December 24th 2024

A good story captures my imagination like little else. Reading about someone’s journey, exploration, and use of a film camera has come to be something I quite enjoy reading. Inspired by these types of articles, I wanted to try something a little out of the norm here. I take my fair share of pictures, and whether it comes down to a camera problem or a personal one, a few per roll don’t quite hit the mark. While sifting through pictures taken this year, I came across a handful of these and remembered some entertaining stories associated with them. I’ve had this idea for a long while, wanting to keep it conversational, fun, and short, but after drafting this countless times I didn’t think it fit in. However, after talking with friends, other sites, and family, I decided to give this series a go.

Last Christmas, I joined my parents on a trip to visit my sister and our newest member of the family in California. Going from sub freezing temperatures to warm ones was an interesting change from the grey and dull winter of the Midwest. One of the mornings we spent near or in Los Angeles, we met up for breakfast around an office park with many names of companies you would be familiar with. Within this multiple block area was a park, and quite a beautiful one. 

I seem to recall having to reload my new-ish Leica IIIc, only having it for a few weeks before, and needing to improvise cutting the film leader with something I had on my person. Reloaded with another roll of Foma 400, I shot away at the plants, ponds, and my chatting family. We came to a slightly wooded area of the park, and there was the perfect shot. A woman alone, perfectly lit, framed within the trees and reading peacefully. I metered quickly and took the shot while trying not to draw attention to myself. Afterwords I felt on top of the world, thinking it was going to be incredible. It was very much not.

I like to go on walks in the handful of parks that seem to dot the area where I live. Dragging my friends with me at times, I usually carry a camera along as we chat about anything and everything. In this instance, I was finishing up a roll in my Konica EFP-2, which was not the best choice to shoot near dusk. Being a fixed focus and slow camera, I would have to use flash if I really wanted to get a proper exposure. With the sun setting, we found ourselves walking past an empty parking lot on the way to the lakefront path. 

An incredible picture presented itself in this moment, and one I still think about to this day. We both stopped in awe to look at the scene of a sunset lit van about 20 yards away, in the center of the parking lot all by itself. That’s not what made it captivating. The man inside was leaning out the window, feeding about fifty seagulls that were gathered in a circle around him. Most were on the ground with a few in the air, and as the man turned to look at us I knew I did not have the right camera for the shot. It’s a shame for sure, but an inspirational moment. In lieu of not taking the picture, here is another one I goofed being just a bit too far away from my friend about fifteen minutes after. 

This next picture is one that makes me smile every time I run across it. While not technically a good photo, I quite like it. While my oldest sister visited for a few days over the summer, I decided to try out a birthday present I recently bought for myself, a Mamiya C3. Switching between a few different cameras that day, I decided to throw some Kentmere 400 in the C3 and use one of the early chrome 80mm lenses.

After a few family portraits and a picture of my parent’s house, I was warmed up and ready for the real challenge, my niece. Running around and trying to capture a quick and small person, made for a crash course in how to speedily compose and focus the C3. The total at the end of the day was about 50/50, but I took some of my favorite pictures of the year on that roll. I was laughing at the time, being chased by my niece while trying to back up and focus as quickly as possible. A wonderful memory, and a picture I adore.

That is all for this first installment of this new series. A thank you to everyone who encouraged me to try something new and experiment. Sometimes you just need a kick in the bum. More stories with good and bad pictures to come, I hope you enjoyed!