Over a glass of wine one evening, my husband and I were discussing film stock and cameras. I was lamenting how I love shooting with all the different and cameras we own, on all sorts of film. There are people out there that stick to one or two types of cameras, and two or three favorite film stocks. I admire their consistency and loyalty. Honestly, I’m a little ADD (self diagnosed) and happiest when I am able to bounce around the different film stock still available, even (or especially) if the film is expired. I love the challenge, and the not knowing. Certainly, there’s something to be said about just sticking with one or two types of film, you really learn the film inside and out, and how to expose it in specific conditions, on a certain camera (or two).  But I prefer to experiment.

 

I remember my first roll of medium format film, it was Fuji Provia 400. The roll was decent, with good exposures, but I didn’t love the film, it was too blue for me. I forged on and start to experiment and haven’t really stopped to this day. Coming back to that first roll of Fuji Provia 400, I thought I’d give slide film another try. This time I went with Fuji Provia 100F…..OMG! It’s magical and what I’ve learned with 100F is that you’ve got to get the exposure dead on; it’s not forgiving like Portra or 400H. The point is this: I wouldn’t have known about Provia 100F and it’s beauty had I not tried a roll.

 

I continue to experiment with what’s available. Get out there and try some different film stock.

 

–Cindy