How to deal with photography deniers?

BradS · Mar 25, 2019

I often go out with a 35mm SLR around my neck. By now I am well accustomed to complete strangers asking all manner of questions...as I'm sure all of you are too...
"Is that a film Camera?"
"Can you still get film for that?"
"Is that a black and white camera?" ---- yes, people really ask me this.
"Why don't you go digital?"

I occasionally get the devout digital imager that, essentially, informs me that they went digital, I should too, I'm dumb if don't ...but this doesn't really seem to happen too much any more.

This past weekend I experienced a new one...I was out in the woods and a digital imager confronted me. He asserted (wasn't asking but telling ) that...
"You cannot get film for that anymore."
"You cannot get it processed anymore."

I was just so blown away, I didn't even know what to say....I just shrugged my shoulders and said, "good to know. Thanks." and walked away.

Theo Sulphate · Mar 25, 2019

BradS said:
...
I was just so blown away, I didn't even know what to say....I just shrugged my shoulders and said, "good to know. Thanks." and walked away.

That's a good response.

You could also say, " I have a digital camera; I like to use film as well."

faberryman · Mar 25, 2019

I never run into anyone with a camera, never mind a digital photographer telling me I am, shall we say, uninformed.

Kino · Mar 25, 2019

Tell them, "I am a figment of your imagination..."

BrianShaw · Mar 25, 2019

My response is often, “it’s definitely more difficult than it once was, but not yet impossible.”

nmp · Mar 25, 2019

BradS said:
I often go out with a 35mm SLR around my neck. By now I am well accustomed to complete strangers asking all manner of questions...as I'm sure all of you are too...
"Is that a film Camera?"
"Can you still get film for that?"
"Is that a black and white camera?" ---- yes, people really ask me this.
"Why don't you go digital?"

I occasionally get the devout digital imager that, essentially, informs me that they went digital, I should too, I'm dumb if don't ...but this doesn't really seem to happen too much any more.

This past weekend I experienced a new one...I was out in the woods and a digital imager confronted me. He asserted (wasn't asking but telling ) that...
"You cannot get film for that anymore."
"You cannot get it processed anymore."

I was just so blown away, I didn't even know what to say....I just shrugged my shoulders and said, "good to know. Thanks." and walked away.

Ironically, you are denying other people's photography as well.

Kodachromeguy · Mar 25, 2019

nmp said:
Ironically, you are denying other people's photography as well.

How is he denying other people's photography? He related how he gets ignorant questions when he has his film camera. In my case, I have had only positive responses when I meet people while using my film cameras. Often a comment goes in terms of "That's so cool." They do often ask where I get film developed, and I explain the options (in USA).

TheFlyingCamera · Mar 25, 2019

I politely inform them, once, that the garbled syllables emerging from their pie-hole are unintelligible nonsense and that yes, you can still get film and processing, and that Kodak is still in business, etc etc. If they persist, I leave them to their delusions and tell them I have film to shoot, thanks for their time. And then I walk away before the urge to club them over the head with my Mamiya RZ67 becomes uncontrollable.

removedacct1 · Mar 25, 2019

I have been asked the "can you still get film for that?" question more than any other. Recently someone with a DSLR around their neck asked me about the camera I had on me (A Kodak Retina #117) and asked about the availability of film. (To be fair, looking at the first model Retina, its not at all obvious what film format it takes, so it could easily have been an extinct format) I told him that yes indeed, film was widely available, made by Kodak, Ilford, Fuji and half a dozen others. He wasn't being the least bit offensive or opinionated - he was genuinely curious, and I welcomed that. He asked me if I used a DSLR too, and I said I have one, but rarely use it for anything. He asked what I preferred about my little 35mm Retina from 1934, and I answered:

"This camera is 85 years old and works almost as well as the day it left the factory. Do you suppose your DSLR will still be functional when its 85?" I wasn't being smarmy or sarcastic or anything - just asking an honest question. You could tell he was thinking about that, thinking carefully. He said, after a long pause "I guess you have a good point there".

mcfitz · Mar 25, 2019

Trust me, as a woman, you are getting off lightly in terms of unsolicited comments or attention while taking photographs.
Or just being out and about.
Shoulder shrug. Who cares.
To each their own.

nmp · Mar 25, 2019

Kodachromeguy said:
How is he denying other people's photography? He related how he gets ignorant questions when he has his film camera. In my case, I have had only positive responses when I meet people while using my film cameras. Often a comment goes in terms of "That's so cool." They do often ask where I get film developed, and I explain the options (in USA).

Why would you call people with digital cameras "digital imagers" not photographers? Seems to me that OP thinks what people with digital camera do is not photography.

BrianShaw · Mar 25, 2019

nmp said:
Why would you call people with digital cameras "digital imagers" not photographers? Seems to me that OP thinks what people with digital camera do is not photography.

I refer to myself as a film imager....

MattKing · Mar 25, 2019

Every once in a while, I take out my old Kodak folder that was designed for 616 film and, with the help of a couple of adapters, run a roll of 120 through it.
I guess if I was asked the "Can you still get film for it?" question, the strictly technical answer is something like "Not the stuff that it was made for, but I can make do with some other film that is still made and sold in quantity".
My Darkroom Group was recently asked to do a view camera and pinhole photography demonstration by a high school photography teacher. Several cameras were set up, and the film was developed in the school darkroom.
I wasn't able to go due to a scheduling conflict, but all reports indicate that the photography teacher, a couple of other teachers from the school, the photography class and a few students from other classes were all interested, enthusiastic and attentive.
Which is a roundabout way of indicating that while some our working under a misunderstanding, others are learning the current truth.

