Ever since I started taking my photography seriously and pursuing it professionally, I’ve always had several nagging questions in the back of my mind. "Am I missing out on truly understanding photography by not shooting film?" and "Would it make me a better photographer if I did shoot some film?". Recently, I made several purchases / acquisitions that will help me to come a bit closer to answering these questions.

My (Brief) History with Film
Before I dive into my talking points I want to give a brief history of my various…let’s call them ‘encounters’ with film. As with many other people growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, I had access to various 35mm film cameras. These ranged from my Dad’s SLR to the el cheapo disposable cameras you could pick up at the local grocery store. So I wasn’t exactly a stranger to film, but I never took photography seriously during that time. I would take snapshots here and there, but usually on family trips and vacations.

Fast forward to college. Even though my program (visual communication tech.) was all digital by 2003, I did have the chance to shoot film by taking a cinematography class via the theater department at BGSU. In this class I shot 35mm black and white stills, and super 16mm motion film (both black and white and color). This class opened my eyes in terms of really thinking critically about exposure and light, which directly translated to my digital work. Additionally, my knowledge of exposure for still capture benefited me tremendously when beginning to shot motion film, allowing me to first think about a scene in terms of a single exposure, then translating that exposure over a set period of time.

(A couple quick snaps of me shooting Super 16mm Film)

After that cinematography class, my love affair with film was seemingly over. I had my experience with it…’been there done that’…or so I thought.

Rekindle the Flame
ImagingUSA 2010 in Nashville. I heard two photographers speak that sparked my interest in film again. Jose Villa and Joe Buissink. Jose and Joe are both based in California. Jose shoots 100% film at his weddings. I can’t imagine that. He’s got this look that is so bright and clean which got me wondering what kind of film he shoots. Luckily he told the crowd exactly what he shoots. More about Jose Villa here. Joe shoots a mix of digital and film. He is a Nikon guy, and I was very curious as to what film camera he used. His shots are absolutely amazing and they have this look that I can’t seem to put my finger on. I suppose that’s what makes Joe one of the best photographer’s in the world. More about Joe Buissink here.

Going Forward
After hearing Jose and Joe speak in Nashville, I decided that it would be a good idea for me to start shooting a bit of film again. I did some research and decided to purchase four rolls of 35mm film to test out and see what I like. Those films are:

Fujifilm Pro 400h
Kodak Porta 160nc
Kodak Porta 160vc
Kodak Ektar 100

Top Row: Fuji Pro400H, Kodak Porta 160NC, Kodak Ektar 100
Bottom Row: Canon AE-1 35mm SLR w/ Kodak Porta 160VC loaded

I chose to test out the Fuji because its the same film that Jose Villa uses. I also wanted to see that 400asa looks like vs. 100/160asa. The other three Kodak rolls are a fairly good representation of Kodak’s line of films. I am particularly interested to see how the Ektar 100 works out as it is a relatively new line of film from Kodak. It was re-introduced last year after an 11-year hiatus.

My plan is to shoot all four rolls of film and have them developed and scanned. After that I can evaluate the details of each, and decide on which film (or films) that I want to shoot going forward. I’ll post the results here when I’m done.

Until then, please enjoy these film scans that I pulled from my archives!

Date: February 28, 2010

Time: 11 am to 4 pm

Location: Columbus Conventsion Center – Battelle Grand, Columbus, Ohio

Admission Cost: $8/per person

Fashion Show Times: 12:30 pm & 2:30 pm

Click HERE for more detailed information.

To download a copy of of our 2010 Client Information Sheet, click here.

We look forward to speaking with you soon!

While we were participating in the Columbus Bridal Expo at the Aladdin Shrine Center, we came across Griffins Floral & Event Design. Russ Griffin did an amazing job of putting together elegant table and floral designs, so I wanted to share a little bit of what we saw so that our couples could get a few ideas.

From their website:

Griffin’s Floral & Event Design, Columbus Ohio, promises a diverse range of floral décor and events concepts that are unique and distinctive to our array of clientele in the Columbus Weddings & Event market. [They] can plan your family gathering big or small, including weddings and Bar Mitzvahs, or your next large corporate event. [They] pride [themselves] in offering imaginative and unique floral artistry as well as cutting edge, client-specific concepts. Wedding Flowers, Wholesale Linen Rental, Lighting, Invitations, Event Design have never been easier.

