When I was about eight years old I began to help my dad develop film in our basement darkroom. My job was to separate the paper backing from the film rolls before immersing them in the developer tank.It wasn’t long until I had my own camera and, with help, started processing my own film. Cameras have not been far from my reach ever since.
But things change. Although I had a home wet darkroom for many years, the digital photography sirens’ seductive call entranced me and I fell under its spell. In around 2003 I bought my first digital single lens reflex (Nikon D100)and have been shooting digital ever since.
Until now. There is something about film photography that still attracts me. Yes, you give up the instant gratification of viewing your images immediately, but you gain the ability to be patient while the film sits undeveloped in your camera. And since film can be expensive, I believe the photographer learns to be more discerning when deciding composition and camera settings. I also believe, despite the wonderful quality of digital cameras and editing programs, that an image caught on film is somehow more “real” than a bunch of dots arranged, not by the picture taker, but by a computer scientist who can’t know what meaning or feeling you hope your photo captures.
Anyway, I recently bought a wonderful compact 35mm rangefinder film camera. For those who are interested in such things, it is a Voigtlander Bessa r2m. It is fully mechanical and manual and can shoot without a battery, although they are needed to power the in camera meter, if you choose to use it.
This does not mean that I am giving up digital photography. First of all, with the volume of photos I take, I would go broke very quickly paying for film and processing.Secondly, digital photography often yields beautiful results. Its convenience cannot be ignored and the variety of digital gear that is available to the enthusiast is mind boggling. I see the two,digital and film,as being complementary; each for its own purpose and use.
So here are a few shots from the first roll of film shot with the R2M. These are not masterpieces, but simply a starting point for me to get reacquainted with an old friend.
(All shot on Kodak 400 T-max film.)
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Good Morning Gloucester 
Always a pleasure to view your photography. As with most things ~ candy, life or photos ~ I always must pick a favorite. Today my favorite is photo #5.
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I always admire your work. Intriguing. Have fun with the new camera!
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One thing I regret is not learning photography during the “darkroom” age! These are great and I look forward to seeing more!
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Thank you all for your kind comments.
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Marty — I have very much enjoyed your photos over the years that I have subscribed to GMG.
I have my Dad’s Kodak Bantam and the only film that I’ve found for it has been astronomically expensive — do you have any sources for film are merely expensive? Thank you.
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Wow, a Kodak Bantam! Do you know how old your camera is? They were initially produced in the 1930s but I don’t know how long production continued.
The Bantam takes 828 film which hasn’t been made since the 70s. There is a way to take any current 35mm film, tape it to the thin backing paper of 828 rolls, cut it, roll it onto a 828 spool. The resulting negatives will show the sprocket holes, but that can be a cool effect. The sprocket holes can also be cropped in final processing. Here are the details: http://www.bnphoto.org/bnphoto/Kodak828.htm
It sounds pretty complicated to me.There are some individual rolls of 828 available on eBay, but they are all well out of date and are offered for “display” only.
Anybody out there who has more info on this?
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Late post must have been buried in the emails and missed it!
Excellent background Marty and love the path you traveled and shared. My step brother is big into photographing took it up many years ago and he is real good too in this area it’s all about capturing the moment keen observation and bringing it to life GMG is blessed with so many in this area!
Thanks Dave 🙂 & Kim 🙂
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