F STOP CAMERAS
Got a trip coming up? Are you the kind of person who shoots both film and digital cameras? Then let me make a suggestion; the next time you’re traveling, leave the DSLR at home and only shoot film.
I know what you’re thinking – “But how will I upload my photos mid-trip? How will I make my friends jealous of my adventures? What about x-rays!?” Calm down and trust me. Leaving your digital camera at home and shooting nothing but film will be one of the most rewarding choices you’ll ever make.
The decade that brought us Dunkaroos and the Macarena also brought with it a scourge in the form of plastic-fantastic, hum-drum camera design. As such, many cameras from the ‘90s are forgotten and often reviled. But were things really that bad? No way, dude! The 1990s brought some of the most capable film cameras ever made, along with a few hilarious designs as well.
Much has been written about the technical benefits of shooting in Manual mode, and while these articles do well to explain why shooting this way can improve the quality of your photographs they don’t always address an additional benefit, and one which may be far more impactful than just making prettier pictures. I’m talking about the ways shooting manually can improve your quality of life.
I've loved cameras and photography for a long time, and for years I'd often dreamed of making a living in a field related to this passion of mine. Unfortunately, I lacked the confidence to shoot weddings, and the doors of photo-journalism seemed tightly shut. Whether or not I could have succeeded in these realms is another story, but for whatever reason I never pursued them too actively.