When did you last promote film use?
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Last week I went out for lunch with a colleague that has the same photo hobby except he shoots digital only. Since I just bought a very nice Olympus OM-2 with normal lens for $50 I figured I can take it with me and see how it works. In the restaurant I took the Oly out and took few shots. My colleague was very curious how the pictures will turn out as he saw me shooting with 1 sec shutter speed holding the camera steady on the table. The other day I scanned the negs and sent the pics to my colleague. He said he could not believe that film shots from an old camera can be so sharp and look so well. I don't expect to win people over or convert them to film but it makes me feel good when they appreciate the look of film.
I too shoot film. I mostly shoot film, in fact. I've not touched my EOS 5D DSLR in several weeks, as I have been using my EOS-3 35mm film body or other film bodies solid for a long time now.
However, I think there are ethical issues that come into play when one promotes film to a digital user or newbie to photography, on the basis of film being "better".
Film is not better or worse then digital, if you ask me. There are some shots that will come out better if one uses one type of camera over the other. So you see, this is not an absolute nor black and white matter (pun unintended).
I promote film on the basis of it being different, and that the differences are a good thing.
Personally, I see the turning of one's bias into a religion as a bad thing because it causes one to become subjective, and unreasonable. It's a form of elitism, and snobbery, to be sure.
The fact is, one can make great awesome compositions, having top notch image quality with both film and digital cameras.
And those that bad mouth one in order to promote the other are doing a disservice to those that are still learning, and are easily manipulated one way or the other.
If anyone cops an attitude because you use only one type over the other, that person is dead wrong, regardless if they're a film or digital bigot.
However, I think there are ethical issues that come into play when one promotes film to a digital user or newbie to photography, on the basis of film being "better".
Film is not better or worse then digital, if you ask me. There are some shots that will come out better if one uses one type of camera over the other. So you see, this is not an absolute nor black and white matter (pun unintended).
I promote film on the basis of it being different, and that the differences are a good thing.
Personally, I see the turning of one's bias into a religion as a bad thing because it causes one to become subjective, and unreasonable. It's a form of elitism, and snobbery, to be sure.
The fact is, one can make great awesome compositions, having top notch image quality with both film and digital cameras.
And those that bad mouth one in order to promote the other are doing a disservice to those that are still learning, and are easily manipulated one way or the other.
If anyone cops an attitude because you use only one type over the other, that person is dead wrong, regardless if they're a film or digital bigot.
Went to the local camera (mostly digital) club last night with a bunch of images from the postcard, alt, lith, and group print exchanges I've taken part in. Just wanted to show them that there are people all over working with film and various non-digital processes - and talk about how inspring it has been to me to see the work of others.
A couple of folks were asking questions after, about where to get supplies, but the commonest response was along the lines of "enjoyed your presentation, but I don't have time for stuff like that...."
A couple of folks were asking questions after, about where to get supplies, but the commonest response was along the lines of "enjoyed your presentation, but I don't have time for stuff like that...."
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i always try to be visible with a camera ...
holiday occasions with friends and family,
on the street when i work or just make snaps.
a few days ago i donated a few ( 5 or 6 ?) plak mounted
prints to a local school for an auction which helps
pay for a pre-school program. all the images were
film-based and i made sure they knew it, they were quite happy
holiday occasions with friends and family,
on the street when i work or just make snaps.
a few days ago i donated a few ( 5 or 6 ?) plak mounted
prints to a local school for an auction which helps
pay for a pre-school program. all the images were
film-based and i made sure they knew it, they were quite happy
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Maybe focus on their current inetrest in digital photography and show them that you can do the same subject much better in film media anway they want. Fuji Velvia 100 will smoke any exotic super expensive digital camera images.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e50/ronnie_angel/Valley Of Fire Nevada/crop0008-copy.jpg
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I promote film every chance I get. I have a digital camera that I got for Christmas last year from my parents, but I hardly ever use it. It does record nice videos, but for pictures I mostly just use it for snapshots. For REAL photography, especially landscape photos, I prefer film. I develop my B&W film and pictures myself, and real optical prints from an enlarger are a million times better than anything I've ever taken with a digital camera. All my friends pretty much know that I use almost entirely film. I have a MySpace page, and I have a separate folder just for pictures I've taken with film. I've had people ask me what kind of camera and film I use, so there is a lot of interest. The funny thing is, with one of the pictures where I didn't have a caption yet, one person was really impressed and said how many "Wow! How many megapixels is your camera?" I had to laugh when I replied..."None. I took that with Kodak Plus-X 120 size FILM."
I'm actually going to have a few of my pictures displayed in a local restaurant where I live. It's nothing fancy, just a sandwhich shop. But it's a good place. I'm a regular customer and I asked the owner if he would be interested in a few pictures and he said sure. I brought them by, and he really liked them and he already put up a couple of them. A few people have already started looking at them. When people asked if I took them myself, I proudly tell them and yes, and with real black and white film.
