Film Photography

      First off, I must mention a disclaimer: I am by no means a professional photographer, nor am I even anything relatively close to that. I'm hardly even a "photographer". I'm just a regular dude who likes to explore and happens to take some photos along the way--anyone can do this sort of stuff. I can't stress that enough, anyone can take beautiful photos. Now to be a "photographer" is a delicate subject to me. I cringe every time someone mentions my name in relation to that profession. I don't think I deserve such an accolade, at least not yet. I'm just an average guy and some of my pictures happen to come out looking pretty rad; its all just lots of good fun and expression. 

      Now back to the main subject, film photography. I shoot the majority of my photos in 35mm film with a Canon AE-1. Any other photos are just cell phone photos and editing (LG G3, and mostly editing). People always ask, why film? Well to be honest, I just never could afford a DSLR or nice digital camera. In fact, when I first began taking photos at all it was purely to satisfy my girlfriend at the time (thanks Christin you're the best). And at first I absolutely sucked, every photo  looked terrible. Years of rigorous training by my confidante helped me improve, very slowly. When I would take photos of her it was almost always cell phone or DSLR (mostly iPhone). If you'd like to check out some of her photography\aesthetic it's damn gorgeous: www.instagram.com/naturecat_ By the time I had split with her my interest for photography had matured into a love so I ventured off to develop my own sort of style. However my LG phone took the worst photos--absolute garbage. I would try, but never the same as with Christin's Nikon or iPhone. I certainly couldn't afford my own digital option so film appeared to be my best option. I bought a Canon AE-1, two lenses, and a case for around a hundred bucks or so on eBay and started learning. It's been about a year plus about 50 rolls of film since then. 

      Film is incredible to me, I absolutely love it. It feels so manual, just so hands on. With my camera I can adjust aperture, shutter speed, focus, ISO, etc. and it all just makes sense. I know what my camera is doing and everything is clear and easy to interpret. Every time I've ever shot with DSLR I just get lost in all of the options and configurations and it would always just take so much time to apprehend everything it was doing when I would change a setting. I honestly would usually just throw it in auto mode and let it do its thing. I could always just edit later and make it look cool right? Who needs all these frustrating options and modes? Not me man. 

     Now that's just my personal opinion. DSLR and other digital options are probably better in the long run and they give more flexibility overall. And another major con to film photography is that you have absolutely no idea how the photo is going to actually turn out. Not until you get that roll developed. Digitals are a bit safer in that aspect, but its really just not as fun. Every time I finish a roll of film it feels like a little gift to myself I can open whenever I want. It's so much fun. In fact, I've got about six or seven rolls sitting in the refrigerator right now that I can't wait to develop. But if photography is a profession you want to pursue seriously, then having something digital is a must. Especially in today's technological era, everything is instant. Film definitely takes time to gather, develop, transfer, and edit. Five of those seven rolls of film are actually almost six months old; from my last road trip to the Pacific Northwest. 

      So, in conclusion, the only reason I even shoot film is because I can't afford a nice digital/DSLR camera. I'm all over the place with jobs and traveling and I live my life pretty close to the blade of poverty. The only reason I have a place to live all the time is because of loved ones around me; friends, family, etc. Beautiful people. If you've never shot with film I highly suggest giving it a try or at least learning about it. It teaches you the fundamentals of camera operation and shooting perfectly. But if you want something that does most of the work for you and is a lot quicker while still enabling tons of options and control then go DSLR, you won't regret it! I'll stick with film for now, keeps things interesting for me. 

Presence

To be present sounds simple, but it is overlooked more than we realize. This isn't necessarily directed to everyone, but to the majority. 

Be present

Be mindful

Be aware

Feel everything

Well what the hell does that mean? You sound like a weirdo hippy dude. 

Yeah well just try it, it might change your life. If it doesn't then that's okay, just keep living no worries. To be mindful or present or aware really just means to pay attention. Pay attention to everything, all the details. When you wake up in the morning you probably have some sort of routine, almost everyone does, and that's okay. Wake up, alarm off, get up, make the bed, make some coffee, take a shower, brush your teeth, eat breakfast, and go to work (not necessarily in that order). Its like clockwork, automatic, every morning. Which is kind of cool; efficient, timely, and easy. Unfortunately its boring, lifeless, and so automatic that sometimes you can't even remember how you felt the entire time. To me that's just a little too depressing. I don't want to spend half of my life living like that. We are humans, we are endowed with these feelings and they are beautiful gifts that we should be more grateful for. We can feel so much if we would just pay attention. Go outside and look at the sky, it makes you feel so small and sometimes even scared. That's incredible to me, if you just sit and look at it and really feel it there's absolutely nothing like it. The same could be said of the clouds, the wind, the trees, the people, the animals, the stars, the moon, the mountains, the rivers, the rain, the grass, all of it. All of it brimming with life and with energy and emotion if you would just let it touch you. All of these things are invisible to many of us because we block ourselves inside of our daily lives. We get on autopilot and we just drive, or work, or do whatever we do and just forget about all of it when we go to sleep. The only things many of us notice are the things that happen directly to us. Pay attention and feel you surroundings, there are a million things probably going on around you at this very moment that if given attention could inspire some emotion or feeling or appreciation. You'll smile more and you'll be more grateful for all the things you have. It is an unbelievable feeling to be swayed by such minor things. Presence will make you happier, I promise.

Travel Nostalgia

Today somebody asked me, "What was the coolest place you saw when you traveled?" I have never even thought about that before. I had no idea how to answer the question and it made me feel abnormal that I couldn't answer it. I've been on three road trips to the West Coast/Pacific Northwest and one trip to Pittsburg and Philadelphia. When I word it like that it doesn't feel like I've accomplished much as far as exploration. But the sights I've seen and the places I've been in between are unfathomable. Maybe that's why this question was so hard to answer? Or maybe it's because I'm human that this question irks me so much. Our emotions are rampant and beauty is always in the eyes of the beholder. Well maybe one day on my adventures this beholder wasn't feeling so hot and the beauty escaped his grasp. Who's to say this beauty that he missed out on wasn't the coolest place he'd ever been if only he had been more aware? It's impossible to tell the truth, and I hate giving unsure answers. I guess if I had to pick a moment in my life during my travels where I felt the happiest, it would have been holding the person I loved tight in my arms underneath the downpour of Tumalo Falls in Oregon. An incredibly unforgettable moment to say the least, but to the outward eye Tumalo Falls is hardly in the top twenty as far as statuesque destinations go. But I guess love might possibly be the most alluring destination that this world has to offer. Or perhaps not, who knows.