How to promote film use?

[clayne]

I have to admit though, Sirius did make me laugh with stink-jet.

 

[Sirius Glass]

OzJohn, hold a print on single weight or double weight paper and looking at it will always beat looking at a computer screen or a gloppy stink-jet print on crappy paper. If you can't tell the difference, why bother to continue the conversation.

 

[OzJohn]

OzJohn, hold a print on single weight or double weight paper and looking at it will always beat looking at a computer screen or a gloppy stink-jet print on crappy paper. If you can't tell the difference, why bother to continue the conversation.

I don't print anything except proofs on ijet so on that score I don't disagree with you. I just think that your preferred definition of a "real" photograph is way off beam. A photograph is the image created in a camera. A print is nothing more than an interpretation of that image made by a particular person at a particular time and there are countless different interpretations possible. OzJohn

 

[zsas]

Promote it by shooting film a lot in public, any one asks abt the camera take a min to explain it and how easy it is (eg film easy avail at Amazon, drop off Walmart avail, darkroom home b/w process easy eyc). Not pushy, just chatty, etc

 

[removed account4]

Promote it by shooting film a lot in public, any one asks abt the camera take a min to explain it and how easy it is (eg film easy avail at Amazon, drop off Walmart avail, darkroom home b/w process easy eyc). Not pushy, just chatty, etc

+1

 

[removed account4]

I disagree, a photograph is not a photograph until it is printed on paper with chemical methods. Nothing else looks like it; not a computer scan nor a crap print from a stink-jet printer.

Steve

LOL

this reminds me of a guy who was here on apug way in the beginning
he railed on and on about how bad the other medium was ...
and chris jordan met up with him and showed him some of his prints
and he never railed anyone again ... ( and actually apologized ) ...

a photograph is a " light drawing '
and there are many different ways to do that ... some with chemicals some without ...
i've shown things i have made with the other medium to people who were so called experts
and they couldn't tell me which ones were made with chemicals and which ones weren't ...
i don't think your statements are true ...

 

[photomy]

PKM-25 comment on the Is Kodak dead thread made me think about starting a thread about how we can promote film use and how Apug could help in promoting film and analogue photography.

1) Showing Kids, young adults and all other people the wonder of film and darkroom
2) Sending in analogue photographic works to all relevant Photomags
3) Pushing for film on professional jobs
4) Buying Film
5) Shooting lots of film
etc...
I am open for any suggestions

Dominik

I am not sure it will matter. The sad part is that the film manufacturing segment of Kodak has been kept going the last several years by the motion picture industry. Now all of the movie houses are insisting on converting as quickly as possible to digital projection for the efficiency and cost savings. It is happening scary fast. Kodak's excess capacity will sky-rocket to the area of 80% or higher within 2 to 3 years. This cannot be maintained and so they will probably try to completely restructure this business and sell it off. The scaled down version of the operation may attempt to keep a couple C-41 films going at higher prices. Not sure how many labs will hang in there - maybe a handful.

= tommy

 

[Toffle]

A local school gave me two more enlargers last week, so today, I am holding a "Free Darkroom Workshop". That is, I am hosting an acquaintance who is interested in trying darkroom work. We will spend a few hours learning some basic techniques, and when he leaves, he is taking with him a small but complete darkroom setup for his own home. It was going to end up in the trash, but this way there is a chance it will get some use. Wish me luck.

 

[Toffle]

A local school gave me two more enlargers last week, so today, I am holding a "Free Darkroom Workshop". That is, I am hosting an acquaintance who is interested in trying darkroom work. We will spend a few hours learning some basic techniques, and when he leaves, he is taking with him a small but complete darkroom setup for his own home. It was going to end up in the trash, but this way there is a chance it will get some use. Wish me luck.

Just as a follow up, this turned into a very enjoyable and successful afternoon. A young husband/wife with a passion for photography came over and spent three hours with me in my darkroom. They left with their own prints, an enlarger, trays, timer, safelight, etc., all of which were surplus to me. They were heading straight for the photography store to pick up film, paper and chemicals. All in all, a great day in service of traditional photographic techniques.

BTW, that's how you promote film use.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Well done, Tom!

On a smaller scale I've been trying to do the same, by introducing some friends and acquaintances to the world of film based photography I've successfully added a couple of enthusiasts to the ranks of practitioners. I'm very proud of that, and continue to support them with a lens here and there, some film, or maybe a few trays or something.