Like someone else said, every time I go out with my cameras, I promote film. You'd be surprised at how curious people get if they see you shooting with a TLR. Most people don't really seem to notice, but I have had some people come up and ask me questions. The funny thing is too is that they're surprised to see a young person come out with an antique mechanical film camera. Every single film camera I own (35mm and 120) is WAY older than me. I'm 31, (and probably look even younger). I tell people I'm into photography as a hobby, and then they see me come out with a 50 year-old Argus C3 or Yashica A.
I'm actually going to have a few of my pictures displayed in a local restaurant where I live. It's nothing fancy, just a sandwhich shop. But it's a good place. I'm a regular customer and I asked the owner if he would be interested in a few pictures and he said sure. I brought them by, and he really liked them and he already put up a couple of them. A few people have already started looking at them. When people asked if I took them myself, I proudly tell them and yes, and with real black and white film.
Like someone else said, every time I go out with my cameras, I promote film. You'd be surprised at how curious people get if they see you shooting with a TLR. Most people don't really seem to notice, but I have had some people come up and ask me questions. The funny thing is too is that they're surprised to see a young person come out with an antique mechanical film camera. Every single film camera I own (35mm and 120) is WAY older than me. I'm 31, (and probably look even younger). I tell people I'm into photography as a hobby, and then they see me come out with a 50 year-old Argus C3 or Yashica A.
Just this weekend. I spent a wonderful time in Melbourne photographing my old Porsche 356A along with at least 100 others at our annual car parade.
I had 3 cameras going - 620 Junior, EOS1 and a 10D. The film cameras got used for everything; I'm doing some fine art work of these cars in B&W.
The d***** was just for me to record restoration images for my car.
The number of people who stopped and asked about the 620 was amazing - they loved the fact I was shooting film, plus with a camera older (1933-39) than the cars themselves!
Now just have to get into the darkroom to process and print.
-Nanette
I had 3 cameras going - 620 Junior, EOS1 and a 10D. The film cameras got used for everything; I'm doing some fine art work of these cars in B&W.
The d***** was just for me to record restoration images for my car.
The number of people who stopped and asked about the 620 was amazing - they loved the fact I was shooting film, plus with a camera older (1933-39) than the cars themselves!
Now just have to get into the darkroom to process and print.
-Nanette
I'm afraid that my friend adn I really were their very first introduction to film.
The trouble with Windhoek is that even before the mainstreamification of digital photography, photo equipment was hard to get hold of, and pricey. For all its sins, digital has put photography (of sorts) within reach of a far greater population than before.
These kids were really never exposed to film before!
10 years ago the club had 30-40 members and 15-20 would show up for a meeting. Now there are well over 100 members and there were 60 attending on Tuesday this week.
Digital has made everyone into a photographer - the membership ranges from those who want to know why there are other settings beisdes "auto", to professionals or those who could be. I quite enjoy the digital work of one member whose passion is birds. Incredible work, and digital is the perfect medium for wildlife.
The club I used to go to also increased it's membership substantially when digital arrived. I was one of two film users.
There are many digital only photographers who are talented and whose work I like but the people I don't understand are those who do photography as a hobby but only want to use what they see as the most convenient methods who make comments to the effect of: 'I haven't got time to develop film' or 'who wants to spend hours in a darkroom?'.
When it's a hobby, I don't think convenience comes into it at all.
It's on the same level as an artist working with oil paints changing over to acrylic because they don't have time to wait for the paint to dry.
Steve.
There are many digital only photographers who are talented and whose work I like but the people I don't understand are those who do photography as a hobby but only want to use what they see as the most convenient methods who make comments to the effect of: 'I haven't got time to develop film' or 'who wants to spend hours in a darkroom?'.
When it's a hobby, I don't think convenience comes into it at all.
It's on the same level as an artist working with oil paints changing over to acrylic because they don't have time to wait for the paint to dry.
Steve.
I work in TV, and I never shoot at work. We have these amazing videographers who win national awards for their stuff, they argue incessantly about what makes good video. Even though that was where I wanted to go when I first got into TV, I'm just a producer now.
On election night, I brought in my Fuji 645. A lot of comments about how "That's one big digital camera." I'd say, "No, it's film." I wanted to shoot something historic on film. I wanted it to exist as a negative, not a series of numbers on a disk. Because for me, that's how history is recorded. The shooters all thought that was cool.
So there we are in the newsroom when NBC calls the election for Obama. Bernice King is there, the daughter of MLK, along with Dr. Lowery and a host of others, and they are all weeping. I am trying to snap away without being obnoxious. And it's hard. I know that I don't have the vision or the skills, and the light in the room is harsh and florescent, but this is the biggest story of my life. I am not a photojournalist, but I have it on film for as close to forever as careful washing can get it.
Then one of the guys who was shooting over my shoulder says, "You've got it on film, right? You can't ever erase that."
