We are back in Burundi (holy-moly-jet-lag-Batman!) and I have been nervous and excited about sharing these film images with you. We are finally back online, my husband BOUGHT ME A DESK (that’s a huge deal, as I was doing all my blogging, editing, writing, etc. from the couch or the bed or the table), and our “biggest little” is back in school.
So many photographers are doing it these days. Snapping up a film camera and giving it a go. It is a way to differentiate yourself from the crowd of photographers, to make yourself feel more authentic in the age of the “self taught” digital photographers crowding the marketplace. Many people also do it because of the amazing success a handful of photographers have had with film (Jose Villa, Jonathan Canlas, Ryan Muirhead, Elizabeth Messina to name just a few). Do mine look anything like theirs? Nope, not at all… but that really wasn’t the point for me.
Why did I choose to start shooting film? Definitely to feel more authentic. To feel more connected with the art form that I am in love with. To go deeper with it. To understand light in a new way. Truth be told, I was getting a bit bored with digital. Being in Burundi, away from my newly established photography business, I was feeling the need to stretch my legs a bit.
I will probably ALWAYS shoot digital, especially while we are in Burundi with no processing labs for film nearby. I owe a whole lot to digital. Would I have become a photographer if digital wasn’t accessible and fairly easy to teach myself? Pretty sure the answer is no. Have I begun a love affair with film that won’t end any time soon? You bet-cha! Do I have a million and one things to learn about film? For sure. Do I have a million and one things to learn about digital? Maybe just a million.
Film is teaching me some great things. It’s teaching me how to slow down. How to take risks (with the high cost of buying and processing medium format film, every frame is a risk!). The challenge of learning something new is ridiculously frustrating and exciting all at once. When I processed my last batch of film, three rolls came back empty. Sometimes learning the hard way is the only way, right?
All Hasselblad 501C
Fuji 400
What are you learning this year?
I wanna know!
Kristy
This year I’m learning to use the Illustrator program to create CADs of garments. Lets hope it works. I’ll show when I finally do one all on my own! Hey Friend howz Burundi land?
oh my gosh. I am ready to fly to Burundi with my three children so you can photograph us. these are so lovely. heart you and your heart!
Lou, that’s amazing. Krystal, we’d LOVE to have you ;) THANK YOU for the kind words!