melissa grace kreider

      I've now completed one digital photography class and one darkroom class in Italy. As a compulsive photographer, I can say that I prefer film above all else. It's genuine, real, and I like how I feel when I shoot with it, process it on my own, spend hours choosing the shots I like, and then printing them. It is my own creation from start to finish. With that said, I understand that it is a digital world we live in and I will never (unless I am incredibly lucky) shoot with film professionally. Accepted. I still have a beef with digital.

Why are the most accessible DSLRs so bulky (i.e. Nikon D5100, Canon Rebel T2i, Olympus EM-5, etc)? If I want good street photos, portaits, documentary photos, actually, wait, any kind of photo that I would personally take, a massive black box is going to geek my subject out along with the reverberating shutter noise. It will intrude and call attention to itself, and everyone knows that when the camera goes up, the act comes on. That's not real, nor is it genuine. Digital teaches budding photographers instant gratification, and inpatience. That is not photography. Photography is slow, thoughtful, careful. A process. Seeing your work through a screen, barely ever printed, is so impersonal and quick...I don't know if it can be called art anymore.

      The reason I love film so much is because it is simple. The cameras (35mm, in my case) are small. There is a thin box protecting your film from light, the basic aperture, shutter speed, ISO settings, and your lense. They are quiet. They are inconspicuous. Film is thought of as antique; before instant view options, uploading to every social network imaginable. Film is comforting, constant, gentle, forgiving, honest, and puts my subjects at ease.

I'm on a mission, now, to find a digital camera that makes me feels like I'm shooting with film. I want to trick myself and my subject. The above photo is of a camera (which I can't recall the name of-it is Fujifilm, though) my current professor has which is as small as a Leica, has a miniscule lense, is as light as a feather and digital. I'm sure that on my current budget I could never afford it, but I plan on seeking out the name, then things like it as soon as possible. I'll keep you posted; and in the meantime, shoot with film for me. ;]

Ciao for now,

-m.