"Photographic" Societies

[leica dream]

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After 15 years of digital I realise that my renewed interest in 35mm film photography is a significant challenge, but I have found it impossible to find another group locally who share the interest. I have visited several so called “Photographic Societies”  which only confirmed in my own mind that they are all about “imagery” not “photography”. Subjects are shot with the expectation of being manipulated/combined/enhanced digitally to produce aesthetically good pictures - there is nothing wrong with that and I have seen many stunning final images.

 

Setting aside composition issues, this contrasts with my own view that “Photography” is about the skill of capturing moments as shot. Indeed, I believe that the combination of digital camera and PC processing has still not caught up with the high quality of modern day films. For me the skill of setting the camera for a shot and then completing the film to see what has been captured is the challenge. Of course there is also the advantage of a full frame image every time and the satisfaction that the photographer has produced the image….not the camera, without, for instance, the ability to adjust ISO for each shot.  I have noticed during discussions that many issues with digitals just do not happen with film - levels and blown out whites etc..  In short, I believe that the resurgence of film puts the skill back in the hands of the photographer and away from the clever technical wizardry. I suppose that like many things, the World moves forward and we must adapt to change, but without understanding basic theories, skills and techniques even new developments would struggle to reinvent the wheel.

 

Digital will reach a zenith one day and be forced to turn another way ………..remember Concord. I believe firmly that there is a real place for digital and analogue alongside each other - for me that is my R6.2 and my little C-Lux.

 

How do other film photographers meet/converse with like minded enthusiasts locally - or are we such a breed apart?

[pico]

1 hour ago, leica dream said:

Quote

How do other film photographers meet/converse with like minded enthusiasts locally - or are we such a breed apart?

I have not personally know any Leica users for over thirty years. As for  breed, no one can choose his parents.

 

Edited October 15, 2018 by pico

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[TomB_tx]

I also have defined photography as image capture. Back in the ‘60s the “final” of our college photography course was to shoot a 20 exposure roll of Kodachrome, and then had to show all 20 to the class. The idea being that each shutter click should be worth showing.

[Pyrogallol]

Agree with what has been said. There is a revival in film photography but it does not seem to have made much impact on camera clubs yet. In our small club membership has declined, young people do not appear to want to join “hobby” clubs and just post pictures on line. There are only two of us left in our club doing film and darkroom photography, though others do show an interest.

[Pyrogallol]

11 hours ago, TomB_tx said:

I also have defined photography as image capture. Back in the ‘60s the “final” of our college photography course was to shoot a 20 exposure roll of Kodachrome, and then had to show all 20 to the class. The idea being that each shutter click should be worth showing.

In our club, many years ago before digital, we issued everyone with a 12 exposure colour film and a list of 12 subjects to photograph. The pictures had to be taken in the correct order and the processor was asked to leave the strip of enprints uncut so that each strip could be displayed complete. We then could discuss who had taken the best set of pictures, in the correct order.

[250swb]

 

I don't think there should be any 'skill' involved in swishing films around in baths of chemicals, it should be based on facts and complimentary actions, not genius. Skill is reserved for the image that goes on the wall. This has never been in dispute outside of camera clubs who want to gives marks for everything. Who is the better and more skillful photographer, Henri Cartier Bresson or the average camera club Joe? Well HCB had his films processed and printed for him. Now that needs considering when trying to invoke an elitist reason to shoot film. 

 

[Ouroboros]

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Great photographers are great photographers, regardless of their preferred medium.  The internet and Social Media are responsible for generating skewed impressions where a minority who can shout (but not sing) would have you believe they have discovered something.

Film never left the room.

[pgk]

14 hours ago, leica dream said:

..... my own view that “Photography” is about the skill of capturing moments as shot.

I believe that the combination of digital camera and PC processing has still not caught up with the high quality of modern day films.

Digital will reach a zenith one day and be forced to turn another way ………..remember Concord. I believe firmly that there is a real place for digital and analogue alongside each other - for me that is my R6.2 and my little C-Lux.

How do other film photographers meet/converse with like minded enthusiasts locally - or are we such a breed apart?

What is disparate number of statements. Firstly, neither film nor digital have any impact on capturing moments. This is the skill of the photographer, nothing more, nothing less.

Belief is not a substitute for actuality - digital capture far surpasses film today in its ability to produce technically super and incredibly detailed images - no question whatsoever.

Whilst digital and analogue  are quite different and both have a place and hopefully will continue to do so, the future for digital is completely unknown but it is a far from mature technology and will undoubtedly continue to evolve, probably in ways we cannot conjecture about.

There are many photographers who share much more than that which is offered in the club 'scene'. If you look at the special interest groups in the RPS for example you may find others who share (some of) your views. There are other specialist associations and fora too.

[Pyrogallol]

I imagine most people on this forum take photographs (and collect cameras) because we want to, not have to.

For those who have to, professionals, they would need to use digital these days. For those who want to, many of us want to use film, including anyone who wants to use Leicas made before the millennium.

 

maybe someone will invent some software that fits in a container the shape of a 35mm film cassette, with a thin sensor that slides into place in the film plane, with some way of sensing movement of the wind-on and shutter release movements ? Then we can take digital photos with film cameras.

[leica dream]

Thanks for the input, although I think some may have misinterpreted my purpose for the thread. Maybe I should have expected such a reaction bearing in mind that when I approached one Society their secretary felt the need to examine rules of the regional competition structure to verify that photographs on film were eligible - of course they would be valid............pretty much says it all though.

[250swb]

3 hours ago, leica dream said:

their secretary felt the need to examine rules of the regional competition structure to verify that photographs on film were eligible - of course they would be valid............pretty much says it all though.

Not really unexpected, camera clubs are based around 'image quality', by which they imply fuzzy old film may not qualify, their 'arbiters of taste' no longer know how to judge it against 24 mp. But in the wider world 'image quality' is how good the photograph is, not necessarily the extent you can grain or pixel peep. And this is a problem, film or digital should both be acknowledged with the same sideways nod, not treated as if one is superior or more skillful than another, in the alternative stance all you get are images where people (I won't even call them photographers) demonstrate the equipment they own and not any creative instinct.

[Martin B]

There has been a short-lived film photography based meetup group in NJ until last year. Only a handful people came to the first meetups, and then the organizer pulled the trigger and closed the group down. One camera store organizes biannual film photography meetups in Hoboken/NJ - the proximity to NYC attracts quite a few people to those meetups. I have found on fb a film photographer group based in NYC which has some meetups in the city, too. But in the suburbs you are running easily out of luck since people doing film photography are scattered. 

[logan2z]

On 10/15/2018 at 11:17 AM, leica dream said:

How do other film photographers meet/converse with like minded enthusiasts locally - or are we such a breed apart?

Before I had my own home darkroom, I was a member of a community darkroom.  By definition, such places are filled with film shooters.  It might be worth looking into whether one exists in your area.  As others have mentioned, it may be difficult to find a core group of film shooters in the typical local photography club. 

I'm a member of a non-profit photography gallery that holds monthly critique sessions.  The sessions are well attended by some very accomplished and serious amateur photographers.  I've been to several (and have shown work) and I think I've only encountered one other person using film.  The first time I showed prints someone in the group shouted "are those silver??!!"   

Most of the people I'm aware of that are currently shooting film are young adults discovering it for the first time.  I don't think you'll find them clamoring to join a traditional photography club.  I'd suggest that you revel in your uniqueness 

Edited December 3, 2018 by logan2z