Basic Gear for Film Photography

There are a million cool accessories for film photography.  On online auction sites, many film photography items are available at a fraction of their original cost.  But, what do you really need to take up film photography?  Not much.  You can get the essentials - a camera, lenses, and film bag - very inexpensively.

The Basic Equipment You Need for 35mm Film Photography

Camera, Case, and Film

[In 2024, I'm revisiting this post.  Film photography is a bit more expensive now.  Film and developing costs money and there aren't as many places that develop film.  However, you can save money by simply pacing yourself and only buying and developing film at a pace you can afford.  Camera prices can vary widely.  But, I bought an SLR film camera for less than $10 at a thrift store just last year.  If you are a young person, you might also talk about your hobby with grandparents and other older relatives.  You never know what kinds of cool camera gear lurk in closets, attics, and basements.]

Including Film Photography in Your Wedding

Film has always played an important role in wedding photography.  Vintage film camera images simply have a staying power that transcends Instagram, Photoshop, and the latest digital camera.  While many wedding photographers use digital cameras today, there are still many ways to informally include film photography in your wedding. 

By Fred C. Palmer (died 1936-1939) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 

Gulf Fritillary Butterfly Photo

Here's an interesting shot that I took with my Kodak Z950 back in early September 2012.  It's a shot of a butterfly that had just landed on a flower.  His wings are blurry because they were still moving.  But, his face and the flower are very clear.  I have other shots that are perfectly and uniformly focused.  However, I find this one intriguing.  I believe this butterfly is called a Gulf Fritillary.

Do you think this is an effective photo or a blurry mess?

Brushfoot - Gulf Fritillary Butterfly in Smyrna, Georgia

Metal Frog Statues at Smyrna Town Center in Georgia

They say that frogs are important indicators of the health of an ecosystem.  If that is true, then I wonder what it says when your frogs a giant, mutated, and made of metal!  Here's one that I spotted doing some thinking near the Smyrna, Georgia, village center.

Frog Scuplture Near Smyrna Village in Georgia

Atlanta Water Works (AWW) - An old building!

Here's a quick shot that I took one evening before ducking into our Atlanta IKEA to do a little shopping.  This old landmark is the AWW.  The sun was just setting so this shot is a bit of a silhouette.

Atlanta Water Works

Bell Clock Tower in Cobb County, Georgia

I saw this interesting clock tower in a local office complex (Cobb Galleria Centre) here in Atlanta.  Set in a beautiful waterfall, I thought it looked interesting when framed by buildings.

Carillon near Galleria Garden

Returning to this post in 2024, I have additional photos of a site that continues to captivate me.

Carillon at Cobb Galleria Garden

The carillon and the surrounding office buildings take on lots of different shades and hews as the sun rises and sets on this office park.

Carillon at Cobb Galleria Garden

At night time, this piece of sculpture takes on a glow from nearby street lights.

Carillon at Cobb Galleria Garden

The Rusting Relics of Wakulla County

When we were living in Florida, I came to appreciate a minor roadside curiosity that locals called the Rusting Cars of Crawfordville or Rusting Cars of Wakulla.  They were orderly rows of retired farm cars that were left in a clearing to quietly rust, decay, and rejoin the earth.  It's not often that you see DeSotos and Dodges left in a field to fade away.  But, they certainly catch the light and attract the eye.

An Old DeSoto left to decay decades ago. . .