On election night, I brought in my Fuji 645. A lot of comments about how "That's one big digital camera." I'd say, "No, it's film." I wanted to shoot something historic on film. I wanted it to exist as a negative, not a series of numbers on a disk. Because for me, that's how history is recorded. The shooters all thought that was cool.
So there we are in the newsroom when NBC calls the election for Obama. Bernice King is there, the daughter of MLK, along with Dr. Lowery and a host of others, and they are all weeping. I am trying to snap away without being obnoxious. And it's hard. I know that I don't have the vision or the skills, and the light in the room is harsh and florescent, but this is the biggest story of my life. I am not a photojournalist, but I have it on film for as close to forever as careful washing can get it.
Then one of the guys who was shooting over my shoulder says, "You've got it on film, right? You can't ever erase that."
We had Barb's (my spouse) colleagues out to the lake for a gig. They were admiring the prints I have hanging on the wall when one of them said "Wow these are great. I guess I need to get a new camera." To which I replied, "Actually, you need an old camera to make prints like these. All these prints are shot on film, and printed optically. You can't make prints like these with digital." Someone else said "Compared to these, my digital prints look like imitations"
I would be more concerned about promoting good pictures than just any pictures done in a certain media.
When I signed up to APUG!
And when I just got my girlfriend to buy me a Contax 645 for Xmas!
I won't knock dig though, too many great things I've seen out there, but I don't think it hurts to big up film, it's not like digital needs anyone waving a flag in its corner to keep the medium alive.
And when I just got my girlfriend to buy me a Contax 645 for Xmas!
I won't knock dig though, too many great things I've seen out there, but I don't think it hurts to big up film, it's not like digital needs anyone waving a flag in its corner to keep the medium alive.
Over Thanksgiving, to everyone (we own two Nikon digital cameras, but I'm still a film hound). Pictures developing now (color, at a lab).
Hey I love film too, but lets not go over the top here...film stopped "smoking" the "exotic super expensive digital camera" years ago. There is just too much proof of this literally all over the internet, museums, galleries, etc...
2F/2F, there you go again applying reason, and logic to an othewise emotional and religious topic ;-)
Your response is perhaps the best in the entire thread ;-)
The film bigots and the digital bigots are both wrong! And I dare say we have more then a few film bigots here :-(
...and before anyone calls me a Judas, I too shot and love film...I'm just not religious about it...I try to stay objective, and dispassionate with media with tools.....save the passion for compositions, for pictures and leave tools like paint brushes, chisels, cameras and light sensitive media out of it!
Yes, that was the time when the public began to accept lesser quality images, like flat wedding albums of my friends and family, paper or aluminum. for the reason of cost. Same time when my friends and family show me flat pics that they jet ink printed from their point and shoot digicam and was so happy about it. My heart just break in sorrow, but long as they're happy. I say, blimey... what a lovely photo as much as I hate it.
From vinyl to CD, who won? The lower quality and less costly mp3.
The bottom line here is to promote the very foundation of analog photography, that is film. Once film die, our film camera, chemicals, paper, enlargers, and dedicated scanners will be nothing but a paper weight. Our developing and printing skills? At the death of film it will be nothing but memories. Long as film is selling, our printing and lithography will be there. After film is gone Apug will be a glass plate online forum.
For pro digital photographers, that's their livelihood. I'll leave them alone and lets' face it, they have the market. But... we can motivate the public to appreciate the beauty of film photography and use it, anyway they want, long as they keep the market alive on the very foundation of analog photography.
Let me add this, we already lost Kodachrome and Agfa. I read some old post here with some die hard film aficionado but unknowingly, they're just adding another nail to the coffin of the film media. They value their art more than it's foundation to exist.
I am never a pro but I've been shooting film since highschool. I still have my besseler enlarger in the attic, so as may kodak carousel.
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But Ron, who you going to influence by bashing digital? Why can't you help them live together in peace? And if in the end, film dies and no more for sale, it will not be the end of the world, yea?
I for one hope that day will never come, of course.
Perhaps we should be a lot more afraid of the day when making pictures will cease....and regardless of the media used to capture the images...
I am not bashing digital, I have 8 digital cameras, 3 in Leica glass and a D300. I use both media and they both work for me.
I have a Canon G9 that I call a poorman's M8, also I made tons of photo in Spain with my pocket rocket Panasonic LX1. Of course tons of Trix, Fp4+ and Ektachrome 100G in Spain.
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I believe that I promote film every time I go out shooting with my trusty old Nikon FG. While I use the camera because it's nice, light and allows me to focus my manual lenses quickly, I've noticed that I almost always seem to get a positive response from the people I run across, with things like "That's such a cute camera" having actually been uttered... Even the folk at my camera club's monthly portrait nights seem to react well to my FG. When I bring it, I don't get any of the "you should shoot digital" comments that I got when I was bringing the N8008s.
Spain is a great place to shoot. I've got lots of shots in Pamplona, during the running of the bulls...those people know how to have a good time.
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