Okay, so I finally got around to shooting a roll of 35mm black and white film. I’ve been meaning to do this for ages, and it was way more fun than I expected!
Getting Started
First, I dusted off my old film camera – a trusty Canon AE-1 that I inherited from my grandpa. I made sure the battery was still good (it was, surprisingly!). Then I loaded the film, which is always a little fiddly, but I managed without messing it up.
The Fun Part: Shooting!
- I wandered around my neighborhood, just looking for interesting things to photograph.
- I played with shadows and light a lot – that’s the cool thing about black and white, it’s all about the contrast.
- I took pictures of everything from old buildings to my neighbor’s grumpy cat.
- I even tried some “artsy” shots of fire hydrants and cracks in the sidewalk.
It was a little weird not being able to see the pictures right away. You know, like we do with our phones. It made me think more before I pressed the shutter button. I can say I really focused on.
The Suspense…Developing!
I took the roll to a local camera shop that still develops film. Old School!The waiting was the hardest part! I was so curious to see how the pictures turned out.
The Big Reveal
When I finally picked up the prints, I was so excited.
Some of the photos were a little blurry or overexposed. I guess I’m still learning! But some of them turned out amazing! The contrast was really striking, and they had this cool, vintage vibe.
Overall, shooting with black and white film was a blast. It’s a totally different experience than digital photography. It made me slow down and appreciate the process. I’m already planning my next roll!
