School Days

Summer break is over and it's back to the books for Sara, well I should say continuing with the books. Summer breaks here in Tokyo include a list of homework, Kanji practice, book reports and craft making tasks all to be completed before returning to school. But even with all the work we still manage to find time to visit festivals and new towns that are a few stops away. One of the coolest things about being in a big city is the number of events that are sponsored especially over the summer. Not to mention the train systems that allow us non-drivers access to locations too far for walking and too expensive for Taxis. Enjoy your summer and these analog shots!

Sara's classroom.

Performers getting ready to put on a show.

Ginza Shopping district.

Speaking of Summer, what are your favorite things to do for summer?

Back to the Basics

It had been several years since I shot any film through my Pentax K1000 and it showed with the first roll. After getting settled in Tokyo, I broke the 'Tank' out loaded a 27 shot roll of 100 speed film and set out to get back to the basics. Unlike shooting digital, you cannot [well I don't] just shoot off 27 shots and get it developed, you need to slow your process down and take time to capture the images you want. It took 3 weeks to get to the 29th shot on the counter, yes two over. I was feeling a little nervous as I couldn't remember if it was a 36 roll or 27, so I started to rewind the film just to be safe. Now I don't know where you've been told but 29 shots should not rewind in 5 seconds. At this point all the film heads know the feeling when you realize the film never caught the spindle. All those images you were excited for, never happened. Just awesome. Only one thing left to do, get a film puller, retrieve the film, reload and try again. This time, after taking the initial shots make sure the film winder turns when you set the film. Cross your t's, dot your i's and then verify your film is proper loaded. The basics indeed.

Here are a few images from around Tokyo:
:Film

:Digital

D130 - Remember when...

Think back to when you learned to be a better photographer because it was expensive to shoot mediocre? The days when good film cost a pretty penny  [$10-$15]and developing your exposed rolls [$9-$13] would also set you pockets back. If you add those two cost together plus sloppy shooting the results are pricey. I remember buying some Fortia slide film in Japan years back, a 5 pack cost $75.The rolls were 36 exposures, so to develop the film you would spend between $12-$17. While digital is more cost efficient after the purchase of the body,  film is still a great way to make you slow down, appreciate the craft and digital media.

Enjoy.

  Ja mata, Brian

D114 - Slides

Sometimes I really do miss shooting film. Maybe not the cost to develop and purchase it, but the end  results of shooting 35 mm to medium format and even Large format. I'm actually still in the market for a medium format camera, there is something about the crispness of the captures that I just enjoy. The below are some captures from this past summer shot on E6 [Slide film]. Since I don't have a light box, I used my laptop display and a white screen video on Youtube, not the same but it works.

Enjoy

Ja mata, Brian

Day 32 - F.I.N.D. Film Is Not Dead

If you don't know Jonathan Canlas, do yourself a favor and check out his work...Go ahead I'll wait.


(Yes, this is me waiting)


Pretty awesome work right?  Yeah, all of his work is shot Film. I just got his new book 'Film Is Not Dead , a digital photographer's guide to shooting film' and I am even more energized to get a Hassy and start shooting some 120/220 film. It is a great read with good information on gear, shooting, keeping your vision, tips of common issues with different bodies, and buttery images to compliment the content. So in light of the new book, I captured some images of it, which was co-written by Kristen Kalp at Brand Camp.

Enjoy!

Ja mata,
Brian