff
every few months so my poor guess is UO doesn't have them prominently displayed in the stores
but if you go to the store and ask " hey, where are the cameras?!" they will send you to the website to buy one
since they ARE there ... a keyword away.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Thanks for the research, John!

 

[AgX]

Actually it was Apug where I came across the term Hipster. It was only last year that I first heard it being used in Germany.

I am still not quite sure what it means.

Just now the the discounter Lidl has got underwear on offer. And I learned that low cut women slips are called Hipster.

 

[splash_fr]

Hey, they shoot film, so they're kindred. Not leprous. Diversity is good!

 

[lxdude]

Actually it was Apug where I came across the term Hipster. It was only last year that I first heard it being used in Germany.

I am still not quite sure what it means. I guess I myself am considered a nerd. Another of these terms...

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/-ster

EDIT: does Hippie come from being hip?

Yes.

 

[alanrockwood]

... let's not degrade Lawrence Welk. Who else was so cool as to have a 'bubble machine'?

"Wunerful, wunerful... Turn off the bubble machine! ... The whole ballroom is lathering up with bubbles! ..." (Stan Freberg)

 

[GRHazelton]

"Wunerful, wunerful... Turn off the bubble machine! ... The whole ballroom is lathering up with bubbles! ..." (Stan Freberg)

Ah, Stan Freberg! In these debased times we have great need of you, along with Bob and Ray, and George Carlin, and ... Bob Newhart, and many, many other gentle comics who so expertly skewered the absurdities of daily existence. Chad Mitchell Trio, anyone?

 

[Zedwardson]

To be blunt about it, anything that causes people to buy film is a good thing, as increased volumes means that it worth keeping the machines alive. Otherwise you might just have 3 makers of black and white film and spend 20 bucks a roll for it. The only disappointment is that the great surge of cheep expired film is gone, and what is left people think is golden. But that is life.

 

[Sal Santamaura]

Ah, Stan Freberg! In these debased times we have great need of you, along with Bob and Ray, and George Carlin, and ... Bob Newhart, and many, many other gentle comics who so expertly skewered the absurdities of daily existence. Chad Mitchell Trio, anyone?

Bob Newhart is alive and well and has been making occasional appearances on The Big Bang Theory.

 

[David Brown]

Bob Newhart is alive and well and has been making occasional appearances on The Big Bang Theory.

Well, had been. Bob Newhart is very much alive, but his character on The Big Bang Theory (Pro. Proton) has died.

 

[lxdude]

Stan Freberg is still alive too.

 

[TheNewMayor]

As a bearded 19-year-old who is frequently referred to as a hipster because he enjoys shooting film and listening to non-mainstream music, lomography somewhat worries me. I'm all for people shooting more film, and, optimistically, I'd love to see it make a comeback. However, while many of the images that I see other young film photographers producing look cool, there doesn't seem to be much thought that goes into making their images. They treat their holgas like their smart phones. They seem to snap snap snap away, and don't really think about the end result, which goes against most of the reason of why I'm starting to love shooting film. While there is nothing wrong with experimenting around, I think it's important that we (people my age) slow down and think about how we make our images.

My biggest concern is that analog will become the new digital, and by that I mean shooting without much thought. Though I doubt it will ever go that far.

If you are really interested in seeing the kinds of images that lomo hipsters are shooting, I suggest that you head to lomography's tumblr: http://lomographicsociety.tumblr.com/

 

[Sal Santamaura]

Bob Newhart is alive and well and has been making occasional appearances on The Big Bang Theory.

Well, had been. Bob Newhart is very much alive, but his character on The Big Bang Theory (Pro. Proton) has died.

Bob himself is alive and has been making those appearances. The character's fate isn't of much consequence.

 

[removed account4]

Thanks for the research, John!

pleasure's mine david -

As a bearded 19-year-old who is frequently referred to as a hipster because I enjoy shooting film and listening to non-mainstream music, lomography somewhat worries me. I'm all for people shooting more film, and, optimistically, I'd love to see it make a comeback. However, while many of the images that I see other young film photographers producing look cool, there doesn't seem to be much thought that goes into making their images. They treat their holgas like their smart phones. They seem to snap snap snap away, and don't really think about the end result, which goes against most of the reason of why I'm starting to love shooting film. While there is nothing wrong with experimenting around, I think it's important that we (people my age) slow down and think about how we make our images.

My biggest concern is that analog will become the new digital, and by that I mean shooting without much thought. Though I doubt it will ever go that far.

If you are really interested in seeing the kinds of images that lomo hipsters are shooting, I suggest that you head to lomography's tumblr: http://lomographicsociety.tumblr.com/

mr mayor,
thanks for your input, the tumbler link, and thelink to YOUR work -
nice stuff you are doing, that rope swing looks fun

john

 

[M6F6E6]

yeah exactly. But how often do you get spoken to derisively by some dork with the latest fantastic digital camera hanging off his neck (it is never a woman who chooses to speak like this, by my experience). "Hey mate, when are you gonna upgrade?" - "Oh probably as soon as I feel like doing it and see a reason to!" That usually shuts them a up a bit.

