The Inevitable

Folks who say film is obsolete mean it's obsolete for them. The more you learn about film and lighting, etc. the better you will be for film and for digital too (if you want to do that too). Check your local libraries and see what they have that can help you learn more about analog. Maybe they have the classic "Analog for Dummies" books. Maybe you will just use photography as a hobby or interest over the years, maybe it will become your life's work. Whatever, it is your decision, not anyone else's. Also, welcome to the APUG group - you can learn an awful lot of interesting stuff in here, as you are finding. I hope this helps you.

Paul

Very nice to see a young photographer thinking outside the box!

You have made a very good start into the magic of a very difficult craft. Like you I started at about 14 with my first camera ( a Balda 3mm folder) and I guess that I turned "Pro" the following year when my sister "Paid" me not to show the picture of her kissing her boyfriend to our parents. We laugh about it today and I still have the negative and photo as well.

My Dad was an avid photographer and he would only allow me to shoot B&W for the first year - he said that until I could get repeatable results - I also had to develop and print my own pictures - that I could not graduate to colour. Could be that he was just cheap - or maybe he knew a thing or two.

There is a lot of really good information and people on this site that you can turn to - not like in my early days. Use the resources that are available and put something back into the process by sharing your success and failures with us.

I have an entire lifetime of memories through photographs that I took - they are priceless to me because I took them. Some are very good and some are simple candid shots - but at the end of the day they tell a story. Some people write - some paint - some take pictures - all tell stories.

My advice (if you want it) is simple - for the next year buy lots of cheap film off ebay - black and white esp. and shoots lots (and develop your own) - but most often concentrate on format - laws of thirds - the play of light and equally important and often not mentioned - the play of shadows. Experiment and look at what results you have. Never Ever Throw out a negative!!! You have no idea that down the road that a single negative - badly exposed of a friend may be all you get to keep of them.

Play with every camera that you can get your hands on - even di****l. Above all have fun doing it and expect that there will be dry times when you will not bother to pick up a camera for any reason - and that there will be intense times that will make your film supplier wonder if you are right in the head!!!

I don't consider myself a "Pro" even though I take many pictures that I use in my work - simply because I don't expressly make my living from them. I do consider myself a "Photographer" because I care about what I do - my pictures are not the result of just pointing and shooting without thought - and sometimes the quick shots that to others look like you have just pulled out the camera and blasted away, carry the honed techniques of the thousands of previous thoughtful compositions. You are an artist when your camera becomes an extension of you.

Good luck and you have started on a journey that can last forever.

Photochucker

Great answers above! I sell photographs for a living and the only advice I can add is.... HAVE FUN.

Regrading your question on transporting film via airline. Detectors are stronger than they were a couple of years ago and hand-inspecting rules differ from country to country. I have had problems in USA, Italian and French airports, they try to rush you through very quickly. The workers will tell you that your slow film is fine and there will be no problems -- don't believe them. I will tell the workers that my slow speed film will be processed as 2500 ASA. They will have no idea and no grounds to argue the point. Remember, you will need to allow extra time getting through security. It is a hassel!! I was flying back home from Hawaii and I had to fight tooth and nail for a hand inspection. They wanted to open all unused 120 rolls and open my 4x5 boxes (????). I had to wait 30 min for a supervisor to argue with. Long story short, I got what I want, but took a long time. I now purchase or send film to the destinations I am coming and going from.

Regarding explaining yourself on using film..... I simply tell people I don't shoot digital because I don't NEED to.

HAVE FUN

Shane Knight
The Shane Knight Gallery

I've been taking film photography classes at my local college for the last 1 1/2 years. Believe me, the derision of film is not going to stop when you get out of high school. I started to take classes because I wanted to learn to use my Dad's old cameras and now I'm hooked!

I took a Photoshop class to help me with scanning a trunk full of Dad's old slides. My teacher took every opportunity to ridicule film, even stated that the school's darkroom wouldn't be operating much longer, as it didn't fit into the commercial photography program. And yet they've been teaching a "Toy Camera" class a lot lately - is that commercial? But the darkroom classes I've been in have been full, and while I'm 50 - most of the students are more traditional college aged and are devoted to film. So there is hope.

Nigel said:

Is that why I get funny looks on the subway when I am using my symphony to listen to some music?

Click to expand...

This made my day. My boss just came checking because I was hugging the desk laughing!

-Sino.