August 1, 2025

August 1, 2025

August 1, 2025

HEADLINES; Vol. 1

HEADLINES; Vol. 1

HEADLINES; Vol. 1

HEADLINES; Vol. 1

HEADLINES; Vol. 1

Where to Start

Where to Start

Where to Start

Where to Start

Where to Start

Here! Here's the start of a hobby that has filled my life with so much joy and excitement. The search for a hobby spanned months. I had free time, but wasn't having a fun time. My wonderful girlfriend Claire (pictured below) decided to bring an end to all that. She bought me a film camera (3D modeled on the first page of this site) for my birthday, and these are parts of the first two rolls I ever shot.

The first 8 or so rolls of film I'll be posting where generously gifted to me by Claire's sister Emma, who is a hairdresser. A retiring client of Emma's had given her a number of rolls of film, and Emma, knowing I was about to try film photography, offered them to me. It was also Emma's recommendation to Claire on what model of camera to buy me that Emma absolutely knocked out the park. The more I learn about film photography and try new things, the more I realize how powerful my Minolta Freedom Date Zoom 140EX is.

Here! Here's the start of a hobby that has filled my life with so much joy and excitement. The search for a hobby spanned months. I had free time, but wasn't having a fun time. My wonderful girlfriend Claire (pictured below) decided to bring an end to all that. She bought me a film camera (3D modeled on the first page of this site) for my birthday, and these are parts of the first two rolls I ever shot.

The first 8 or so rolls of film I'll be posting where generously gifted to me by Claire's sister Emma, who is a hairdresser. A retiring client of Emma's had given her a number of rolls of film, and Emma, knowing I was about to try film photography, offered them to me. It was also Emma's recommendation to Claire on what model of camera to buy me that Emma absolutely knocked out the park. The more I learn about film photography and try new things, the more I realize how powerful my Minolta Freedom Date Zoom 140EX is.

My first ever roll. A test roll. In the rolls of film Emma had generously gifted me was a roll that inside it's container held FujiFilm 400, a very common 35mm film, but on it's container was branded with the logo and name of Brook's Pharmacy (a chain of New England Pharmacies that closed down in 2007). It was very clear this roll was probably long expired, most film only has a shelf life of 2-3 years, and sometimes although it can feel like I just graduated high school yesterday, even if yesterday was my high school graduation, that would still put this film at at least 10 years old. We decided this roll would probably be the best to just see if the camera did indeed work as the seller said it did, since the film probably didn't work as Brook's Pharmacy once intended it to.

Ribbon'd photo: I didn't realize how much of an omen that squirrel was. For however much I absolutely love my camera, it's one major flaw is that even if I use the red-eye correction feature, any night time photo of an animal still comes out looking like there’s evil in their hearts. Although it is fun capturing the red eye flights of birds, and sometimes I feel odd complaining because I'll go out of my way to capture the wall of red eyes staring at me from the back end of bumper to bumper traffic.

My first ever roll. A test roll. In the rolls of film Emma had generously gifted me was a roll that inside it's container held FujiFilm 400, a very common 35mm film, but on it's container was branded with the logo and name of Brook's Pharmacy (a chain of New England Pharmacies that closed down in 2007). It was very clear this roll was probably long expired, most film only has a shelf life of 2-3 years, and sometimes although it can feel like I just graduated high school yesterday, even if yesterday was my high school graduation, that would still put this film at at least 10 years old. We decided this roll would probably be the best to just see if the camera did indeed work as the seller said it did, since the film probably didn't work as Brook's Pharmacy once intended it to.

Ribbon'd photo: I didn't realize how much of an omen that squirrel was. For however much I absolutely love my camera, it's one major flaw is that even if I use the red-eye correction feature, any night time photo of an animal still comes out looking like there’s evil in their hearts. Although it is fun capturing the red eye flights of birds, and sometimes I feel odd complaining because I'll go out of my way to capture the wall of red eyes staring at me from the back end of bumper to bumper traffic.

This is probably really my first roll. FujiFilm 400, branded as such. I had gotten the scans back from Roll 1 a couple days before, and Claire had the rest of the donated film. We had gotten breakfast one morning, and on my way out and onto a 1.5 hour walk home, I loaded a roll of film, the one you are seeing here, and began taking photos of everything I saw, starting with Claire.

Ribbon'd photo: The next day I went for a night walk. This was just the second time I had gone out at night, and at the time all I had was the camera, no tripod or anything to stabilize with. Since it was night and there was no light, it meant I either had to use the flash, which could only really work for things a few meters in front of me, or hold my breath and try to be as still as possible. Everyone told me that no matter how still you try and be, the photos will still come out shaky. I am so thankful I had no inhibitions and just wanted to try everything, because what I took is easily one of my favorite photos I've ever taken, if not my favorite. In part that sentiment comes from my nostalgia for this time and my excitement at seeing this photo for the first time. It's one of the photos that made me realize what I'm capable of.

This is probably really my first roll. FujiFilm 400, branded as such. I had gotten the scans back from Roll 1 a couple days before, and Claire had the rest of the donated film. We had gotten breakfast one morning, and on my way out and onto a 1.5 hour walk home, I loaded a roll of film, the one you are seeing here, and began taking photos of everything I saw, starting with Claire.

Ribbon'd photo: The next day I went for a night walk. This was just the second time I had gone out at night, and at the time all I had was the camera, no tripod or anything to stabilize with. Since it was night and there was no light, it meant I either had to use the flash, which could only really work for things a few meters in front of me, or hold my breath and try to be as still as possible. Everyone told me that no matter how still you try and be, the photos will still come out shaky. I am so thankful I had no inhibitions and just wanted to try everything, because what I took is easily one of my favorite photos I've ever taken, if not my favorite. In part that sentiment comes from my nostalgia for this time and my excitement at seeing this photo for the first time. It's one of the photos that made me realize what I'm capable of.