Film
I’ve always loved taking pictures. I started with photography when I was very young, before there were digital cameras of any kind. I used to be really frustrated by film – you’d never know if something turned out or if you accidentally exposed the whole roll. When digital came along, I happily jumped on the bandwagon.
Then I started to miss film. The colors that can be achieved with film just aren’t present in digital cameras, no matter how fancy. And there’s something to be said for holding the actual physical product in your hand instead of just looking at it on a screen.
My film camera that I use right now has a great history. In college, I went garage saleing a lot. There was an estate sale right by my house one day, and I couldn’t help but stop by. There I met a man named Dennis, who had been married to his wife for over 50 years (and who had just passed). They bought a camera when they first got married and had used it ever since. That was the camera that ended up coming home with me. I always think about their story every time I use it, and it makes me happy that this little 35mm camera documented someone else’s life for all of those years, and now has a second chance in mine.
It’s not fancy. It doesn’t zoom, and the only focus guide is roughly 3 ft., 6 ft., 10 ft., and infinity. I like that if I have to get up close to something, I have to physically get up close to it. The camera sees exactly what I see. It’s great to take on vacation because it’s not bulky and it would never get stolen. And the pictures – oh, the pictures!
Does anyone else still use film?
