How to deal with photography deniers?

[lecarp]

When a person interrupts my work to point out the error of my ways and why I should be using digital, I respond with this.

Wow, you have really been suckered into that digital crap, I bet your one of those people that carries a cell phone everywhere you go too!

They usually leave, or we both get a good laugh if the have a sense of humor.

 

[Martin G]

I have never been told "you can't get film for that anymore" when I'm out and about with a film camera but I would seriously be tempted to reply "Shhh, don't tell anyone. I'm pretending."

 

[Black Dog]

I have never been told "you can't get film for that anymore" when I'm out and about with a film camera but I would seriously be tempted to reply "Shhh, don't tell anyone. I'm pretending."

Hahaha... good one!

 

[odell1618photography]

I don’t think there is any reason to be snarky and less than polite when someone shows an interest in what you’re doing. Take it as an opportunity to meet someone new and share your interest with them.

 

[Martin G]

I don’t think there is any reason to be snarky and less than polite when someone shows an interest in what you’re doing. Take it as an opportunity to meet someone new and share your interest with them.

You are probably right, too snarky. In any case, I have only ever had people show genuine interest rather than denial of the existence of film.

 

[Stephen Prunier]

When I'm out with my camera it's an RZ67 so there's no keeping a low profile Normally I'm by myself off the beaten path, but, if there are others around me and if I'm asked, I get a kick out of showing them my camera and explaining that film is still available in many sizes, etc. I tell them that it may not be as popular as it once was, but there's still plenty of demand for it.

 

[wyofilm]

I must live in a nice place. Most people are either surprised (pleasantly) or ambivalent. Occasionally, someone is knowledgeable about the current state off film. They are usually younger. Although last year we had a 19 year old intern working at our ranch who didn't know film still existed. I sent her and my kids out with film cameras. She had fun.

My brother is visiting and he was pestering me about how great his iphone is (I don't disagree). I asked him how many prints he has from the last five years of iphone use? None. He thinks he has memories of his kids growing up, for example. Sadly, he and so many others don't. Not unless they are vigilant in making prints and/or keeping up with collated archives of pictures. Such was an epiphany for me a couple years ago when Apple said adios to the program Aperture. It was real work to straighten out years of digital pics.

When I told him for snapshots I carry a nice 35 mm point and shoot. I shoot a roll of film, drop it in an envelope and later return to the post office with negs, prints, and scans to drop into a shoe box. Magic! A time capsule for my kids and my kids kids. Pretty simple. Nothing is guaranteed. Fire/flood, what have you could wipe out my photos. Still ... He asked if maybe I could help find a camera like mine to buy.

 

[Acticus]

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

Just tell him you make your own from bacon grease and recycled cardboard!

 

[Black Dog]

Just tell him you make your own from bacon grease and recycled cardboard!

Under a gibbous moon!

 

[benjiboy]

I find a swift kick in privates very effective

 

[John51]

I have never been told "you can't get film for that anymore" when I'm out and about with a film camera but I would seriously be tempted to reply "Shhh, don't tell anyone. I'm pretending."

On an old tv comedy, the old men at the glamour shoot didn't have film in the camera.

 

[kevs]

On an old tv comedy, the old men at the glamour shoot didn't have film in the camera.

Good one. When a pro photographer friend of mine was photographing an event with two DSLRs, I was using 35mm film at the same event. I joked that he'd been taking pictures all day but I never one saw him put a film in his camera...

 

[Martin G]

I was out the other day with a Rolleiflex 6006 and had someone ask if the camera took video. I tried to explain but when I said "film" they kept thinking "video".

 

[Helios 1984]

I was out the other day with a Rolleiflex 6006 and had someone ask if the camera took video. I tried to explain but when I said "film" they kept thinking "video".

Legit.

 

[ME Super]

If you enjoy something, is it really a waste of time?

Wait 'til you tell them you can develop your B&W film in lye and Tylenol (lye making it alkaline, and Tylenol is acetaminophen, which is hydrolyzed to the active ingredient in parodinal), and fix it with pool chemicals (sodium thiosulfate is a chlorine neutralizer, used when the chlorine levels in your pool are too high)!

I have a digital camera too, but I still really like film.

 

[BradS]

The last few times I've been out for coffee (and internet service) at the local Peet's, I've been accosted by somebody wanting to know about my camera. Last time, it was a well loved Nikon F2 and 50mm f/2 AI Nikkor...pretty pedestrian stuff. The guy looked to be in his late forties or early fifties - plenty old enough.

He opened by admiring the camera. "nice camera" he says. I'm thinking maybe he's gonna engage me in the usual,...I used to have a (35mm SLR) but then I went digital...blah, blah, blah... but he instead, he launched an interrogation that had me dumbfounded.
"What are you doing with it?" , he asked.
I really didn't understand what he was asking...I mean, isn't it obvious...??? I'm photographing (and secretly, it is my security blanket).
I thought maybe he was asking what film I was using..."Fuji color print film", I replied.
"What are you taking pictures of?", he asked.
Ah, I'm thinking, he is one of those suspicious types and...wtf business is it of his what I am photographing?.
"Oh, you know, the usual stuff....friends, family, places, red cars passing by...."
and then he just turned and walked away... ??? bizarre.

 

[faberryman]

The last few times I've been out for coffee (and internet service) at the local Peet's, I've been accosted by somebody wanting to know about my camera. Last time, it was a well loved Nikon F2 and 50mm f/2 AI Nikkor...pretty pedestrian stuff. The guy looked to be in his late forties or early fifties - plenty old enough.

He opened by admiring the camera. "nice camera" he says. I'm thinking maybe he's gonna engage me in the usual,...I used to have a (35mm SLR) but then I went digital...blah, blah, blah... but he instead, he launched an interrogation that had me dumbfounded.
"What are you doing with it?" , he asked.
I really didn't understand what he was asking...I mean, isn't it obvious...??? I'm photographing (and secretly, it is my security blanket).
I thought maybe he was asking what film I was using..."Fuji color print film", I replied.
"What are you taking pictures of?", he asked.
Ah, I'm thinking, he is one of those suspicious types and...wtf business is it of his what I am photographing?.
"Oh, you know, the usual stuff....friends, family, places, red cars passing by...."
and then he just turned and walked away... ??? bizarre.

Those seem like perfectly reasonable questions. What would you have preferred him to ask?

 

[BradS]

Those seem like perfectly reasonable questions. What would you have preferred him to ask?

Frankly, I would have preferred him to leave me the fuck alone.

 

[faberryman]

Frankly, I would have preferred him to leave me the fuck alone.

I generally agree with that sentiment, but a lot of analog photographers carry cameras to spark conversation, and then come here to complain about the response they get.

 

[BradS]

I generally agree with that sentiment, but a lot of analog photographers carry cameras to spark conversation, and then come here to complain about the response they get.

Ah...yes, I suppose that is true. That is not me.
I just don't like to leave the camera in the (usually hot) car while I get coffee and internet service.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Frankly, I would have preferred him to leave me the fuck alone.

+1

I generally agree with that sentiment, but a lot of analog photographers carry cameras to spark conversation, and then come here to complain about the response they get.

I carry my camera to take photographs. I do not need a security blanket. I do not have to walk a dog to get into a conversation, if I choose to.