Flags on Film
The start of an Analog Journey
Flags, Lawrence Common, Kodak Gold 200
About 20 years ago, when digital photography started taking hold, a fellow photographer friend pondered, “I wonder if, years from now, people will start shooting film again, if just for nostalgic reasons.”
Myopic me dismissed the very notion as crazy talk. I think I told Mike he was nuts. After all, digital cameras gave you instant gratification, a seemingly endless “roll of film” and the latest digital cameras’ resolution was up to a crazy SIX megapixels! Why would anyone anyone go back to film once they’ve shot on this miracle media?
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago, that friend if mine (the inimitable macro photographer, Mike Tully) reminded me of that exchange as we were out on a film photo-walk in Gloucester, MA with our medium format cameras. I readily admitted I was wrong.
I had been dabbling in film photography over the past couple of years. And by “dabble,” I mean I shot a couple of rolls on my vintage Olympus OM-1 (circa 1972) I picked up a few years ago. (It was the camera I used in the late 70s.)
I had some success, but remained just film-curious. However, my interest in film photography took a drastic turn recently, for various reasons.
It’s like a drink recipe, really: One part YouTube Film Photographers’ influence, two parts peer pressure, a dash of nostalgic curiosity, shake well, and pour over ice. After a couple of rounds, you’re a little buzzed, and you’re on eBay bidding on (and winning) a Mamiya 645 medium format camera.
To extend the alcohol analogy, I find the process of shooting film intoxicating.
Shooting film is a slow and deliberate process. Each click of the shutter comes with a cost and requires some thought. Two actually; the financial cost of the film, and the expenditure of one frame out of the precious dozen on a roll of 120 film.
You question everything about each shot before hitting the shutter: Do I have the right exposure? My framing? What if I step back a bit? Is the lighting right?
I like it, and I can relate to it.
Film is old. I am old.
Film is slow. I am slow.
Film has silver halide. I have silver hair.
It won’t replace my beloved digital OM System kit, but it will get me out more. It will lead to personal projects and creative growth. At least that’s the plan.
The image above is from the first roll of film I put through the Mamiya. I’ll admit to rushing that roll. I needed to see if everything in this 25 year old beast was in working order. It is.
I shot two more rolls since, including the one I shot with Mike in Gloucester a couple of weeks ago. I’m eagerly awaiting their return from the lab!
Christmas in June!