Why all the photographers? We were practicing our off camera lighting techniques. This photograph is with my Canon 5DII on a tripod and I was going to photograph myself using a timer but another photographer volunteered to trip the shutter for me so I would know the photograph was in color.

I will probably share a few photographs from the day – some photos that are not of me. But I thought it would be fun to share a self portrait.

dav.d and his Bronica film camera

So today I received two new lenses in the mail – these are used lenses that will work with my medium format film camera. I have yet to get my first roll of film back from the photo lab – and I am already barreling into the world of film head first!

My new Bronica 50mm and Bronica 150mm lenses

BTW, I call these lenses new – they are new to me. They are most definitely used – and they arrived in their original boxes. I don’t keep my boxes for too long. But then I wasn’t raised in the depression – where you learned to keep EVERYTHING. I recycle boxes – rather than store them in a basement somewhere.

This weekend I am excited to go out and photograph a few more rolls of film. Last night I shot about 5 frames of black and white film and about 8 frames of color film. Shooting film is very different than digital photography. I love digital photography – but there is definitely something romantic and classic about film photography.

All three of my medium format camera lenses - 50mm, 75mm, 150mm

Digital photography simplifies photography – it can have a faster workflow – and the image quality is getting outstanding. What is it that I like about film? I like that the film itself will include a unique thumbprint – grain, color, contrast are all subjective to what kind of film you use. Yes you can fake it in Photoshop.

I also like the retro/old time feel of film cameras. Much like people today are now buying actual records to listen to music – it is hip to be retro – but no too retro.

And most importantly? I think shooting film will help make me a bit more unique – cause I don’t like to blend in. Normal is boring – be extraordinary. So watch for me the photographer with a film camera and a digital camera.

Bird's eye view of the Bronica lenses