Just Curious

[jbylake]

I shoot film pretty much exclusively, and probably 70 percent of that is B&W. I use a digital point and shoot to shoot custom bikes, new products for the website, and probably will buy a DSLR soon, just for the convienence factor of the above mentioned.

What I'm curious about, is, what percentage of the time do you shoot film, or your best guess.

Do you use a "proper" darkroom and enlarge your own negs?

I just develop my negs, or have them done, run them through an Optitek scanner into photoshop. I really don't use that many features in PS so I'm using PSE 7.

I'm considering setting up a full darkroom, If I move to a new place I'm looking at. Not really sure if I will or not.

So, chime in on the origional question/comment, and tell me anything else you feel like, concerning processing etc..I'm just trying to get a feel for what others in the "film" thread are doing.

J.:boogie:

[Terri]

Well, I keep a digital P&S around the house for quick snaps, and despite my near-constant teasing, I do appreciate the technology that allows for such speed of image capture.

I have the first version of Photoshop CS, whatever that equates to now, version 5, maybe? and use it more for my photo restoration projects (old family shots) than for any serious "post processing" of shots from the P&S. I couldn't do a lot of what I do without this fabulous program!


But when I'm out doing anything with serious work in mind, I shoot 100% film. I shoot a lot of B&W, but still pull from my aging supply of Kodak HIE (infrared), and shoot slide film for use with my dwindling supply of various Polaroid films. I shoot most everything for eventual transformation into what's called alternative photographic processes. :) I have a darkroom, develop my B&W film and send the slide stuff out locally. I make B&W enlargements using several different paper/developer combinations, dependent solely on what alt process I'm going for. Exposure and development varies wildly from process to process - and sometimes I develop more "normally" for a plain B&W silver gelatin print.

It's all fun, it's all completely engaging to me in a way that snapping the digicam and uploading onto my computer can't be. Working with film and making enlargements demands a totally tactile workflow that suits me very well. I like the engagement of my senses when I'm in that creative mindset. It's extremely satisfying to hold that final image in my hands.

So, call me a film shooter, but don't call me a luddite. :sexywink: That would be inaccurate.

[Aggie]

95% film here. In fact 99% of that is B&W. I have two large format enlargers. One in storage in Utah, one here with me. In Fact Terri and I took a fun film based workshop together in Montana. I've had years of darkroom training from several of the old time heavy weights in the film field. BUT since i had a life altering experience of a botched surgery that nearly killed me, I've not really done much. I have in the freezer about 200 rolls to develop. I also have about 500 rolls (all medium format my favorite) to shoot. Recently I have taken a few digi shots for those who know me, know that is really a change. I took a digital photography class back in 2001 but all it was was a class to learn how to manipulate photoshop. I never learned how to use my digigizmo, which was why I took the class. Since I have good days and bad days, I'm actually thinking of getting a DSLR. I just have a hard time thinking of a computer as the same thing as watching the magic of a image pop up on a sheet of paper in a developing tray. I may just concentrate on pinhole and doing Van Dykes for a while.

[jbylake]

Sounds cool. I was never formally trained in photography. In the seventies, I was stationed at an Air Force Base in Denver CO. We had a photo hobby shop and all you had to buy was your own paper, and of course camera and film. I just started hanging with a friend there, and different folks contributed in teaching me to develop negs, and enlarge them. Never learned color, though. I purchased a few books, and just went with what I was taught and could read. You just reminded me how totally cool it was to see that first image "majically" appear on the print stock. I still don't know if I'm going to set up a darkroom or not. I'm pretty tied up with the whole Harley thing, plus I have other hobbies from back packing to deep sea fishing, a couple of times a year, fly fishing, and my favorite pasttime, goofing off.

J.:big grin: