Enter the Analog
This little camera had been sitting still in the darkness waiting to see the light again.
During College I decided to take up a semester of photography, the curriculum stated “Intro to photography, Dark Room” a month before my classes began they changed it to “Intro to Digital photography” they dismantled the dark room to make way for brand new, shinny iMacs and Photoshop licenses. The Film photography lab was closed for good. But! they say film is coming back and this time I made sure I get a seat in learning this art form. I just started Dark Room photography classes and finished shooting my first role of ILFORD Hp5 plus 400 on my wife’s old 35mm Vivitar she got when she was a teenager. This little camera had been sitting still in the darkness waiting to see the light again.
Vivitar V3000s with a 50mm F1.7 prime and a role of ILFORD HP5 plus 400. Photo shot with Fujifilm X-T4, XF35mm F1.4
The Journey
A New Year, New Vision, New Goal.
I began my photography Journey in 2006 with a Nikon D40. I loved that little camera and I learned the basic fundamentals with it. My then beloved pet Bulldog “Conan” was my main model. I took hundreds of pictures of him and loved the process. Around 2009 I got my hands on a new Nikon D90 and it quickly became my favorite. I paired it with a Nikkor 50mm F1.4 prime and set off to learn my then very advanced Photo making machine. I took my camera with me mostly everywhere and enjoyed the shooting experience. But, as technology advanced and smart phones became a more portable option then a DSLR, I found myself leaving the Nikon behind more often then a I can admit. Technology can be a creative burden and if not careful, it can obscure your creative side. Fast Forward to early 2023 I found myself looking into APS-C cameras and the Fujifilm brand kept popping out. I was a Nikon guy at heart, but the analog look of the Fuji system just looked so damn good. I never had the privilege to learn on a film camera but the Fuji line was very close to it. I picked up a used Fujifilm X-T4 and spent the rest of 2023 shooting with it. I enrolled in some photography classes to be along side like minded individuals and to get inspiration. I can honestly say that it was the best decision I made for my creative growth. This year, I wanted to step up my journey and create a portfolio site to showcase my work and document this venture. I am looking forward to what’s to come, what to learn and who I will meet that will help fuel my creative process.
MGM National Harbor DC metro area — Fujifilm X-T4 56mm F1.2 — F/13-ISO 160- 15sec exposure, edited in Adobe Lightroom Classic.