The Long Winding Path

The mountains watch. They don’t watch you though, they just watch. As you eye the sky and the mountains in the morning, trying to guess what the weather will be like. That pullover you don now, will likely become just weight in your pack. But the rain jacket also has to go in

As you start walking, generally upwards, It doesn’t take long for the most obvious signs of “Civilization” to start disappearing, but the signs of men, are still there

A full canteen, with fresh mountain water is the best ticket for the biggest spectacle

Those first steps, cold and wearing just the minimum clothing so as not to freeze but also not to sweat immediately, while the morning mist makes its best effort to rob you heat. cold water sloshing in the canteen, makes you shiver more. Target is to pass the low pastures as soon as possible and get to the forest, where it will be a wee warmer, and your muscles will have started pumping

Down at the valley, manicured and well marked paths make you think that maps and compasses are a things of the past

Overwhelming sunlight

The Call of the Mountains

If you have been to enough museums, you will have seen what I am talking about. What is it? Oh yes, in some Mountain or Sea museums, you have seen a “column” which is the concept of geological strata used to show what fauna and flora inhabits which height, or depth. It is of course a bit of a idealised representation. But it is very useful.

Not only there is cattle in the valleys, there is also an abundance of Homo Sapiens. Everyone is there at the beginning. whether they are going up or staying down there. Temperatures might be significantly hot or, even cold. As cold air sinks and, in some valleys, doesn’t have anywhere to go.

Anyway, there is also plenty of paved roads and, belonging to it, its fauna: vehicles.

And traffic goes on and on, day and night

But it is of course not about complaining. Villages are charming and quaint and on every corner there is something to discover, sometimes wearing tight and bright coloured polyester

Wood is as common a material as pragmatism on a life of multiple facets. Living here is not easy. Tourism is a big contributor but only one

So, you’re going analog then?

No.

That was a short entry, was it not?

All right, all right.

While the involvement is a plus, digital photography offers two big advantages for me, aside of the technical ones. And both are summed up in one point: it helps you learn quicker.

Learning is, unfortunately, closely linked with failing. We are raised to think about mistakes and failure as a bad thing, and it certainly can be.

Making mistakes on film photography is expensive and it takes a few days (at the very least) to find out that you took the picture with the lens cap on. This is a bad vibes feedback loop. It cost you money to make a mistake and it takes long to get feedback. With digital photography you can get instant feedback at no cost. And that means, you are free to shoot as much as you want. In fact, as much as you can, and get instantaneous feedback. So much so that you may even have the chance to correct your shot, that is, to shoot again without lens cap.

That is, in my opinion, the main advantage of digital photography.

So, is it worth it?

Well, that is the wrong question. I cannot tell for anyone else but myself.

For me, it did help to slow down and to simplify the shooting. The information you have to work with is much less than my modern cameras. There is no Pre or Post view either. Therefore there is a good deal of judgement. How do you want your highlights? your darks?

There is no IBIS either,

First and foremost, I am very happy that my cameras are in working condition, so the test was successful. If I want to, I can use them.

But it is a bit about rituals, also about the suspense, if you wish, of what is going to be on the film and, of course about holding it in your hand.

Then, I guess like loading a Compact Disc or tuning a radio with the knob, there is a more mechanical feel. Some people talks about “simplicity” but I do not believe a camera as such is “simple” I think we can understand better how is it working. Or at least we believe so. Whether we do, is another thing.

What is, however, is more involved and makes you feel more of a part of it, an actor and not an spectator. You used to tell your computer to boot DOS, and WIN, so you were telling it what to do. Now it does by itself. It is convenient, but not satisfactory.

I will definitely do it again

Slowing Down

And slow down you will. It is not only about the loading of film and about being conscious of how much film you’ve got left.

Not even about setting the camera. I have gone to analog lenses a few years, back, at the beginning of the Pandemic. basically because they appeal to me and are much cheaper than modern motorised AF lenses. But let’s not derail… more.

Back in the day of the pinnacle of Analog Photography you would bring the can of film for development and you could have the prints in your hand within an hour. For (the equivalent of) about 10 €. Nowadays, things are … less quick. It has taken me 10 days to get my prints back.

And the print quality, well, it could be better.

anyway, let’s finally “fast” forward to where we where. I saw the Agfa 400 black and white film in a supermarket, as they have a printing section. on that regard, I must admit things haven’t changed all that much. it’s a bit more sterile, as everything has. So I will admit to my purchase being less impulsive. Anyway, I went for black and white because it was cheaper and all this exercise had a reason.

I have a bunch of cameras I got when buying vintage lenses. They amount to a few Konica T, a T3 and a Pentax P30. that being, by far, the most modern one.

Some are a bit damaged, but I wanted to find out if they were usable. And I thought the most expedite way to check would be to just put a roll of film through them.

And Voilá, both the Pentax P30 and the Konica T3 are in working order. Light meter, shutter timer and no light leaks. (yey!)

Snow on the balcony tiles

Roll and wind

It has been about 20 years I loaded a camera with film for the last time. In fact I could actually tell you when was it: We had a summer course about historical architecture and we got an assignment of which I do not recall the specifics but, we ended going " target="_blank">there to take a look at some structural damage. I know, since then, some work has happened to the building. I would not assume it has any relation with our report.

Anyway, that was 20 odd years ago and, while I don’t remember the camera, it was a (then) modern point and shoot, where you would place the film inside and it had a motorised winding mechanism. Which was fancy. Back in the late 90s, the whining of tiny electro motors was a sign of modernity.

Even those modernity standards were a little out of my depth, as what I was mainly using was a Canon from the early 80s. “I was using” as in, it belonged to my father.

Since I got my first digital camera, a sony cybershot, film photography was very much out. I remember the last developments I paid for came about 6 € (of 2002 ish) which apparently is just under 10 € today.

Fast forward to today, after I swore multiple times not to go back to film… well…

Let’s stop the tape a bit before, rewind a little.

I could say, I am into “retro” technology, but that would be slightly inaccurate and a very short blog entry. I do like the convenience and reliability of some, now “obsolete” technology. We have a world of convenience at our finger tips, but not only it is often sterile but also, unsatisfactory and open ended.

Let me waffle, I mean, explain.

Take music. Sure you can get a subscription, for which you need a smart phone, an account for it, an account for the subscription, a payment app… then you get streamed lowish quality music you cannot choose.

Or you pop in a cd, or a cassette or, if you’re fancy, a DCC or possibly a beloved minidisc. You need physical things, but there is no strings attached. it’s uncomplicated, it doesn’t need an internet connection it is just pressing a couple of buttons.

The preparing part is, of course longer but then again it becomes a ritual. Open the jewel case, the tray, the noises of the drive reading the ToC…

And that is what it can be extrapolated to shooting film. There is quite a ritual there, a slow down.

And sometimes, that is the point of it all, to slow down and enjoy it.

Selfie with a Konica T3