Film 365: Roll Two - January 20 - February 6

To be honest, I really put off sending this roll in to be developed.  I think I was disappointed that my first roll for this project didn't reveal that I was some amazing film photographer, who was just waiting to be discovered. Sometimes it's hard to just keep plugging on!

I was also nervous because I decided I was going to rate this film at 800 and push it one stop.  I had visions of my metering being completely off and a muddy mess of nothing coming back from the lab.  Fortunately, that fear was unfounded; my exposures were decent (though not stellar).  I would not hesitate to do some more experimenting with rating and pushing differently.

So, here we go, roll two in all of its super weird, grainy glory.  I was bummed that I was still missing focus a LOT, even though I felt like I was getting more accurate with the manual focus.  However, it has been a while since I shot these photos, so my feeling of accuracy may be based more on my current photos than these.  It's hard to think that I was halfway through this roll by the time I got my first roll back and could evaluate my skills a little more accurately. My composition is also on the boring side of things, thanks to, I believe relying so heavily on the split focusing ring (is that what it's called?) in the lens.  Centered comps all the way!  So, goals: shake up my compositions; move away from snapshot land.  I think I missed a couple of days, but I'll just stick in some extras from some other days to make the numbers happy.  My project, my rules!

Once again, all shot on the Sears KS500 with Kodak Ultramax 400 (rated at 800; pushed one stop).  It looks like all of them were taken with the 28mm 2.8 lens.

And I know you're just dying to find out what was on the vintage roll I sent in with this one.  Looks like summer of 2005.  Here's a little baby Charlotte and 4-H action for ya:

Film 365: Roll One - January 1-19

I used to shoot rolls and rolls and rolls of film.  When I was maybe 12 or so, my parents bought me my first SLR camera as a Christmas present.  I happily ran film through that thing, understanding the basic principles of photography (thank you, 4-H and my mother!) and happily getting my film developed by sending it off through the drug store (double prints, please!).  Fast forward a decade or so and I am now a professional photographer who is quite capable with a digital camera. I am ready to take on film once again.

I have challenged myself to take one frame on my trusty little Sears KS500 35mm camera every day this year. I am using a 55mm f2 lens and a 28mm f2.8 lens. I am planning to stick with this camera and use primarily consumer film.  I need to get a new battery for my meter, so I've been spot metering off of my digital camera or just guessing as best I can.  My goal of taking only one frame a day is to really get myself to slow down and consider the photo I'm taking before I happily shoot away.  The additional goal is that I will come to be as comfortable shooting film as I am with digital. I would also like to get more comfortable with manual focusing.

Today, I got my first scans back from theFINDlab.  This roll was shot on Kodak Ultramax 400.  I box  rated it.  Overall, I'm pleased with this first roll.  It has a very yellow color indoors (even though most of my indoor photos were lit with natural light), but I really adored the color in the one photo I happened to shoot outside.  I find that I am consistently blowing highlights more than I would like to be, in the interest of "exposing for the shadows."  I tweaked them all in Lightroom, mostly messing around with the temp and contrast/shadows/highlights.  And some straightening and cropping.

So, even though I'm almost through roll #2, things I will keep in mind for next time: Shoot outside.  Really, really, really take your time focusing (too many missed shots).  Watch your lines. Take notes!

So in light of keeping it all real, here are my photos (the good, but mostly the bad and the ugly) for January 1-19:

Okay, this one was a manually focused selfie.  Not too much complaining.

FAVORITE!!

An extra from this day, because the color was so much close to happiness.

Finally, I promised myself that for every roll of fresh film I sent in this year, I would also send in one of my unmarked, really old rolls that have been waiting to be developed for well over a decade.  The one I had developed was revealed to be from around 2005, I believe.  This was a store-brand roll of film, probably taken on my other SLR, a Sears TLS.  Which I just might have to break out again. Here are some bonus photos of my sister and me dying hand-spun yarn with Kool-aid:

My heart is filled with thankfulness: 6/30

"My heart is filled with thankfulness
To him who reigns above,
Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,
Whose ev'ry thought is love.
For ev'ry day I have on earth
Is given by the King;
So I will give my life, my all,
To love and follow him."

("My Heart Is Filled with Thankfulness" Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend Copyright © 2003 Thankyou Music; http://www.gettymusic.com/hymns-myheart.aspx)

Day Six:

Today is my Dad's birthday.  He's probably the hardest working person I know.  I'm thankful for him and thankful that my girls get to have a relationship with him.  Happy birthday, Dad!  Love you!

My heart is filled with thankfulness: 5/30

"My heart is filled with thankfulness
To him who reigns above,
Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,
Whose ev'ry thought is love.
For ev'ry day I have on earth
Is given by the King;
So I will give my life, my all,
To love and follow him."

("My Heart Is Filled with Thankfulness" Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend Copyright © 2003 Thankyou Music; http://www.gettymusic.com/hymns-myheart.aspx)

Day Five

This sister-in-law has a birthday today, which makes me extra super thankful for her.  She has always been a true friend to me, not just because we are obliged to get along because of sharing Levi.  She's just super cool.  Also, ice cream.

(Photo by Allison Garrett)

(We'd only known each other about a month at this point.  I'd say we hit it off pretty well.)

My heart is filled with thankfulness: 4/30

"My heart is filled with thankfulness
To him who reigns above,
Whose wisdom is my perfect peace,
Whose ev'ry thought is love.
For ev'ry day I have on earth
Is given by the King;
So I will give my life, my all,
To love and follow him."

("My Heart Is Filled with Thankfulness" Words and Music by Keith Getty & Stuart Townend Copyright © 2003 Thankyou Music; http://www.gettymusic.com/hymns-myheart.aspx)

Day Two:

Getting to be a member of not only this family:

But this one, too:

(Updated family photo at Christmas?  I think yes.)