Front Page in Today's Shanghai Daily

[RattyMouse]

This story was published on the front page of Sunday's Shanghai Daily (print edition). Film is a big part of the story.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sunday/YESTERDAYS-TECH-BACK-IN-FASHION/shdaily.shtml

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

"Some teens have even reverted to sending postcards to their friends as a more satisfying alternative to email."

My wife just finished handwriting a 2+ page letter to a relative. That means real paper (the honest-to-goodness bleached wood pulp stuff that's still available, honest!) and real ink (I think it was a Bic pen, remember those?) and actual manual cursive glyph creation (many schools no longer even teach handwriting), and guess what?

She didn't die. The ordeal did not kill her. My god, who knew??

And truth be told, she claims to have enjoyed the experience. Something about being able to think more clearly as she physically wrote, instead of re-thinking after the fact while re-editing her composition digitally. She liked getting it right as she composed it.

Hmmmm...



Ken

 

[David Brown]

"some painstakingly scan their film photos onto a computer to share on Instagram."

 

[bsdunek]

I can relate too. As a retired engineer, I have become really tired of technology. When working, I had to use it, and the company kept everything up to date. At home, things seem to be good for only a year or so, and constantly need updating. I have reverted to a paper planner (DayRunner), continue to use my wind-up watch, film cameras, full darkroom, etc. I fly, and don't have a GPS, although the government will require that and more come 2020. I just put a chart in my lap and point the airplane toward my destination. Ho, the airplane is an antique too, no electric flaps or trim, etc. Life is good!

 

[Henning Serger]

This story was published on the front page of Sunday's Shanghai Daily (print edition). Film is a big part of the story.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sunday/YESTERDAYS-TECH-BACK-IN-FASHION/shdaily.shtml

And in addition some similar encouraging news from Germany (which is a "filmshooters paradise" compared to lots of other countries):

1. http://www.heise.de/foto/artikel/Die-neue-Lust-am-Analogen-2556072.html

It's an article in a very popular computer magazine about the new, rising interest in film photography, especially from the (very) young, the "digital natives".

2. http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/wirt...r-der-analogfotografie,10808230,30107640.html

Article in a Berlin newspaper about the "Return of Analogue Photography" in Germany.
There are some (minor) mistakes in the article, but nevertheless, a positive and encouraging mood is transported.
And some interesting facts:
- ten years ago in 2005, still 970,000 film cameras were sold in Germany (number is officially verfied by the "Deutscher Photoindustrieverband")
- increasing demand for used film cameras
- camera repair service 'Ostkreuz' in Berlin is getting 8-10 film SLRs each day for repair or service: That's double compared to two years ago
- Ilford is quoted with reporting an increasing demand for film
- Markus Ludwig from Lupus Imaging (AgfaPhoto films) is quoted reporting stabilised demand for BW film and a general positive outlook for film for the next ten years.

3. And, last, but not least, very interesting and encouraging news from Thailand:

http://www.reviewchiangmai.com/3242

Title "Film never die".
Chiang Mai is a city in North-West Thailand with about (only) 135,000 inhabitants.
In this article seven shops are introduced which are dealing with film stuff:

1. Buy and sale of film cameras, a film camera trader.
2. Repair service.
3. Lab service.
4. General photo store, supply of film and cameras, lab service
5. Lab service, supply of films
6. Market booth (!) für camera repairs, filmcamera trading
7. Supply of films.

Do you know a city with about 135,000 inhabitants in the USA, UK, France, Italy or Germany, which has seven places like this dealing with film stuff?
Well, I don't .......
Kudos to the people in Chiang Mai!

I said it once, I said it twice, I will repeat it again and again:
A sustainable film revival is possible! With instant film we already have it in a very impressive way.
With more activity in film marketing by the manufacturers, distributors, labs und of course also us film photographers it can be done.
We need a "grass roots movement" for film.
Don't hide your film love, share it!
Get other photographers interested in film. It is not so difficult. I am doing it for years. If I can do it, you can do it, too.
Show others your hand-made real silver-halide prints from your darkroom.
Show others your unsurpassed brilliant, 3d-looking slides with these breathtaking colours.
Teach young photographers.
Offer film photography workshops.
And for example for those already involved in social media like Facebook, that is a very good place to start sharing your love for film.
Everyone of us can do something. Go out, just do it!
Stop lamenting here in the forum, be active instead.

Best regards,
Henning

 

[ozphoto]

Henning - thanks for that link for the 7 places in Chiang Mai; great to know as I travel there regularly, and I always like to check out new spots for cameras and film!

And your list makes perfect sense; whenever I sell film gear I always include a small APUG Business card I made up, so the buyer can see they aren't alone in their love of analog photography.

Letting people know I shoot film is another thing I do as well - I have Instagram, and those images I've shot on film always get #hashtagged as such - gotta let people know that the iPhone is *not* the greatest gift to photography!!

 

[Henning Serger]

Hello Nanette,

Henning - thanks for that link for the 7 places in Chiang Mai; great to know as I travel there regularly, and I always like to check out new spots for cameras and film!

you're welcome.

And your list makes perfect sense; whenever I sell film gear I always include a small APUG Business card I made up, so the buyer can see they aren't alone in their love of analog photography.

Letting people know I shoot film is another thing I do as well - I have Instagram, and those images I've shot on film always get #hashtagged as such - gotta let people know that the iPhone is *not* the greatest gift to photography!!

That is good.
Just an additional idea:
As you are living in Bangkok now: Could you make such a list of film photo / camera shops and labs in Bangkok?
Lots of filmshooters are travelling to Bangkok each year, it is one of the "travelling hot spots" in Asia, and they would be probably very happy to have such a list.
It could be published here, in other film photography forums and in Facebook film photography groups.
That would be great.

Thanks and best regards,
Henning

 

[ozphoto]

Shall check it out; not a lot that I'm currently aware of, but I do know of some Pro labs that are still processing E6 and C41. Will have to recheck the details I have are still current; they like to close/move/change hours at the drop of a hat!