"Everything old is new again"
I have been, and am, a film user. From Minox and 110 through 126, 127, 620, 120, and 4x5. Plus Polaroid. I notice more and more folks
asking me about film, about developing, about darkroom ... there is definitely a resurgence of interest -
'retro' is trendy. But people have now realized that photography can exist at many levels, happily. Like
being on the water. Kayak, sailboat, power boat, cruiser - to each his own enjoyment. The sailor will tell
you that working the wind is TRUE 'boating'. The power boater will disagree. The kayaker will say he is
'in touch' with the elements. And so, with photography.
Spend a few minutes watching and listening to John Sexton - one of the masters of his profession, at the
Kodak (free) webcast site
http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/pressCe ... path=13644and he will explain about the 'thrill' of film and the darkroom, even after all these years.
I get my kicks at many levels - one of them being that of making an old, basic camera give me a decent image.
Is it the love of the mechanical, the uncertainty, the surprise ... I can't really say. But like the kayaker, it does
make me feel more in touch with the 'elements'. I feel more as if I'm involved in 'creating' something.
The Wright Brothers could not have flown to the moon. But did John Armstrong get a bigger kick from landing
on the moon, than Orville or Wilbur when their machine maintained flight?
And by the way, apart from the improved versions of films being sold by the 'bigs' like Ilford, Kodak and Fuji,
there are a myriad smaller producers still in business. Kodak has just announced that the outstanding Ektar
(recently released in 35mm) will now be released in 120 size rolls. Add that to the likes of Delta Pro, T-Max
and Neopan, plus 'independents', and the 'world is your oyster', still.
Use film. Use lots of film.
Yes, there is somebody out here. Lots of somebodys.