dethcap In reply to NDSorensen [2010-02-23 04:33:36 +0000 UTC]

Also: storing film in the freezer/fridge is an old wife's tale, while ultimately colder is better, humidity can kill you and it really doesn't do you any good unless you need to store film for extended periods of time.

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dethcap In reply to NDSorensen [2010-02-23 04:31:56 +0000 UTC]

Expired film is usually a crap shoot. Properly stored film will usually be crisp for 6 months after expiration. After that you start to lose contrast and/or color depending on the chemistry of the film. This can be desirable in certain situations.

I've successfully shot film 20+ years past it's expiration date and still gotten prints from them, however this is traditional print film (ie: silver based chemistry), newer film usually doesn't has as good shelf life.

Improperly stored film (ie: stored in a hot or humid enviroment) can expire faster than the "develop by" date.

I tend to go to the local shops and buy up as much expired stuff as I can as often as I can since most people will refuse to buy expired film and most stores will sell them at cost.

Expired film is great stuff to experiment with since it's cheap, usually produces decent shots, and can produce some interesting results (in the case of my expired 20 year old film everything was very low contrast).

For me, if i can pick up a roll of film for less than $3, it doesn't matter how old or what kind it is, it's worth it.

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dethcap In reply to Wisternis [2010-02-23 04:37:05 +0000 UTC]

No probblem, thanks for the awesome work

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dethcap In reply to NDSorensen [2010-02-22 04:18:00 +0000 UTC]

that's possible, or it's possible that you over-wound the film and it had enough left to move the counter up.

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dethcap In reply to Mada-Goblin [2010-02-20 18:38:18 +0000 UTC]

good work = fav's, keep it up

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dethcap In reply to NDSorensen [2010-02-20 04:11:18 +0000 UTC]

I've been taught there are two schools of thought on how to go from digital to film.

The first is to throw away everything that can handicap you and go full-on manual. The benefit here is you learn from the ground up and learn the basics first. This is how i was taught, i learned to shoot on a beat up Nikon F with a 50mm Prime Lense. It had no light meter, no auto-focus, no zoom (since i couldn't afford to buy lenses), and film had to be manually advanced.

The second is to find a good camera with some creature comforts (like auto-focus) and gradually stop using them. I've never done this, but it's how i've shown people the basics after they have gotten used to DSLRs. While i may be biased, the Maxxum 7000 is perfect for this since it's a very basic camera (the first Maxxum with AF) but it has plenty of creature comforts.

I don't know how much you've played with your AE-1, but thats the best thing you can do: play. I don't ever trust my meter, I don't use AF, and I never stop playing with my camera.

If the idea of something like a 7000 appeals to you they can be had for next to nothing online . I know you have a Sony Alpha, and most Lenses for that will work on the Maxxum. If you have more lenses for your AE-1 than your alpha, something along the lines of the Canon T80 or T90 would be comparable.

One final piece of advice, you don't take good photos, you make them.

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NDSorensen In reply to dethcap [2010-02-20 05:28:40 +0000 UTC]

Inspiring! Thank you so much. I have taken one four rolls of film total with my AE-1 the first two were a complete BUST! I accidentally opened the back and THEN wound the film back into the canister (DOH!!), the third was iso 400 and I used AF on the lenses but I really want to know how to use MF. fourth was a roll of 800 and I hate it, its all grainy and shitty. Highest I'll ever use from now on is 400..

I dont know if you have used an AE-1 but the viewfinder has a battery meter/aperture meter. When I switch the lenses to MF they still read aperture.. can I trust that meter to get the pictures to develop exposed correctly..?

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dethcap In reply to NDSorensen [2010-02-20 06:05:14 +0000 UTC]

By "meter" i meant built-in light meter.

Your lenses are full manual are they not? Just go by the what the lense says.

Sometimes grain is your friend, i tend to stick with the extremes, 100 and 200 for most shots, but sometimes i'll bust out the 1600 and even 3200.

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NDSorensen In reply to dethcap [2010-02-21 02:50:56 +0000 UTC]

I shall send you a picture of my AE-1 setup. Do you have an e-mail on your profile? Ahh what the heck I will look der haha

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dethcap In reply to sullivan1985 [2010-02-15 04:28:15 +0000 UTC]

Morris County.

Hey, if anyone here is from the Garden State, i did create a group for photos of Jersey

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dethcap In reply to tupilak [2010-02-10 04:24:38 +0000 UTC]

There is nothing wrong with that . I decided to make you a Contributor since you said you have lots to upload, and because I need the staff. Feel free to invite whoever you want.

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tupilak In reply to dethcap [2010-02-10 04:41:12 +0000 UTC]

Many thanks . . .

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dethcap In reply to worldcollecter [2009-10-15 06:26:51 +0000 UTC]

And thank you so much for the watch, keep up the good work

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worldcollecter In reply to dethcap [2009-10-15 09:57:37 +0000 UTC]

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dethcap In reply to 88neal88 [2009-09-10 01:10:13 +0000 UTC]

Good work gets rewarded my friend, keep it up

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dethcap In reply to colourblind-x [2009-09-08 03:22:05 +0000 UTC]

No problem, keep doing the good work

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dethcap In reply to Noctrine [2005-04-10 00:21:47 +0000 UTC]

Heh, i love windowblinds... the skin has no X, so i had to make double-click exit the window.... not such a bad deal.

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