It’s hard to believe but about five years ago I was only shooting film. Didn’t have a digital camera yet and I didn’t really want one. Many photographers had already made the switch to digital and there was a lot of film equipment for cheap and new product being cleared off the shelves. I had finally upgraded myself to medium format with a couple of brand new Pentax 645 bodies that were being sold for ultra cheap. I was amazed at how much detail could be in a shot on that format. I was set on staying a film photographer as I saw no reason to get a digital camera. Some time in late 2006 I did get my first digital camera. The idea was I would use it to try exposures before blowing film and processing. What did happen was that I got hooked on digital and the immediacy of the results.I found myself shooting exclusively digital in no time. I preferred shooting black and whited on film but the local labs stopped processing the film. They sold it but wouldn’t process it. That was my last nail in the film coffin.
Until now! I used to do all my own darkroom work back in high school when I had access to the darkroom. Processed film and made prints. Never had a space of my own to continue so I paid labs to do the work for me. Unlike making prints, film processing doesn’t require a darkroom. You just need a film changing bag to load the film into the developing drum and the rest can be done in regular light. I went out and purchased the necessary chemicals and tools so that I can process my own film.
Why do this you may ask? Well, being a photographer is about the process of photographing. It’s not just about the end result and how you talk about yourself at the local coffee shop. I love all aspects of photography, digital and film. I had felt that I was loosing all of this knowledge that I had spent so much time acquiring. If I never shot film anymore, I would feel that I had missed out when it was all gone. It’s also good to use that knowledge as it may lead to a new discovery along the way. When I was shooting film I shot 100% manual. This was necessary to get the result that I wanted. You couldn’t just look at the back of the camera and try again. Some of my cameras don’t even have an automatic mode and the light meters don’t function. That is what taught me how to control my light when I shoot digital.
This is more an exercise of enjoyment and the thought process. I wont be replacing any of my products with film but if things go well I might add some film to a couple of shoots here and there.
The gear I use when shooting film
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