Check out their site at www.columbusweddingflowers.com

It's cold outside! I've been spending a great deal more time inside (more than I want to) working on some business stuff. I'm definitely in the mood for summer, but until then, I like to stay inspired by checking out some of my favorite photographers. Now, I'm often asked by other photographers, or sometimes even clients, as to who inspires or motivates me? I think it's safe to say that most photographers draw their inspiration from other photographers strengths, at least initially. When I started to shoot weddings I had an idea in my head of what I thought wedding photography should be, so I went out to search for it.

I immediately identified that I loved the "California" style of photography. Now, what do I mean by "California"? I'm talking about bright colors, amazing locations, lots of contrast, shallow depth of field, all that stuff… Now, I know we're in Ohio (most of the time) and to produce that kind of look takes a bit more effort. But, that's what I like, so that's what I seek to produce on shoots.

Here are some examples of photographers I continue to check out on a regular basis:

Mike Colon http://www.mikecolon.com

Jessica Claire http://jessicaclaire.net

Now, I have to mention up front that I do not advocate copying another persons work. That's not cool at all, and it shows that you can't think outside the box. However, I do think it is very important for a photographer to identify what they like about certain types of photography and more importantly, why they like it. It's through the industry as a whole that I developed my sense of style and what I think looks good. I tell brides all the time, "if you see something in a magazine that you love, rip it out, send me a link, etc…". Knowing what your client thinks is great photography only serves to help you raise your personal bar even higher. Get inspired! Read blogs, check out magazines, network with other photographers, whatever it takes. You'd be surprised how much your photography improves when you can truly establish your personal definition of amazing.

I think some of the best photographs I've taken have been in situations where I hadn't been to the location before and something happened unexpectedly. It's my formula for awesome photography. Take a great couple, add a new location, and make uncertainty your friend. Great stuff, every time.

We've been talking about video on our blog for quite some time now, and I always like to share some video work that inspires me. We have some photographers that follow our blog, so hopefully these videos inspire you as well. The more I see Canon 5d and 7d dSLR footage the more I want one. I've been looking for some Nikon D3S footage, and Chris sent me a great link that showcases the Nikon D3S in action. (Gotta give some praise to Nikon after all…)

Check out the Nikon D3S video here: http://nikonusa.com/d3s/

Here are some additional Canon videos that I really like:

Roger and Hayley – Short eShoot Clip – 5D Mark II from Matt E on Vimeo.

Vera & Aleksander – the highlights from Catch The Motion on Vimeo.

Again, I think this kind of stuff is going to revolutionize videography. I can't wait for us to get our first video dSLR!

Hope you like the vids. Definitely check out the photogs who produced them. Very good stuff.

-Steve

During the winter it gets a bit harder to find the motivation to grab your camera and go make pictures.  The thing that I hate the most is when I am out shooting and I can no longer feel my hands.  Or when you have to make a finite adjustment to your camera and you can't quite hit that little button without taking off your glove…at which point you are screwed because you've exposed your skin to the elements. All complaining aside, I think getting out and shooting during the winter is a true test of commitment and motivation.  If you can muster the courage to brave the elements more often than not you will be rewarded for your efforts.

We had some time to shoot in Nashville the last night of the conference and so we decided to have a little bit of a contest. Our goal was to go out and shoot for a couple hours and to see what we could come up with. Chris and Jeremy went off in one direction and Brad and I went off in another. I love walking around new cities. I think that being in an unfamiliar place with a camera really does allow your creativity to shine.

Our photos turned out awesome and I was really happy to see that everyone went for something a little different. Chris went for abstract art, texture, and shape whereas I produced some HDR photos, interesting color, and some portraits for people I met around town. I met a very nice lady named Abby who was playing spoons in the downtown area just up the street from the original Grand Ole Opry. She was gracious enough to let me photograph her playing. It was about 10 degrees out that night and I had to commend her on her willingness to entertain out on the street. She loved to play, and I loved to shoot. That's dedication to your craft.

There's so much detail to be seen if you just stop and look for it. A cool angle on a building, an interesting texture on the street, or a passing glance from a stranger… the point is to get out and shoot! You might be surprised what you're missing.