There’s just something beautiful about film that you really can’t get with digital. Sure digital is cleaner and faster but film is so dynamic, so rich in color. It reminds me of my Uncle Rudy, who was so passionate about film photography. Even after digital came full circle and while other photographers jumped on the band wagon he remained true to film. I don’t think he ever bought a digital camera and now I know why. He valued the complexity of taking a photo and enjoyed the anticipation of developing those images in a darkroom. Something that I wish I would of been a part of. I will never forget the look on his face when I told him I was taking a photography class in college. His face just lit up! He offered to show me how to develop in his darkroom and I kick myself that I never took him up on his offer.

I just recently purchased a Canon AE-1 film camera and boy am I in love. I decided to go up to Lotus, the family retreat I always talk about to take some shots. Lotus is the perfect place, with it’s lush landscape and beautiful spring flowers that my mother and father take so much pride in,  it screams, “Take a photo of me!” At first I was a little lost not knowing what I was doing….where do I set the aperture and shutter? Do I have it on the right film speed? How do I even turn this thing on?  I think I even looked up to heaven at one point and asked my Uncle Rudy for help. After finally figuring it out (Thanks Uncle!)I was seriously doing the happy dance!

After taking 36 shots I sent them into The Darkroom, an online film developing lab to have them scanned on to a CD. I was like a little kid in a candy store when I got them back. I picture my Uncle running to his darkroom to develop his film. I know he probably spent hours and hours in there. I can only imagine the oooohs and ahhhhs that he would shout out as the images came through. Now I know how he felt….it really is magical!!

You have to think about every shot, every frame. You can’t chimp (look at the back of the camera) to see what you just shot. You just trust your artistic eye and creativity. I will always shoot in digital but shooting film has given me a whole new perspective on photography in general. Photography is a true art and I have fallen deeper in love.