Was endeavoring to do a Fomapan day do over…
…after a recent film misstep/mix up. While I was pondering where I would go my son asked:
“Do you want to galavant?”
Always a yes. This always involves some manner of photography so we have ourselves a two-fer. We struck out aimlessly and landed on a town square nearby. That covers analog therapy and father/son galavanting in the title. What of the serendipity? I am glad I imagined that you asked.
We tend to go with the flow on our outings and where food is concerned we typically partake in whatever we stumble across. While meandering about we came across a small restaurant. We were drawn in by Hibachi writ large and then we both ordered Mongolian Beef. While waiting on our food we heard a call from a fellow member of the image capturing fold.
“Is that a film camera?”
Fast forward a few minutes and we shared some short stories, Instagram profiles (Here is Ben’s.), the forms of photography we pursue, and he showed us his WRX.
Cool. That would have been enough, but as my son and I continued on looking to finish the second roll of film for the day my son noticed that Ben had posted about us crossing paths and how it positively impacted his day.
Cool.
I then shared with my son that we had him to thank for this and he asked how. Simple. My son asked that we go galavanting. That led us to strike out directionless, which led us to the restaurant, which led to us meeting Ben. I shared with him further that this is why you need to follow these types of impulses. We could have made excuses not to go. We could have been closed off and not open to meeting new people. I further shared with him that this is why I try not to silence that positive inner voice.
- The one that says I should bring a camera.
- The one that tells you to leave the house.
- That one that tells you to park the car and get out.
- The one that tells you to capture that fleeting moment that may be imitated but never replicated.
But that is not all.
Lifting up that inner positive voice often requires you to silence or ignore the greatest hits of that often louder inner negative voice.
- What if you lose/break your camera?
- Look at that person over there looking at you funny.
- This shot will not likely come out.
- If it does it will not have been worth your time.
Similar to loud negative voices out in the world the inner voice is consistently wrong. I have never regretted trying to get the shot. I have regretted missed opportunities on the rare occasion that I listened to the wrong voice. Shared with my son that it is always a win.
- If you do not get the pic there is satisfaction found in trying.
- Getting the pic is ts own reward.
Ok, ok… Enough low octane Ted talk for now. The pictures. But first the film.
Foma Fomapan 200
This is a known commodity. I have already fallen quite hard for this film. Wonderfully tight grain and full of contrast.
I knew I would like the results based on past results. Also plays well with Cinestill df96. A win all around.
Foma Fomapan 400
I assumed I would like it based on my experiences with 200 above and 100.
But this is the first time I have tried it. Result?
Well… A bit disappointed if I am honest.
Maybe it is not the film. Perhaps 400 just does not play as well with Cinestill df96 as 200 and 100? My issue?
Exposure seems a bit off as in dark and the grain is not as pleasing to my eye. Can be a bit “gloppy”. A word I just made up. With medium format? Admittedly my personal preference leans towards fine grain a la Rollei RPX and such… or Fomapan 200 and 100 now that I think about it. Only 6 exposures of the 400 speed film pics will see the light of day. All 16 pics from the roll of 200 were keepers this day. Developed together so it should not be the Cinestill df96. Using the same camera so I know it is not the camera.
I started with 200 since we started early. Used 400 second to give myself a bit more available light headroom, since the sun drops 10 minutes after lunch now it seems. Ah. Preplanning. Another reason I like film. Makes you keep that thinking cap on. That could be a whole post by itself. But after these results once I finish my second roll of 400 I will stick with Fomapan 200/100 or break out the RPX.
For the record, it is not a bad film. This is a matter of personal preference. I received a comment praising the grain. Different strokes for different folks is all.
Well, enough of that. On to the pics in the order of the film used and then let us wrap this up.
Foma Fomapan 200
Foma Fomapan 400
Wrap up.
Fomapan 400 is a fine choice. But my personal tastes leans more to 200 and 100. Fortunately, all are quite affordable at less than $10 a roll as I write this.
Regardless it was a great bit of analog therapy and father/son galavanting. The last bit takes me back to when my Father and I used to run around together… pretty much my whole life. I take none of it for granted. Life is good.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 
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