The digital picture pretends to display raw reality. The analog picture is a visualization of human memory. SETH SCHIESEL
It's funny, but the first time I loaded a fully manual camera with film I got this unique mix of excitement, uncertainty, eagerness and curiosity. You know that many things could go wrong, and everything can go to hell in a moment, and there is not a second chance. Also, you can't check your results right away, and this could be a killer for this new generation of digital photographers. Yes, nowadays analogue photography is a complete different deal. The few people I know shooting film these days do it for diverse reasons, but they all have one thing in common: They know how to wait. They are extremely patience fellows, they can wait, even for hours, to get the shot they intended to. Because they only have 36 chances, they know how to be patience and anticipate the shot; and when they finally press the shutter, they know everything went as they plan it. They don't feel the urge to preview the photo taken seconds before. They know and understand light better than the rest of the "digital-only" photographers. Some of then even estimate exposure as accurate as the best light meter! And if they screw a frame, they learn from that mistake to luckily never repeat it in the future.
I remember reading on a dpreview's forum an interesting thread posted by an experience photographer. He said that he would accept a new photographer in his crew only if he/she went on a long assignment with him and shoot the whole event with only 3 rolls of film. He didn't care if the assignment could span trough the whole day. He only wanted to work with a person who knew how to understand and capture the events evolving in front of his/her eyes. A real photographer, not just another "picture-taker" who knows how to operate a camera. Very interesting point of view if you ask me.
This is not the typical "film versus digital" rant you can find everywhere on the Web. I do enjoy digital photography, and I'm extremely happy with it. I'm just talking about some facts I realized since I started using film for my street work after almost a year and a half. When I brought a digital camera with me, I didn't care about timing or closely observing the scenes in front of me. I just snap as much I could, and later I choose the best shots and deleted the rest. I didn't stop to think why I had screwed a shot, or what would have made my photographs better. I just blamed the camera or the circumstances, sometimes even luck. But when I decided to go analogue it was a complete different game. I only had 36 chances, so I knew I had to observe more closely and carefully my subjects, because I couldn't just shoot shoot shoot and later delete the ones I didn't like. I had to learn to anticipate the shot, to appreciate and understand how a scene developed in front of me, and understand that I had to wait for the right moment, because I only had 36 chances. I didn't have any freaking historygram, not even a light meter, so I had to learn how light behaved. I didn't had auto anything, not even Aperture Priority; so I learned to have my camera always ready, with the estimated exposure settings, even prefocused, so I wouldn't miss another moment fiddling with the controls. Going analogue with a manual camera taught me many things, and yet I'm just a mere student learning from nearly hundred of the fucked ups frames I have. I’m still making mistakes because I got lazy and didn't have my camera ready at a crucial moment.
Back to the day I first loaded my old Zenit 12 with a roll of Fujifilm Superia, the first thing that comes to my mind was the film's smell. Together with the camera's leathery smell, it made a delicious combination I still can remember. I double checked everything was working well, and I leaved home with a state of excitement. I remember I got off the bus on Reina Street, and started walking. Everything called my attention, a normal thing when you are starting photography, specially street photography. I snap a few shots on my way, and headed to Old Havana. Almost at the end of Reina, I spotted her waiting for someone, alongside three crates of beer. A thing was for sure, later it was gonna be a hell of a party!
I continue walking, and after a few minutes I reached <name> park, on a side of the Havana Capitol. From that place I could see a nice view of our China Town's entrance gate.
I loved this urban scene. Every time I pass this place I have to stop for a minute and take a mental photograph. Good luck for me this time I had a camera with me. Too bad that time I only had a 58mm prime lens, a 28 would have been a more adequate choice.
Heading to the Old Havana, I came across this man seated on one of the park's benches. He wasn't a homeless for sure, but more of a “professional” drunk if you ask me. Like I said several times before, I don't photograph homeless or beggars; but with drunks I make an exception from time to time. Plus the guy's sleeping pose struck me to my very core. I nail down and took this photo, and later came close to him to make sure he was OK.
That same day I didn't get any more interesting shots, so I came back next day with a different route in mind. I got off by the Havana's Train Station with the intention of walking through the bay area. At a side of the station I spotted some kids. Perhaps they were plotting their next prank, but whatever they were planning it clearly involved the bus at their back.
Now at the Alameda de Padua, with the harbor's deserted docks at my right, I got off the walkway and head to the docks. I saw a kid playing with an old gas mask. I ask him if I could take him a photo. He looked both ways and calls his friends: "Hey guys, there is a tourist who wants to take us a picture!”. Three more kids appeared from the most unimaginable places, and they all got together and posed for the photo. After I pressed the shutter, one of them approached me and ask: "Can I see how the picture came out?". I smiled and told explained him that my camera wasn't digital and you can’t see the results right away. "What is film?" he asked me with a puzzled face. I briefly explained him about the developing and printing process while he looked at me with a skeptical face. Now I remember that a very talented photographer was asked the very same question by a kid. This new generation would never know the magic of analogue photography. Oh well.....
I sat down on the docks to enjoying the sun (extremely weird in me), and to observe people there.
I can't remember if there was a kid with him.
Looks like it wasn't a very good day to go fishing.
I head back to Neptuno Street to take a taxi back home. I remember I was starting to regret walking under the sun for so long. I came across an old parking guard praising a woman about his same age. He told his buddy: "She usually pass at this time of the day since I started working here years ago, and I always say something nice to her."
I love this kind of tiny stories you witness every time you walk the streets. These small magical moments are what make it all worth it. I returned home eager to develop the film to see if the shots I took came out all right. Back from the lab days later with my scanned film I was happy to find out I got some nice frames. Something I’ll always treasure as a memento from my first "analogue" walk.
Camera: Zenit 12
Lens: HELIOS 44M-4
Film: Fuji Superia 100
Negative Scans.
Digital post-processing: Some frames turned to grayscale, plus adjustment on the tone curve, blacks, exposition and contrast.
