Still no time to write up more motorcycle adventures. But it’s still a good day.
I checked my e-mail (which I don’t do very regularly). Turns out I got a handful of donations I hadn’t yet noticed.
Thanks!
*P.S. I try to send a personal e-mail for every donation but sometimes I don’t get them written. If I failed to send you a note, don’t think your donation wasn’t appreciated.
*P.S.2. A question for readers. What if on my next “adventure” I bring a single roll of film? I’m talking real 35mm film. Maybe even in black and white. Many fewer images but perhaps those few would have more soul? This spring I dusted off my old 35mm camera. I think it still works. I was thinking of “going backwards” in technology but just didn’t get my act together in time for film images on this particular trip. Even so, I didn’t take a huge number of “cell phone snapshots”. I had my hands full just keeping gadgets charged and also there’s just a lot of stuff you’ve got to handle when you’re doing solo stuff. I wasn’t exactly “touristing”. This trip, I was also mostly “in the moment”, often choosing to leave the cell phone (digital camera) tucked away so I could simply enjoying the view. I think it worked out well. Am I just pissing into the wind or is it a decent idea?
If taking pictures with a real 35mm camera makes you happy, do it. They do seem to have a very different feel than the digital snaps, and I like them.
B&W are especially cool, IMHO – the digital B&W snaps just don’t do it well enough.
Kurt
Good luck getting the film developed. You have to mail it in nowadays to only three (?) Processing centers in the US now.
Do you do your own developing, or know somebody?
With a 35mm film camera and only 1 roll of film (36 exposures max) you tend to compose your shots more carefully. Better end result.
That’s my theory. I haven’t tested it in real life but it’s a great theory.
Tri-X is a good film choice for B&W. And you can process it at home relatively easily.
Speed fast enough for low light shots. When the bear and squirrels attack in the middle of the night!
I hadn’t heard of tri-x. I’ll check it out.
Retro is cool. All the kids are into it.
Buying up vinyl comes next.
Photos dont look better because of the medium they are on; i can see you enjoying the experience and that makes for more valuable keepsakes.
The photos you have shared of your wilding experience seem to capture the essence of the places you went, and i enjoy those. the medium doesnt really take away from the editorial perspective and accuracy of the experience. you do have an eye for it.
A few of those would be awesome wall hangers properly composed and exposed on B&W film for sure.
all that you have shared are great for a photo album keepsake of the trip.
– eli
Go for it. I would recommend a photography class so you can learn to push and pull the film depending on your subject and the lighting conditions. I really believe B&W film is the only way to go with outdoor subjects.
I don’t think I need a class. I used to be reasonably skilled at the mechanics of a film camera back when film cameras were called “cameras”. Not particularly artistic but not out of focus and blurred either.
I know almost nothing about photography but it is interesting that there is conversation here about going with black and white. I recently renewed my AZ driver license and received it in the mail. The photo on the license is in black and white whereas for years and years it has been colored.
This has nothing to do with your posting of today but thought you would like my thinking of a trip that I took and wrote while on it.
“I’ve developed two travel rules so far on this trip: 1)Treat all directions from “locals” with some doubt, however, directions to the closest Wal*Mart are generally reliable. 2)Never expect your trip “plan”, the one you put together at home, to work out as planned.”