the world of film photography...

{sparkle by abby powell-thompson}

{read her blog}

{check out her shop which is having a clearance sale}

I have been deeply inspired to begin experimenting with an old Praktica LTL film SLR {that originally belonged to my grandfather}given to me by my Aunt Cheryl a couple of years ago. I recently found an article about Abby Powell-Thompson of "abby try again" in the February-March issue of Artful Blogging and have been thinking about her story ever since. 

I love photography and always have, though I have often felt frustrated with it. I love getting just the right angle or capturing the right mood, but cringe when people ask me about settings, lenses, or other technical garble.  That stuff doesn't interest me.  Some professionals hate me for saying this, but the only thing that interests me is taking pictures of the beauty and magic I see around me.  I don't need to be a professional who can talk the talk, I just want to express myself and what my eyes see.  I have read the best books and articles about shutter speed, ISO, and aperture until my eyes go crossed only to promptly forget everything I just read and snap away until I get the photo I want.  Honestly, I have always just wanted it to be more organic.

I think that is why my heart leaped when I began reading her article. One day she just picked up a film camera (a Yashica tl-electro which seems quite similar to my film camera) with a broken light meter {same with mine} and, without paying attention to settings or film speeds, took some beautiful photos and has continued taking gorgeous photos ever since!

{slips by abby powell-thompson}

I do love my Canon Rebel xsi and many of the photos I have taken, but my pictures still tend to lack the imperfect, dense brightness and mood that I so crave and have always craved. I find myself searching for ways to give them a more authentic look with photoshop.  I brighten and lighten in hopes of gaining a more authentic, vintage feel I am seeking.   Often, I find something that makes me happy, but still ache for the real thing.  I still intend to use the digital on a regular basis, but would like to try something new in hopes of finding what I have been looking for all along.

I have three rolls of film that I have shot over the past two years with the film SLR, but am a little nervous to have them developed for fear of being disappointed once again.  I suppose the first task is to have these films developed, see what they hold and go from there. In the meantime, I would love any advice with regards to film speeds best suited to this sort of grainy, bright photography or even other vintage cameras that may be a good place to start. I am also thinking about experimenting with expired film and would love any thoughts you may have!

{lovely ladies by abby powell-thompson}

Please feel free to leave links to other photographers that shoot in a similar fashion or style. Whether it be yourself or someone you know, I would love to check it all out.


go gently & be wonderful
e.