Photography is like any other art, it varies in form and tradition. There are (whom I have met) photographers who believe that a functional knowledge of a 35MM camera is required to really even understand photography on a technical or artistic level (however these same individuals don’t understand what the internet is so take it for what it’s worth). All that being said, I do think theres some credence to the idea that learning 35MM is like driving stick or listing to vinyl, there’s certain indescribable qualities that can’t really be replicated, or even really described well. I mean, grain is an obvious description, but it’s more than that.
To call this process difficult would not be accurate, but it is certainly.. a learning exercise, a sometimes frustrating one. The reality of digital photography is that the technology is very solid, mistakes are easily overwritten, and the ability and ease to edit images means that “close enough” can often become “pretty damn good.” With film, there are so many things you can butcher, and so many possible foibles that exceed your control. Patience is required.
I spent that summer teaching myself how to use my new Yashica, brushing up technique and familiarizing myself with different film stocks. I shot everything I could get my hands on, got new cameras and lenses, tried perfecting my still-standing pose for slow shutter speeds. Most of it was honest-to-god shit, a lot of it was personal family stuff, but there were a few gems in the mix.
