It's been a great Spring, Summer and Fall since the last post. I was privileged to be selected for an exhibit this summer at the Akron Canton Airport sponsored by Arts in Stark (https://www.artsinstark.com/). I also had one image selected for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park 2018 Calendar, which can be ordered online using this link: https://www.conservancyforcvnp.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Calendar-2018-Retail_Web-form-3.pdf. I encourage all to support the park by purchasing this terrific calendar.
Over the summer I started to delve into shooting film a lot more. Using 35mm for street and more casual shooting and mid-format (120) for more planned and contemplative shots I have enjoyed the more deliberate approach required for film both in terms of getting the right exposure and a more thoughtful rather than instinctive composition. Aim and spray just doesn't work. But, what I really have enjoyed is the time lapse between the capture and the viewing of the images. Getting a developed roll back from processing and seeing the prints or scans can take at least a week, and longer if you use a lab from out of town. That time allows me to more critically assess the images. I think this really makes me better at "seeing" the image in terms of how it will best be captured on film, and I think it has also helped be more thoughtful with digital as well. Of course, with digital it is easier to edit, but as so many have noted it is much better to optimize the exposure in the camera.
The one challenge with film is finding someone who can develop it competently and can deliver optimum scans if you chose to not make prints from the negative. There are a variety of options available, but for those of us not living near major metro areas it can be a challenge. In my brief experience with this I would offer a few criteria to consider. In no particular order of importance, they are:
Happy to field any questions on this, including sharing some references to labs I use.
Enjoy the Fall!