- Thomas

 

[Photo Engineer]

Interestingly enough, this probably would not work in Rochester due to lack of interest.

IDK why.

PE

 

[zsas]

Tom what a great story! Warms the heart for sure!

 

[ME Super]

Kids are asking for film cameras

We went to my parents' house last night. On the way home, my daughter commented that she'd like to try my SLR because, as she put it, "Digital is okay, but your film pictures are pretty." After we got home, my son commented that he'd like a camera like mine so he could take pictures of his pet dove in flight with wing detail. And of course he totally loves projected slides. Guess I better put some money in the budget for a couple SLRs with a good lens for the kids!

ME Super

 

[labyrinth photo]

we have put on a show here in london. we are a new analogue pro-lab and we asked our clients to choose a neg for us to print, more than 50 images
we had 500 or so people at the opening (the free beer may have helped) and interest from national press, local radio and the british journal of photography.
the spin was that almost all the work was recent thus proving that film use was still relevant in a variety of situations, hopefully the printing proved the point too.
obviously it was a huge pr excercise for us but also for the medium.
we also have darkrooms for hire and offer courses for kids etc via http://www.fourcornersfilm.co.uk/
here are a few links:

http://www.labyrinthphotographic.co.uk/a-year-in-development-exhibition-february-2012/

http://wayneford.posterous.com/a-year-in-development-a-celebration-of-the-ph

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...ZBRSlWZB4lh30zUb1iHmZAW6wZDZD&expires_in=4574

 

[Alexis M]

Make videos on you tube why you like film so much…this guy tim haines did it and is attracting some curiosity. Think about it, this kind of promoting may light a few switches in the minds of younger individuals who want to get into photography but don’t have a small fortune to spend on a digital system.

People who are more into artistic photography will eventually turn to film and stay with it (if they become aware of it). There is no comparing the satisfaction you get or the beauty of a print made in the darkroom to a digital image from Photoshop…but you all know this of course. The trick is to make others know this as well. The best way to promote something like this is showing your passion for it to those who will listen.

Ken Rockwell’s Web site promote film use, whether intentional or not. He gets a lot of newbie viewers so there you go…

We should stop saying “film is not dead” it’s like saying “I’m not stupid” it just makes most suspect that you are.

Finally, maybe people will get fed up of buying new cameras because the one they have doesn’t work with their new computer or the battery is discontinued or that the LCD screen went blank…whatever. Maybe they will get fed up of just burning up all their money continuously trying to keep up to date with technology and it’s frivolous upgrades. Maybe, just maybe they will realize that the benefit of digital is outweighed by its drawbacks…or at least some may.

If film is discontinued completely, I will buy a plate camera and make my own custom emulsions, I just like the process too much. In fact I see this as my next step up sometime soon.

 

[TimFox]

Tourist attraction

Last fall, I became a tourist attraction myself, on a free day following a business trip to Las Vegas. I took my lightweight 4x5 (Toyo carbon-fiber field camera) to Valley of Fire state park to shoot red rocks. When the tour buses full of European tourists arrived after the good light, some of them took pictures of me with tripod and dark cloth. As others posted above, I allowed interested onlookers to look at the ground glass under the cloth and explained why it was inverted.

 

[amsp]

Interestingly enough pretty much all the hottest young editorial photographers I've discovered lately seem to be shooting mainly or exclusively film, some are even using large format. And yet the film-is-dead-myth is still perpetuated, it's very weird.

 

[CGW]

Interestingly enough pretty much all the hottest young editorial photographers I've discovered lately seem to be shooting mainly or exclusively film, some are even using large format. And yet the film-is-dead-myth is still perpetuated, it's very weird.

OK, like who?

 

[amsp]

OK, like who?

For example...

http://jakestangel.com
http://www.markmahaney.com

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

The most frequently asked question or observation?

"Is that a film camera? Can you still get film for that?" *​

The second most frequently asked question or observation (usually accompanied by sad, downward-looking eyes)?

"I'm sorry. All I have is this digital camera..."​

Ken

* I refuse to play the smartass since I realize the questions are asked in good faith. But sometimes I want to answer "No actually, you can't" just to see how long it takes to register.

