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[August 18, 2009|02:40 pm] |
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I finally got my pictures back from my first-ever medium
format roll of film! I am pleased with the result, but since
there are only seven images in the roll I still want to see
more. As I mentioned before, there is a certain freedom in
not being able to make exposure adjustments, and I think with
a little more practice, the images will reflect that freedom.
I don't know why I've been so excited lately about using
image-making technology that is, if not obsolete, certainly
out-of-date. I still have never owned a digital camera, but I
do like digital cameras for the convenience, especially the
convenience of having nearly no limit to how many pictures
can fit on a memory card these days. But I also think there
is a certain value to the opposite: having few pictures to
take and having to be a bit more considerate of each picture.
Not that every image taken with a Polaroid or Six-20 camera
is going to be better than an image taken with a cell
phone.
I have always enjoyed the separation between making the
picture and enjoying it. Although I have no research to
substantiate this claim, I think the majority of digital
pictures taken are never viewed beyond the LCD screen on the
back of the camera. There is something so exciting about
waiting a day or two for pictures to be printed. This
feeling was magnified when making a movie and shotting on
film, because the preparation for shooting was always so
intense, and expensive. I remember sitting in the screening
room and watching the 16mm work print for the first time and
thinking, "Is this it? Is this all I have to show for a
year's worth of work?"
This initial disappointment (and it is always a
disappointment) was followed by a short (give or take six
months) depression. But after that, there is the most
glorious acceptance, and an amazing feeling that you have
made something, something unique and wonderful, with
hopefully the potential of actually becoming a movie one
day. And the excitement comes from the fact that you know
you can never go back. Any mistake made on set is
permanently burned into the silver emulsion, and the
opportunity for a do-over has long since passed. |
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