Shooting with Film

My Dad still shoots with Film. (Sorry Dad, your secret's out of the bag.)  It’s not that he’s a purist; it’s that for him it works. He likes getting prints, and going through them, he likes the camera he has and doesn't see the need to change.

Another problem with film? Not knowing if these rolls are blank or empty!

Dad also likes thinking about the shot he’s setting up, and not just snapping away in the “hopes” he gets something. In fact it’s almost a prerequisite for film. You have a limited number (Usually 24-36) of shots per roll, and so every shot matters. Plus you are stuck with whatever ISO you chose for the entire roll!  So you actually have to think about what type of images and shooting you would be doing when you purchase the film!

For those of you who haven’t experienced shooting with film, but instead rely on the instant gratification and seemingly unlimited images on your camera phone, this may be a hard concept to grasp. For those of us who haven’t shot with film for years, it’s something that we may have forgotten. I know I love being able to look at the images I take instantly, and definitely take more than I ever did during the days of film.

I am a huge fan of digital cameras, and believe they have made me a better photographer. I still think about composing my shots, but I also shoot more frequently. I don’t think I’d take half as many food, flower, or leaf photos if I were capturing them with film. (Something I now find therapeutic.) I am always searching for the perfect light, and will wait patiently until the conditions are right before capturing my images, but I also like the fact I can take a couple of quick shots of a group and digitally swap a head or two when needed. Or I can look down and capture a pretty heart shaped leaf because it caught my eye.

Hearts in Nature are always fun.

Although I now capture my images in digital format, I still insist on prints. I know it would be so much easier to just burn the images to a CD, but the RAW files I capture still need to be converted into .jpgs and processed for prints. (Color correction, blemish removal, skin softening, cropping, etc. ) I've found that while digital image galleries are fun, it’s easy to just quickly look at the image and move on. But when you put a print in someone’s hands, time slows down. They take longer to look at the details, to feel the texture of the paper, and to savor the captured moment. Albums, canvas prints, and folio boxes all create a similar effect, we use more of our senses with prints, and I think it just feels more balanced.

Even the pictures my Dad sends me are treated differently than the ones that show up in the inbox of my computer. They arrive by snail-mail with tons of stamps parading across the padded envelope announcing something fun is inside. I immediately make a cup of coffee and then sit down at the table to enjoy them; turning them over to read the notes inscribed on the back, and savoring my Dad's view of the world one image at a time. It becomes an event of its own, and for a little while, time slows down just ever so slightly.

Unfortunately for Dad, he's struggling to find places that still print film. This means he either has to send the film out, or move on into the digital world.  If he does make the leap to a digital camera, I’m hoping that like me, he’ll not go completely digital, but will still get his images printed.  And that I will still receive an occasional package of prints every now and then, so I have an excuse to step away from my computer, make another cup of coffee, and savor the moments one frame at a time.

Leaving Your Mark

When I was little one of my favorite things to do with my Grandmother was to explore the finds in her attic. 

I always felt like a modern day archaeologist, as there was always something amazing to discover.

She had the neatest things, from old lunch tins to pretty sewing thimbles, to letters tied with strings. 

When I encountered these handcrafted Heirloom Boxes I knew I had to add them to my product offerings if only to honor my Grandmother!

I know she would be so thrilled to discover this in her attic.  (And really, who wouldn't?)

This box is gorgeous, and the attention to detail is amazingly exquisite.

From the dovetail corners to the oil rubbed finish, and the logo etched into the smooth planed wood just begs to be touched. 

(The rest of the finishes are stained and sealed and are equally stunning from Black Northern Ash to Traditional Cherry.)

I altered my logo just a tad so it showed well on the box, it looks so much more amazing in person! 

I have an option for families to have their name engraved on the box if they wish.

Perhaps their married name and wedding date? Or baby's name and birthdate?

The beauty doesn't stop on the outside, for when you open it you notice treasures just begging to be discovered!

Including five little glass vials, perfect for a lock of hair, a bit of sand, dried flowers, or even some of your favorite perfume.
(This one has lavender in it, and smells so sweet.)

 Nestled on the bottom of the box is a leather satchel full of images, a peacock feather from my wedding bouquet, a secret skeleton key, and what's in the corner?

 A collection of letters on handcrafted paper, wrapped in a lovely little piece of lace.

This lace happens to be from my wedding gown! :-)

The skeleton key says Memory, and reminds me of the ones we used at my grandmother's house.  

(I know she'd approve!)

As you open the leather satchel you realize that they contain pretty little cloth packages.

(They remind me of the remnants we kept for quilt squares...)

As you unwrap these remnants, your eyes are suddenly drawn to the images.

These are of my other grandmother, the one that I never got to meet.

They are the only things I have of her, and are truly precious beyond words.

Although this box starts with two cloth pieces, it can hold oh so much more!
I have found some amazing fine-art printers that will print your photos on cloth rag just like the artists did years ago.  The paper is thick and substantial, and looks so amazing as photographs, they are the perfect complement to this heirloom box.

(Of course I was too excited to wait for it to arrive, so instead you're seeing images of my past instead.)

I have to admit, I enjoyed selecting the treasures for this box as much as I loved unwrapping it, and I look forward to helping my clients select their special images to include in their very own nostalgia box! I love the thought that a little something I helped create will be stored in such a lovely container for future generations to discover and enjoy. It makes the archeologist deep within me happy at the thought, and I know my Grandmother would be proud that I'm passing along such a wonderful tradition to the next generation.