Dear Film: Its been real, Its been fun…

So, after shooting film for about a month or so, I’m SO happy to say that my camera has been fixed by Fuji and will be returned to me in the next week or two! Not that I don’t love film, because I do :), but when I shoot six rolls that costs $100 to get developed and scanned and there are only about 9 shots that I happy with, I say thank goodness for my digital camera! (don’t forget the $50 or so for the rolls in the first place)

Ektar 100: its been fun, but quite honestly, I’m okay if you sit on the shelf for a little while, no hard feelings, you understand, you’re just too expensive! 😉

These are all using Ektar 100. The challenge with this was the 100 ISO because I was used to shooting only 400 ISO film. It meant slower shutter speeds in not so bright areas and for someone with not so steady hands, this was tough. I underexposed a lot. This guitar series is of my brother who is an excellent guitar player and not a bad singer either 🙂

Yes, It’s really grainy. I wanted to showcase how the film came directly out of the camera/lab/scanner so I barely processed these at all in Lightroom.

Also using the Ektar 100, I shot Moss Glen Falls on the scenic route 100 in Vermont. What an incredible drive! Through the mountains, winding roads that went on and on and on. It had a very calming effect. The Falls is right off the road and there is a small parking lot. It’s super convenient to get to! There’s even a nice little boardwalk that leads you right to it, easy peasy 🙂 Since the pool in front of the falls was a little frozen over, I was able to get a little closer to the falls, following the snowy indents made by (most likely) photographers before me.

Back in Boston I tried the Ektar 100 out on a cityscape sunset from East Boston after my BEC CPA exam. Nothing like taking pictures to relax after an incredibly stressful and long test. This was near Piers Park, but not exactly in it. It’s another abandoned decaying dock right next door. And I had it all to myself! Who else would stand there for 45 minutes in the freezing cold? 🙂

Each type of film is a little different and it takes some time to figure out how to use it to its highest potential with your camera and what you like to shoot. But that’s only half the battle! If you have access to a darkroom and a great scanner, then you’ve won, but if you don’t, you are at the mercy of photo labs and their scanners. 🙂  

Letters from an Analogue Traveler…

Originally written on mollykatephoto.com:

http://www.mollykatephoto.com/Travel-Journal/Analogue-Letters/White-Mountains-Falling-Waters

Dear Analogue World, 

Once upon a time (ok about 6 months ago), there was a period where I did not own a digital camera, except for perhaps my iPhone, but let’s get serious here, we all know the iPhone can never replace a real camera, film or digital. 🙂 Soooo, the only camera I had was an automatic Canon Rebel 35mm film camera. I was living in a super cheap apartment at the time, so I could afford the total of $21 or so dollars it cost to buy and develop one roll of film, and that’s the low end of the spectrum with cheap film! 

Now it seems, through some mysterious force (which knocked my tripod over and broke my only fuji lens, there was no wind!), karma? (but I was so good this year! Santa thought so….), I am once again left with only a film camera, my trusty Canon Rebel auto 35mm, until my Fuji is fixed, an expensive bill I am NOT looking forward to paying (bye bye new Fuji lens, sigh). A recent addition to the party is a family Pentax K1000, which was my mothers, entrusted to me to keep…I really have to find where I put that now  

I can’t stop shooting because even without a working digital camera, I still feel the magnetic pull to get outside and shoot, and I dearly love film, just not the cost $$$. My 2nd CPA test is coming up in a couple of weeks and I’ve been going mad sitting inside all the time studying! I caved and spent money I should not have on several rolls of Ektar 100 (I’m really excited to shoot with this!!) and Acros BW which was recommended to me at the store, and being the sucker I am, I decided to try it. 🙂 

I was so excited, I wanted to share some summer shots that I took with Lomography 35mm color film up in the White Mountains. This was on the Falling Waters trail up Mt. Lafayette, which is PERFECT if you absolutely love waterfalls. There are waterfalls galore. Ever have trouble fighting off other photographers for the perfect spot underneath a glorious flow of water? Come to this trail! Waterfalls for everyone! This would be a great place to go on a photowalk! hmmm ideas popping into head…

AND if you keep trekking up the mountain, you will reach Mt. Lafayette and the ridge trail, which is spectacular as well. It is quite definitely my favorite place I have hiked. EVER. We went mid-day but I want, no need, to come back here for a sunset/sunrise shoot. The air is crisp and fresh, the trails are numerous and exciting, and the views are unparalleled in New Hampshire, possibly even the Northeast. Let’s face it Vermonters, New Hampshire will always be superior. hehe (just kidding!)

Well, I cannot wait to share my Ektar and Acros results with you real soon! 

Manually Yours, 

Molly Kate

Boston’s Copley Farmer’s Market (just got these developed…)

Finally got a roll of film developed that I’d had since last year! I couldn’t remember what was on it and was pleasantly surprised to see some shots of copley’s farmer’s market. Being in Hartford, CT for business for the past few weeks and for the future few months, away from home, I’ve come to really appreciate Boston and realized how much I love it there. It’s only until you leave something that you realize how good you had it, no?

I shot these with a Canon AE-1, which is a great beginner film camera, you can get them super cheap on ebay! I also used a Kodak TMax or TX film professional 35mm, or something like that and it came out really nice, I actually started shooting with Ilford and I prefer the Kodak, but that also could have been because i was using a cheap Ilford haha 🙂 I love film cameras since they are so cheap compared to DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras, but it does cost more to develop film and scan images, instead of just downloading from a SD card into your computer. I think its worth it 🙂 Do you?