I’ve been shooting more personal work on film lately. Not a lot, because I’m still getting used to my film cameras, but some. I broke out the Leica M5 in January and just finished my first roll recently. I’ve definitely been forcing myself to take my time and not waste shots, something I do far too much with all the disposable memory of my digital camera. In February, I started shooting with my Hassleblad 500 c/m, and I am smitten. I love the square or medium format. I love the snap of the shutter and the hest and wind of the film spool. It’s a magnificent beast.
The first time I took a photograph with my Leica was the first time I had used a film camera in fifteen years. I made a few mistakes and ended up with one blank frame, a few with subjects too close to properly focus (before I had the hang of it), and a couple crazy double exposures that I’m not sure HOW I created on the Hassleblad. It certainly wasn’t on purpose! But I didn’t break anything or destroy either roll of film. The majority of my frames were in focus. And all of them were properly exposed!
This is a massive accomplishment for me. I’ve had these cameras and a few other great film cameras in my possession since the summer of 2009. It’s been on my list of personal projects to re-learn to shoot film for some time. I’ve wanted to slow down, to find the light, to see, to compose, to capture. And I’m doing it! Now, both cameras have a roll of color film in them, and I’ll keep going with the project… well, forever. The next camera I’m loading up is my Zeiss Super-Ikonta ii, another medium-format camera, this one with a lil bellows. Enjoy the photos!
Corwin on our back deck
Lavender in the snow, winter 2012
Sea fence, sand, and grass at Rockaway Beach
Justin at Green Lake (L) and on Orcas (R)
Kat on Rockaway Beach
Ice on the water near the Green Lake boat house
Dark trees at sunset on Orcas Island
Loom with spools
Driftwood in Oregon marina
Snow on fence during 2012 Seattle winter snowstorm
Corwin sleeping in the dark and sitting on a stump on Orcas
Sunset, Orcas Island
Tanuki statues on our front porch
