I’ve been a digital photographer from the start of my business–never picked up a film camera except for when I was a kid and used those cheap disposable cameras on vacations. But lately, film has been perking my interest. I love the work of awesome film photographers Jose Villa and Jonathan Canlas–there is this soft-yet-sharp, lovely look to their photos that I haven’t seen with digital. When Jonathan Canlas released his Film Is Not Dead guide, I considered purchasing, but decided it wasn’t a priority. Then I got an email that the FIND guide would not be available after December 1st, so I got off my lazy butt and bought it, downloaded it, and devoured it. Jonathan explains film in such an easy way that makes it seem much less daunting and way more possible for a digital photographer. A week after reading the guide, I ordered a used Nikon F100 from keh.com and some Kodak Portra 400 from B&H. The camera arrived last week and the film arrived today. I was super excited to get my F100, but when the film got here this afternoon, I immediately began second-guessing my decision and inwardly panicked. I was afraid that shooting film would show me if I really was a good photographer, or just a cruddy wannabe. I eventually grabbed Penny and Buddy and went outside to give film a chance. I don’t have a light meter yet, so I used the exposure display in the camera as a a guide for manual shooting, but eventually went with aperture priority (once I get a light meter, it will be right back to manual, though–or maybe even before). Penny was a great subject–she’s a good model and her coloring is easy to photograph. Buddy proved to be a bit more of a challenge and all of his photos came out overexposed, so I’ll need to get more practice on him. Other than that, the photos turned out much better than I had expected. I don’t know if I’ll ever shoot exclusively in film, or if I’ll even bring film along to a client shoot, but it’s something I’m going to give a chance, and I know it will make me a better photographer. I want to send a big THANK YOU to Jonathan Canlas for creating the wonderful FIND guide! Even when I purchased the guide, I wasn’t certain if I really even wanted to try film, but it encouraged me to give it a shot, and I’m glad I did. I feel like I’m re-discovering photography and it’s so inspiring and wonderful. :)

All of the photos below were shot on the Nikon F100 with a Nikon 50mm f/1.8 (set at f/2), using Kodak Portra 400 film. Processed and scanned by Walgreens (I was too impatient to send everything to a pro lab, but plan to use Richard Photo Lab once I’ve gotten the hang of things). Did some very minor levels adjustments in Photoshop and warmed up a couple of images a bit.

Asked my mom to hop in front of the camera so I could test my film photo skills on someone with two legs. If I photographed couples or weddings, I could see myself using film all the time–I don’t think I’d ever have to do any retouching! You look lovely, by the way, Mommy. :)

I’m re-discovering how difficult black dogs can be to photograph. I got the hang of it with digital, but my film photos came out very overexposed, as you can see. A levels adjustment in Photoshop fixed it very simply, though. I need to remember to underexpose next time, though! Also, isn’t Buddy so handsome? Those eyes…

And we just put up the Christmas tree, so I couldn’t resist finishing up the first roll of film with some Christmas light bokeh. :)

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I know, it’s been ages since I’ve done a Friday Five post! But after half a day spent at the barn, and a few hours taking and editing photos, I’m too tired to write a lot. But hopefully these photos of the World’s Cutest Niece will make up for that. Layla Grace is just too much!

Lately, she’s become a difficult subject to photograph, preferring to run away from me and do anything but look in my direction when I have a camera in my hands. Little stinker…

But with some help from her mom, she can be quite a ham with her giant (and often fake) smiles and silly faces. :)

I hope you all have a great weekend! What are you up to? Tomorrow’s another day spent with horses for me, so I can’t complain. Bit of Hope is participating in a parade, and I’m coming along to help!

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Since I haven’t done a Friday Five post in a while, I thought today would be the perfect time to ramble and share some personal stuff, just because. And what better way to do that than with a list?

• It’s beautiful outside today. It was in the 60s when I woke up and walked Buddy. I enjoyed every second of that walk. Yes, it’s warmer now, but it’s not unbearably hot and humid. Fall is here, and I am immensely happy about that! As soon as I finish typing this post, I’ll be hanging out on the lanai with a book in my hand and Buddy at my feet. How could I possibly spend a day like this cooped up in the house?
• I just finished reading The Help. I’m pretty sure I’m quite late reading it, as it seems that almost everyone else has read it and seen the film. It was so good, I could hardly put it down! It’s strange to think that white people actually treated African Americans so horribly, and that was only a few decades ago. As I read the book, I cheered for Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter–and I cried. It was one of the few books I read that left me feeling disappointed when I finished it. Not disappointed in the story, but because it was over. I highly recommend it!
• Buddy’s breath reeks. And he’s breathing in my face right now. That stinky breath is his only fault. Well, it’s partly my fault, since I should brush his teeth. I should probably go do that…
• The Lion King is (or was?) in theaters. It made me start thinking about being six years old, having no cares or responsibilities, spending my days doing crazy things with my older sister, watching Disney movies over and over, dressing up Sparky, our Boston Terrier, and wearing clothes with Pocahontas and The Lion King plastered all over them. Growing up is great (most of the time), and I am excited to turn twenty next year and see what the next decade holds, but sometimes, I just wish I could be a kid again. I love talking to Meredith about all the things we did as children–good and bad (as bad as the sweet little pastor’s kids could get, of course)–and re-living all those memories in my head. Like mutilating our only male Barbie doll (John Smith), squishing fat bees with our bikes, whispering bad words (like “stupid”) so our parents wouldn’t hear us, and thinking up outlandish stories (we watched too many cartoons). We were innocent, happy, and our only worries were, well, nothing. And as much as I look forward to getting older, I look back and long for those days sometimes.
• Josh Groban will be in Tampa on October 28th with his Straight To You tour, and I will be there! It’s the second concert I’ve ever been to (I think I was ten the first time), and I am SO EXCITED. It’s JOSH GROBAN, people! My favorite singer, next to Frank Sinatra, of course. Any other Groban fans out there? I want to know!
• And a verse for the day… “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” – Micah 6:8