It's funny, how I almost cured myself of digital GAS, and how quickly I fell for the analogue GAS. It's really easy to forget about actual photography, when scouring eBay for old cameras. The amount of old film cameras is just staggering. The prices are decent for the most part, although so old cameras fall into the "collectible" or "famous" category, which drives their prices through the roof. I try to keep to the cheap side. This also has it's pitfalls, specially when it comes to lenses. I learned the hard way, that Vivitar lenses, although some can be had for real cheap, in great condition, are usually absolute shit. Having an Olympus and Minolta systems, it's best to stay within the manufactures lenses. They maybe a bit more expensive, but they are worth it. This brings me to a absolute star. The Kiev 6C. After it came back from repairs to correct the film spacing issue (which I mentioned before in another post.) I took it out for more fun. This time I paired the medium format with a 35mm Olympus.
Creating images with film is both frustrating, and freeing. Knowing that there is a limited number of frames available in the camera, I have to be absolutely sure that the image I want to capture is THE image I want to capture. Gone are the days of snapping willy nilly just because something looked somewhat interesting. Now it's all focus focus focus, wait wait wait, and decide not the press the shutter.
I find it really hard to switch my mindset of digital photography, to film. Not only I cannot preview the images, I have to make sure I know which film I'm using so I can adjust the way it's being exposed. Each film has it's own characteristics, which I have to take into account while creating an image. We take that for granted in the digital world. We forget that there is no AutoISO, that if exposure is not right, we can quickly adjust and shoot again. We all worry about digital noise.... let me tell you, go shoot Agfa Vista 400, and I promise, you will not care about digital noise anymore.
Yes, this film adventure is frustrating at times. Full of dust and pet hairs which appear out of nowhere when scanning images. Fingerprints, bent film stock, development temperatures, and at times like these I really want to dump everything and go back to my favorite little Fuji camera. Is it making me a better photographer? I honestly don't know. I think it's making me a more careful photographer.
Here are some images from the Bison trip to Elk Island one glorious evening. Enjoy!