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

I had an interesting conversation with a fellow educator who also teaches inner city school kids photography. She was gripping about the quality of the small digi-snappers that were allotted this year (one was a vivitar point n shoot). I had remarked that film cameras were very affordable on the entry level and even offered the use of some cameras and the darkroom, because the photos though ok were of very poor resolution and color rendition. The response was a very big No way! I was a bit surprised, she herself admitted she was a long time film photographer with b&w, and that it was very lovely but it was convience of editing and the instant viewing of images that were important to her.

I find that's with many of my friends too, many all want to learn but few commit, with cameras that just sit and gather dust. But they will snap away with their phone and throw a few filters on the images. It's just the convience of it all they say.

This past weekend's WSJ review section had a massive spread of cameras and lenses that took up more than half the front page of that section. The majority of them film cameras from leicas to mediumformat bronicas. The article was about iPhone camera apps. Yea I know, I felt a bit sick too after reading a bit of it. Again it was about convience.

Truthfully I don't think using a film camera is that much more work. The quality of the work in return is more than worth the time spent developing and printing it. And for beginners it establishes a firm base of knowlege and understanding. I'm doing my part by stressing this fact, as well as teaching and helping in any way, to get students shooting film and working in the darkroom. This past winter term, I've taught a group of about 50 students on b&w films and paper as well as an intern from the ground up. They love the darkroom and I'm glad they are learning so quickly.

 

[alex66]

I had an interesting conversation with a fellow educator who also teaches inner city school kids photography. She was gripping about the quality of the small digi-snappers that were allotted this year (one was a vivitar point n shoot). I had remarked that film cameras were very affordable on the entry level and even offered the use of some cameras and the darkroom, because the photos though ok were of very poor resolution and color rendition. The response was a very big No way! I was a bit surprised, she herself admitted she was a long time film photographer with b&w, and that it was very lovely but it was convience of editing and the instant viewing of images that were important to her.

I find that's with many of my friends too, many all want to learn but few commit, with cameras that just sit and gather dust. But they will snap away with their phone and throw a few filters on the images. It's just the convience of it all they say.

This past weekend's WSJ review section had a massive spread of cameras and lenses that took up more than half the front page of that section. The majority of them film cameras from leicas to mediumformat bronicas. The article was about iPhone camera apps. Yea I know, I felt a bit sick too after reading a bit of it. Again it was about convience.

Truthfully I don't think using a film camera is that much more work. The quality of the work in return is more than worth the time spent developing and printing it. And for beginners it establishes a firm base of knowlege and understanding. I'm doing my part by stressing this fact, as well as teaching and helping in any way, to get students shooting film and working in the darkroom. This past winter term, I've taught a group of about 50 students on b&w films and paper as well as an intern from the ground up. They love the darkroom and I'm glad they are learning so quickly.

Get them early, a child will look in wonder at a monochrome print magically appearing in developer, I was taught at school and the first thing I bought when I got a job was a low cost darkroom set up. Sadly though we are in an age of instant gratification, my brother (a barrister) has drawn up papers for me to get anyone to sign after our daughter is born stating no f***ing camera phones, we detest the things.

 

[ajuk]

Look at the Japanese Fuji website they seem to do a lot more to promote film there, and they even have new cameras, and decent ones to, why do they not sell those in the west?

 

[labyrinth photo]

For example...

http://jakestangel.com
http://www.markmahaney.com

some may not all be young, but in london there are plenty of big name photographers using film:

http://www.artpartner.com/artists/image/alasdair-mclellan/
http://juergenteller.com/
http://timwalkerphotography.com/
http://www.tyronelebon.com/
http://www.danholdsworth.com/
Dead Link Removed
Dead Link Removed
http://www.zednelson.com/
Dead Link Removed
http://www.massimovitali.com/
Dead Link Removed

guys like bruce weber, albert watson, jason schmidt and christain witkin are all film users.

need i go on?

 

[amsp]

some may not all be young, but in london there are plenty of big name photographers using film:

http://www.artpartner.com/artists/image/alasdair-mclellan/
http://juergenteller.com/
http://timwalkerphotography.com/
http://www.tyronelebon.com/
http://www.danholdsworth.com/
Dead Link Removed
Dead Link Removed
http://www.zednelson.com/
Dead Link Removed
http://www.massimovitali.com/
Dead Link Removed

guys like bruce weber, albert watson, jason schmidt and christain witkin are all film users.

need i go on?

Well, what I found encouraging was that not only the older and already famous photographers were still using film, but rather that some of the new and promising ones were too. It was also a statement on how much their work stands out (to me at least) because of it. Ironically in the sea of digital images analog photos look different and fresh.