“Creative Overnight Vol. Two”
The Graham and Co. + Phonecia Diner
Phonecia, New York
August, 2014

PENTAX K1000
Fuji Film Superia X-TRA400

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I’m so excited to present these photos– the first in a film series I’m starting here on the blog. In August, while home for a weekend to visit family, I found my old 35mm Pentax K1000, straight from my photo elective taking high school days. Gloriously, it still worked {turns out the battery– a silver oxide battery– can last Y E A R S!} and so I hurried to Ralins, the old film store in Syracuse {still up and running to my delight} to buy myself a pack of Fuji film. I’ve had the best time testing out the camera– loading the film, hearing the “CLICK!”, waiting {and waiting} to see the images I tried to capture. Oh, the wonder of it all!

I’ve gotten three rolls developed from the summer, and have a few more waiting to be dropped off at the nearby film processing center. Turns out, through a bit of trial and error, places that develop film are few and far between. I’ve found a few companies online, but the pictures above were developed at a photo shop in Waltham, which only develops once a week on Saturdays. Most places like CVS send film away to be developed, so I was happy to find a specific photo store in my area that does the work in shop.

I don’t know if there are many readers out there with an interest in film photography, but it never hurts to ask a few questions in case you have any knowledge to share:

1// Do you have any favorite film recommendations? Does it matter so much the film I get? I started out with Fuji 400 to play it safe, and because I’m familiar with it, but I’m definitely up for trying different films if there are others out there that people enjoy working with.

2// Do you have any favorite film developing shops? In Boston or to send away to? I hope to someday try Indie Film Lab, recommended to me by a photog friend {I love the look and mission of the company}, but right now it’s a little pricey especially when most of what I’m doing is experimenting! Helping out a local business feels right and good for now, but I’m interested in other places too if you know of any!

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These photos are unedited, and I hope to keep the whole series that way, save for a little bit of lightening I did on just a few. It’s fun to keep them “natural” since most of the time I’m doing some heavy editing via instagram and this blog. I think the color and depth to these photos just goes to show– film photography is still amazing! Anyway, I hope you like them! More are coming soon! :)