For at least a year, I’ve had little chance to actually enjoy using my Canon 350D. The few times I managed to use it, something happened… either something getting in my way, or something failing.
Tables have been turned..?
After moving down south, I’ve had no chance to develop my own black and white film. To ease this problem, I’ve taken to using Ilford XP2+. No big deal. But I don’t develop the film… C41 developing is trickier than straight black and white developing. And as I can’t do any black and white as yet… well.
Was I trying to fit in? See, the camera club I once attended was predominantly film-based. Digital users had no means of showing their work, unless it got printed and mounted. And as far as I know, this hasn’t got much further. So I took to using film cameras, as digital work was looked down upon. But printing the developed film was, and still is, awkward. Things had to be done in reverse to what I’m used to. That doesn’t really work for me.
I waited. They debated. I waited. They debated. I waited. They debated. I got tired of waiting and gave up with them.
Moving down south showed me pastures new. New subjects, new areas, new people. And a new camera club. And this lot seem to know what they’re doing, when it comes to digital. Suddenly there’s an actual desire to use my 350D, as well as show my photos in competitions.
With my new-found enjoyment, there comes photos…
Things are changing, for the better as well.
Time to give up the digital photo block. I’d compare it with the so called writersblock.
Hi Achiel.
I don’t know if it was “digital photo block”, as the DSLR is just a camera really… only its media differs from film cameras. But being in a camera club that actually seems to be heading in a direction has helped a good deal.
What I have realised though, is that raw is actually quite good. Mind you, I’ve ended up using an application called “Ufraw”, which seems to be a fine comparison to adobes camera raw plugin. As well as that, I’m also relaxing the rigid constraints I’d set myself in.
Finally, the area I’m now in isn’t the once-industrial North, so there’s new subject challenges on the horizon.
It was only a wild guess. You in the neighbourhood of Brighton? Maybe you are in the area of Flash who lives in the south named Dartmoor.