Pioneer · Mar 25, 2019

The only times I get any people approaching me while out and about is when I am carrying my Rolleiflex (or in my case lately, my Ikoflex.) That is when I have had a few odd encounters including a wonderful older woman who was thrilled and wanted to take some pictures with my camera right on the spot. Evidently she had used a Rolleiflex professionally in her prior years.

I let her take a couple of shots and she did recognize that the camera was not a Rolleiflex. I think she was a little disappointed but when I explained that at my age the Ikoflex was much easier to focus she seemed satisfied.

Most people react very positively to the TLR and I am not really sure why, but it is neat.

DonJ · Mar 25, 2019

BradS said:
I often go out with a 35mm SLR around my neck. By now I am well accustomed to complete strangers asking all manner of questions...as I'm sure all of you are too...
"Is that a film Camera?"
"Can you still get film for that?"
"Is that a black and white camera?" ---- yes, people really ask me this.
"Why don't you go digital?"

I occasionally get the devout digital imager that, essentially, informs me that they went digital, I should too, I'm dumb if don't ...but this doesn't really seem to happen too much any more.

This past weekend I experienced a new one...I was out in the woods and a digital imager confronted me. He asserted (wasn't asking but telling ) that...
"You cannot get film for that anymore."
"You cannot get it processed anymore."

I was just so blown away, I didn't even know what to say....I just shrugged my shoulders and said, "good to know. Thanks." and walked away.

I'd probably go with, "Are you saying the voices are WRONG?!??!", while getting increasingly agitated. .

DonJ · Mar 25, 2019

nmp said:
Why would you call people with digital cameras "digital imagers" not photographers? Seems to me that OP thinks what people with digital camera do is not photography.

I think the only intent was to identify the person as a non-film photographer.

Vaughn · Mar 25, 2019

I had my 11x14 set up in a canyon, a half-mile or so from the parking lot. "Can you still get film for that?" An innocent question, but one is still tempted to say, "No. I just like looking at the ground glass." Instead I say, "Yes, would you like to look thru the camera?"

PS -- there are black and white digital cameras...some with IR sensitivity.

Luckless · Mar 25, 2019

I don't seem to have any problems like that, but if I'm shooting film I'm using a medium or large format system, and can just honestly tell them that I can't afford digital backs that large, and everyone seems to accept and understand.

Maybe you just need to upgrade to larger film too?

But really I find that I don't have any issues. "Yes, you can still get film from a few places. [either here in town, or just order online]" and "I develop it myself with a small home setup, but I could also pay a lab to do it for me." settle most of the usual questions I get.

Chan Tran · Mar 25, 2019

Nobody ever said that to me but if someone does I wouldn't mind. I just answer their questions.
It's a film camera.
I can get film for it.
My camera can be used as either B&W or color.
There is no need to go digital.
Yes I am dumb so what's the matter? I have no right to be dumb?????

faberryman · Mar 25, 2019

TheFlyingCamera said:
I politely inform them, once, that the garbled syllables emerging from their pie-hole are unintelligible nonsense and that yes, you can still get film and processing, and that Kodak is still in business, etc etc. If they persist, I leave them to their delusions and tell them I have film to shoot, thanks for their time. And then I walk away before the urge to club them over the head with my Mamiya RZ67 becomes uncontrollable.

Wow. Such anger. Makes you wonder.

DWThomas · Mar 25, 2019

Pioneer said:
Most people react very positively to the TLR and I am not really sure why, but it is neat.

This has been my experience also. I guess partly it's more obviously an older camera -- at ten yards, the difference between a Canon EOS 3 and an EOS 80D is not that obvious unless the photographer is chimping. I've had a number of interesting conversations with strangers while traipsing around with my Yashica 124G.

A year or so back I was finishing off a roll in my Ercona II folder, working along a local rail trail. A young kid whizzed by, trailed by his dad who promptly called him back and brought him over as he told the kid "now there is a REAL camera!"

Ariston · Mar 25, 2019

I am always nice and try to win people over. We need more people using film... the younger the better.

jvo · Mar 25, 2019

With a big smile on my face _ "you're absolutely right! i'm wasting my time!"

often, they are taken aback and are less dogmatic and open to a conversation! or, they walk away. either way, it's pleasant for me.

warden · Mar 25, 2019

The only exchanges I've had with "civilians" have been quite polite and non-judgmental. Those that can be bothered to comment, usually start with wondering aloud if film and processing are still available, and who can blame them if this isn't their area of interest? And if I'm using an oddball camera (one that doesn't look like the last SLR they used before leaving film) they're usually quite interested in the camera.

No matter the camera I'm using, I hand it to them so they can play and look through the viewfinder. There is usually a 'wow' moment, remembering how things used to be.

removedacct1 · Mar 25, 2019

Ariston said:
I am always nice and try to win people over. We need more people using film... the younger the better.

I like your attitude. There's no point to responding with a snarky reply that only makes people feel bad for asking a simple question. It seems to me that if someone asks "can you still get film for that?" then they are genuinely curious about what you are doing, and why. I prefer to share with people why I choose to work with technology that many find pointless or obsolete. Its a teachable moment, as they say.

How to deal with photography deniers?

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