 

[pdeeh]

But how often do you get spoken to derisively.

Never. Nobody's ever said anything remotely like that to me, not once.

I simply don't believe this happens to other people as often as some say it does. Or perhaps it happened once or twice a few years ago and they hang on to the resentment like it was some kind of lifebelt ... who knows ... what I do know is that dick-swinging contests are a waste of everybody's time

 

[StoneNYC]

Never. Nobody's ever said anything remotely like that to me, not once.

I simply don't believe this happens to other people as often as some say it does. Or perhaps it happened once or twice a few years ago and they hang on to the resentment like it was some kind of lifebelt ... who knows ... what I do know is that dick-swinging contests are a waste of everybody's time

Happens to me anytime I shoot in public, it's going to happen, it's inevitable, but it's annoying. Even the subtle talk is wearing on me, the "do they still make film?" Yes "but why? Isn't it a pain?" I like it "but digital is so much easier..." Uh huh "where can you even sell that too? Why don't you go digital so you can do weddings" walk away...

It's ok the first time, but because it happens every time I think my perception is that it's aggressive and demoralizing and I would guess that even subtle questions like that SEEM more aggressive because some of us get them so often.

 

[removed account4]

Happens to me anytime I shoot in public, it's going to happen, it's inevitable, but it's annoying. Even the subtle talk is wearing on me, the "do they still make film?" Yes "but why? Isn't it a pain?" I like it "but digital is so much easier..." Uh huh "where can you even sell that too? Why don't you go digital so you can do weddings" walk away...

It's ok the first time, but because it happens every time I think my perception is that it's aggressive and demoralizing and I would guess that even subtle questions like that SEEM more aggressive because some of us get them so often.

how is asking "if they still sell film for that" .. "digital is much easier" .. " why don't you get a digital camera so you can do weddings" ... &c "demoralizing and aggressive"
its like suggesting when people ask " is that a hasselblad" it is an insult ...

people who don't see film users or know you can still get and use film &c because they were told
it doesn't exist anymore are just asking simple questions because they want to know ...
i get asked questions like that all the time, and have never thought it was demoralizing or insulting ...

" you take a picture of me i'll break your arm and you don't want to know what i will do to that camera " is different

 

[StoneNYC]

how is asking "if they still sell film for that" .. "digital is much easier" .. " why don't you get a digital camera so you can do weddings" ... &c "demoralizing and aggressive"
its like suggesting when people ask " is that a hasselblad" it is an insult ...

people who don't see film users or know you can still get and use film &c because they were told
it doesn't exist anymore are just asking simple questions because they want to know ...
i get asked questions like that all the time, and have never thought it was demoralizing or insulting ...

" you take a picture of me i'll break your arm and you don't want to know what i will do to that camera " is different

If I asked you "why do you shoot a long exposure handheld? You would get much better images with a digital on auto mode" would you not subtly hear the distain? It's the same for these people, they look down on film, and over time, it wears on you...

 

[eddie]

When asked why I still shoot film (with the dismissive attitude mentioned), I've come up with an answer:
"Because my photographs aspire to be more than snapshots, and I want to have a tactile involvement in their creation." Shuts 'em right up...

But, when I'm approached out of curiosity (rather than a dismissive attitude), I'll take the time to talk about my film use more fully. I'll take a Film Ambassador approach- yes, it's still available... cameras/darkroom equipment can be purchased cheaply... there's a different sense of accomplishment producing an image in a darkroom than on a monitor... People who ask about my choice to use film, with respect, are answered in kind.

 

[StoneNYC]

When asked why I still shoot film (with the dismissive attitude mentioned), I've come up with an answer:
"Because my photographs aspire to be more than snapshots, and I want to have a tactile involvement in their creation." Shuts 'em right up...

But, when I'm approached out of curiosity (rather than a dismissive attitude), I'll take the time to talk about my film use more fully. I'll take a Film Ambassador approach- yes, it's still available... cameras/darkroom equipment can be purchased cheaply... there's a different sense of accomplishment producing an image in a darkroom than on a monitor... People who ask about my choice to use film, with respect, are answered in kind.

Stealing this...

 

[removed account4]

If I asked you "why do you shoot a long exposure handheld? You would get much better images with a digital on auto mode" would you not subtly hear the distain? It's the same for these people, they look down on film, and over time, it wears on you...

i don't hear distain, from people asking me about digital camera use,
but more about snarky film users who think they are "all that" ....

its not digital users who tend to be dopes it is people who use film

btw. i use a digital camera and enjoy using a digital camera.