Worth it. It adds another layer of craftsmanship.
As AI becomes more common I'd rather spend my money and attention on something that I know had more time/thought/skill spent on it.
Photography by David S. Wallens
The medium we used to photograph our Miata back in the day? Film. It was either that or draw a picture.
We’d cover our assignment, drop off the film, and then return to the drug store an hour later, presenting our 50-off coupon at the register. It was simply part of our daily drill.
And the medium we’re using today? Again, back to film–not for magazine work but at our monthly Orlando Roadster events.
Why?
Good question. It’s kind of fun–a bit more involved than just whipping out a phone–while the images have a timeless warmth to them. It recalls summer evenings and time spent with old friends.
Perhaps you can call it the difference between driving a new, modern car and something with a bit more personality–like wind-up windows, a manual top and a real throttle cable. (Sounds a little like an early Miata, right?) Look past any current fashions and modern cars in the background and, yes, it is 1998 all over again.
The process of making photos with film takes a little more effort, too: manual focus, watching the light meter and just 36 images per roll of film.
[Vintage cameras: the most accessible way to experience the past?]
Why not just use an app?
Not the same experience. A related observation: We can’t recall the last time anyone seemed excited to see someone taking photos with a cell phone, while we get questions about the film cameras all the time.
So, what camera is it?
Canon A-1 or, in some cases, a Canon F-1.
Can you still buy film?
Yes with, perhaps, more options today than before. In addition to film from the two big names–that being Kodak and Fujifilm–today’s brands include smaller, niche players as well as movie film respooled for use in 35mm still cameras. Each film stock has its own look and feel.
Where do you get film developed?
The local one-hour photo labs have largely disappeared, but other options now exist. Here in Ormond Beach, Florida, we use a shop called Reformed Film Lab. We buy film from them, too.
Do you get prints, too?
While our lab offers prints, we just have the film processed and scanned. The process typically takes four or five business days.
What does all of this cost?
About $5 to $20 per roll of film–give or take a few bucks–plus another $15 or so for processing.
So, again, why go through all that time and expense?
Figure we can discuss that below.
Worth it. It adds another layer of craftsmanship.
As AI becomes more common I'd rather spend my money and attention on something that I know had more time/thought/skill spent on it.
Sometimes I forget how much fun it is to shoot with film until I pick up the camera again.
Then it's like, "oh yeah, that's why I spend all my money on this."
I love film photography. I had to take an art class in college, which was... wow... how long ago?
OK, let's just say they had digital photography back then, and it was already well-developed.
I took photography! Black and white film photography, to be exact, and I had to chemistry the E36 M3 out of that film to develop it into something I could then shoot at some paper, and then.... more chemistry. It wasn't art, it was science! Every shot was carefully-planned, and so more pictures looked good than not. It was very fun, and I learned stuff that helps me take better pictures even today.
Great idea for an article. Thanks for doing something cool like that. Do you have more pictures you can post here?
I always liked doing the darkroom work for photography. Back in '98 digital cameras were pretty terrible. I got my first one around that time and the pics were barely tolerable to print a 3x5. Storage and editing were a huge PITA. Remember those compact flash cards with an actual hard drive inside?
In reply to confuZion3 :
Yeah, the film work has been fun, and you can find more of my film photos in the full article, this forum thread about my film photography adventures, this forum thread for the photographers in the mix, and my personal Instagram.
This article and some of the related threads have been inspiring. I just dropped off a couple of rolls of mystery film that I had lying around for... years and years... I'm not sure if they will develop. I found a half used roll in my Cannon, as well as a new-old-stock from college 18 years ago, so I took that to Cars and Coffee today and shot as much of it as I could. Hopefully I get more than nothing!
Turn-around time through CVS is a month. Same with Walmart. No more one-hour photo places. I'll share if I get anything good.
In reply to confuZion3 :
Dang, that long for CVS and the Walmart? Our local lab here in Ormond Beach, Florida, usually takes four or five business days. I’ve heard some of the Orlando labs are faster, but I’m happy with the local option.
Fingers crossed for good photos.
And I do miss the one-hour option. A while back, I had an idea for a photo event that hinged on one-hour developing–and then found out that wasn't really a thing these days.
Wow, a month. Yikes.
I remember back in the day when our bills were becoming onerous at the one-hour photo, and since most of the magazine was back and white, we converted the tub/shower combo in our tiny office bathroom into a darkroom: Threw a countertop in at a comfortable height, clothesline above, lined up an enlarger and the needed tubs on the counter, screwed a red bulb into the fixture over the sink and went to town.
Learning some of the rudimentary tricks of developing and printing photos was one of my most rewarding creative experiences.
In reply to Marjorie Suddard :
There’s a famous quote by Ansel Adams: “The negative is the equivalent of the composer’s score, and the print the performance.”
I’d like to get back into the darkroom. It’s been a while. There are a few options between Daytona and Orlando.
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