Why don’t I go digital?
Before I took my first photography class I was already shooting black and white photos, using filters, and even trying my hand at enlarging in a friends darkroom. But I thought it was time to get a little more guidance than by reading the popular trio of Ansel Adams books (The Camera
It was 2001 when I took my first photography class. I already knew most of the concepts, like the basic features of a camera, how to compose a scene, and how to develop film. The class did, however, introduce me to the basic darkroom techniques I needed. My teacher was also a big help with critiques. His comments kept me going back into the darkroom to improve.
I met some students that were from the advanced film class, using the lab during the same time. They showed me some extra tips and tricks that I don’t believe I would’ve picked up from my photo teacher or lab assistant. This is also how I was introduced to the larger-format cameras, particularly the 4 x 5 camera. I was excited about how large the negatives were and how much detail they could pack in.
So, through the educational discount, I purchased a Toyo-View 45CX and dove right in. I utilized my teacher and the lab assistant to the fullest. I learned a lot from them and surprisingly got a lot out of a beginner’s photography class.
In 2003, I took my second photography class. This class involved learning about filters, using infrared film, and shooting portraits using a medium format camera.
I had never tried infrared film before and I still had my 4 x 5 camera, so I used it for the assignment.
When it came time to use the medium format, I borrowed one of the school’s Mamiya C220s. This is when I realized this was the format for me. It wasn’t huge like a 4 x 5 camera. It didn’t take that long to set up a shot. When searching out a shot, it was more convenient walking and looking periodically down into the waste-level finder, whereas a 35mm camera would need to be brought up to the face and back down again. After testing out the camera, I borrowed a friend’s Hasselblad. It took a little bit more getting used to then the Mamiya, but within a day I was sold. The images from the Zeiss lenses were outstanding. It was time to sell off the 4 x 5 equipment and take advantage of another educational discount. Soon, I had a Hasselblad 501C/M.
Back in 1999, I started backpacking and would take a camera with me all the time.
When I first started I took the 35mm. Later, I took the 4 x 5. Now I take my Hasselblad. It never mattered carrying all the weight so I could get great shots using a great camera. Nevertheless, with using film and my inexperience came problems.
There was a time when I woke up early to shoot some nice scenes around Yosemite Valley with the 4 x 5. I finished up around lunchtime and wanted to reload the film holders. Unfortunately, the holders were never loaded in the first place. I had been taking pictures with no film!
There was another time when I went to Death Valley. This time I had film in the camera. When I got home to develop them, I tried a few negatives in the XTOL powder developer. I had never used it before, and it did not turn out so well. I could tell that the composition of the shots were good, but the developer had rendered the piece of film unprintable. Luckily, this was only done to a few sheets of film from that trip.
One of the last times I went backpacking was to Mineral King in Sequoia National Park. I was carrying my Hasselblad with me. There were a couple times where I wanted to stop on the trail to take a picture, but then I thought it would be too much trouble to put down my pack, unpack the camera, set up the tripod, meter the shot, and snap the photo. And then, turn around and pack it all up again, and put my backpack on to continue up the trail, didn’t sound like the most fun.
During that trip, I asked my friend and myself, “Why don’t I go digital?”
