As I’ve acquired almost a dozen film cameras in my time shooting on film you would think some of my older cameras would get left on my shelf as I continue to buy and try new cameras. Honestly, almost the opposite has happened. I’ve made so many unforgettable memories with the first two film cameras I ever picked up (Canon AE-1 and Minolta X-700) and they hold a very special place in my heart. I picked the two up together and the AE-1 didn’t even fire while the X-700’s film advance lever snapped. I will be releasing my SLR Stories blog posts in the coming weeks, stay tuned for that. They needed TLC so I sent them out to a repair shop for some TLC via a full overhaul and CLA (Clean, Lubrication, Adjustment). As I mentioned before, I’ve since picked up about 12 film cameras, so my immediate interest in a camera constantly changes. Sometimes you need to get back in touch with what got you into something. It was time for a trip to nostalgia-ville; so I grabbed my Canon AE-1, tossed some Kodak Ultramax 400 in it, and set off for a day full of shooting.
What I’ve found in my time making pictures and living in Chicago is that when I don’t have a plan for my photo walk, I gravitate towards Lake Michigan almost 100% of the time. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if fellow photographers found themselves doing the same with bodies of water. I’ll take this a step further, I bet most humans in general find themselves gravitating toward bodies of water; it has a comforting and soothing nature. In this essence I inevitably found myself walking towards North Avenue Beach. Back in high school I used to come downtown in the summer to play beach volleyball there and I used to always want to get up close to the Pier Fixture at the end of the hook of the pier but never could because of lifeguards. Luckily for me, there is no such thing as a beach lifeguard in Chicago in February. Just as I started walking the beach boardwalk I was happily caught off guard by a bright yellow bulldozer sitting on the beach. Even at the beaches you can’t escape construction in Chicago.
Part of my personal motivation for when I am shooting is to make pictures look like paintings. Finding subjects and frames to paint with my exposure is never ending fun for me. There I was, at North Ave Beach with the first ever film camera I had ever shot on in my hand, standing on sand I used to play beach volleyball on in high school. Talk about getting back to your roots! The high school version of me would have wanted me to walk the icy pier and get to the Pier Fixture. What else was I supposed to do? It was sweet getting to shoot on the AE-1 again for old times sake, and even cooler to make pictures at an old stomping ground during my high school beach volleyball filled summers.
Shooting is my form of meditation; the battle and balance of ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. A battle that isn’t always won on film but when it is, you can bet it’s satisfying. That meditation helps me shake the bug whenever I don’t feel like myself. If I’m feeling tired, get out to shoot. If I’m feeling anxious, get out to shoot. Shooting manually on film has been not only my creative outlet but also an effective form of meditation/therapy that I love to tap into.
What are some of your experiences with shooting manually on film? Let me know in the comments!
If you are thinking of getting into film photography and have any questions, feel free to reach out to me with any questions at JPR7media@gmail.com.
Shutter Hunter 