Image Capturing Therapy: Two Films, Stranger Portraits, Some Vintage Digital Action, & Grief. Part 2 – Lomography 800.
This post covers the stranger portrait part of the afternoon.
Starting with the last bit. Grief.
Had been surprised that missing my Father was not as crushing during these holidays as it has been the last few years since losing him. Cleared Thanksgiving. Cleared Christmas. Then yesterday melancholy set in and I realized I had not captured a single frame in days. This is not like me. Found myself back in that old conundrum I have written about before.
Don’t feel right when I don’t shoot. Don’t shoot when I don’t feel right.
Wrote a whole post about it when my Father’s health was in decline.
There is a bright spot. There is a simple fix. Not necessarily an easy one, however.
Simple part: Go take pictures.
Not so easy part: Actually getting myself to do it.
So. I basically forced myself to leave the house.
Destination.
Local downtown area at dusk.
Tools.
Film camera side: Fujifilm GA645.
It is an easy choice. It is cuss word awesome. In a shorter time of ownership, I have put rolls of film through it at a greater pace than just about any other camera I have owned—and more film overall than every medium format camera I have owned, even more than the all time champion, the Pentax 645N.
The GA645 is largely why I let the 645N go. And I love that camera. But it sat unused once the GA645 arrived. Personal opinion ahead. Your mileage may vary. Why it “won”.
- Smaller.
- Built in flash.
- Just as rock solid for AF, exposure, and IQ.
- Fixed lens took away analysis paralysis when trying to choose the lens to use.
In fact, only one camera has rivaled its numbers. The much beloved Contax G1.
And the GA645 is only a few rolls away from passing it. Technically still a huge win margin on exposure count clocking in at 36 exposures per roll instead of 16 but impressive nonetheless. But here is the thing. I have owned those cameras for years. This numbers this camera is putting up is in 2024 alone. I am glad I got one before any hype caught up with it. Not throwing shade on any other cameras, but I have paid more for and cameras that I used to have now have prices far above this one. And I prefer the GA645 over all of them. Hamish recommended I try the also wonderful, I am sure, Makina 67.
But I am good. On to the film
For the second roll instead of doing something sensible like another roll of B&W film…
…I pivoted to Lomography 800. A favorite of mine. After getting 20 rolls through my last batch, I developed the film with a just mixed fresh batch of Cinestill CS41. I decided not to push things further.
Stranger portraits.
Just as I had finished my first roll of film I came across two young folks. One with a digital camera taking a photo of another. So I quickly loaded my film taking care to update the ISO from 80 to 800. Then I asked if I could take their photos and that if they wanted the image I would send it to them. They told me their names. I forgot. Age. The resulting images. Both with flash.
If they reach out to me I will forward these to them. Then I went back to random captures.
And here is when serendipity went into overdrive. I came across Lamont and Rico. Once again as one young person was photographing another. Lamont has already reached out and he is very happy with the photos. “Fire” the young man said. Cool. Of this I am glad.
And back to my milling about.
Thoughts.
First off. As this year closes once again, as stated in a recent post,…
…I am once again reminded that the future is in good hands. Wonderful young people.
Secondly, I really like this film.
That is all for now.
Happy capturing.
-ELW
Eric L. Woods 