Gift Ideas for Film Photographers at Every Price Point

 

 by James Madison

 

 

It’s about the time of year where many people are looking for gift ideas. This list outlines multiple options for a film photographer at multiple price points.   

To start, I’m going to break down my suggestions by price point. There will be broken down by items less than $25, $50, $100, and $250. There are, of course, other more expensive options but I wouldn’t suggest spending more than $250 without knowing very specifically what the person wants. I don’t plan to suggest, explicitly, any cameras throughout on the assumption that the photographer already has a camera. With that said, should you be set on gifting a camera, I will cover at the end of the article a bit on why it’s difficult to make a specific suggestion for someone I’ve never met. Further, I am not breaking anything down by camera type so the suggestions are a bit more broadly applicable. Lastly, I will reference some items that can be (and in some cases, need to be) picked up used at which point I suggest you reference my article on picking up film gear on the used market. 

Under $25

This is both the easiest and the most difficult category because it’s the category film falls into. Unless the person you’re reading this for insists on shooting black and white, I would highly recommend single rolls of Kodak Portra 400 or 800 (see a review here). Any suggestion for other color negative films will open up a can of worms that we’ve already dived into previously. As such, I’ll leave the film stock suggestions here for now. One suggestion that I highly recommend to go along with film would be archival sheets. I recommend these for 35mm and these for 120. 

There are two additional things that I suggest to every film photographer. The first, a shutter cable release, has several options which range from being from cheap to about as much as you’re willing to spend. For the cheap options, there’s really only one but if you’re willing to spend a little more, I would recommend the Nikon or Gepe cloth-covered shutter release cables. The more expensive options will do the same job as the cheapest option but will hold up better over time and are definitely more of a pleasure to use. The second suggestion I have would be The Negative by Ansel Adams. For anyone that considers themselves a film photographer, there is a great deal to learn from Mr. Adams and I don't think I've ever met a single film photographer who didn't have something to learn in this book. 

Under $50

Briefly getting back to film, getting a pro pack of a favorite film is always a good move. Personally, I asked for a pro pack of Kodak Ektar and one of Fujifilm Provia 100F. If the photographer in your life shoots 4x5, I would recommend getting them some color film. Another suggestion would be a good camera strap. I like the Peak Design straps so I can have one strap for multiple cameras. They hold up really well and feel good to wear. They have multiple sizes to choose from. My fiancé really likes the smaller, trimmer camera strap and prefer the one that is what I would consider a more normal width. 

Under $100

If the film photographer in your life is not yet developing their own black and white, now is the time! I wrote an article previously which outlined what it takes to get into processing your own black and white film. The actual process itself is really not difficult but can be intimidating to those that haven’t tried it. After processing one roll, they’ll be glad they got started. 

Under $250

Coming in at just over $100 is a wonderful light table from Kaiser. If the photographer in your life doesn't already have one, they can be great to have. More over, if they ever shoot slide film, they'll be addicted in a quick hurry. 

Every photographer needs a tripod – particularly if they are a landscape photographer. Personally, I prefer Manfrotto and 3 Legged Thing. Both companies make splendid tripods and the with a budget of $250, you should be able to get a carbon fiber tripod. My suggestion for the Manfrotto would be the Element and for 3 Legged Thing it would be the Billy. If they already have a tripod, I would go for a nice photography-specific backpack. The Peak Design everyday backpack is weatherproof and can hold up to quite a beating. A lesser expensive but still good quality option would be the Pelican MPB20. 

Cameras  

I would first like to note that for film photographers, cameras are a very personal thing. It’s not quite as simple as the choices in the digital world where you have DSLR cameras and mirrorless cameras. With that said, should you be adamant about picking up a camera for someone, I would direct you to two previous articles; the first article briefly covers a list of over- and under-rated film cameras in 2020 and the second article outlines the different types and formats of cameras that are available. I would highly recommend that if you’re the person requesting a camera, you think through what you’re looking for in terms of format (35mm, 645, 6x6, etc…) and style (TLR, rangefinder, SLR, etc…) so that you can make a more informed request. If you’re buying a camera for another person, I would highly suggest that you attempt to understand which camera type would suit the gift recipient best. If you buy someone a 35mm rangefinder but what they really wanted is a 6x6 TLR, you’re out of luck.

Gift Cards

While gift cards are not always an ideal idea for a gift, they can really be quite useful. A gift card to B&H would be helpful for buying film or any of the other new items on the list. In addition, B&H sells used gear which includes film cameras and lenses. Other retailers, such a local camera shop and KEH would also be helpful for buying gear. Aside from buying gear, a place where a gift card could be most helpful would be with the company where the photographer gets their film developed. Indeed, film developing costs a significant amount of money, and relieving some of that burden would be greatly appreciated by every film photographer.  Share this article.

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2.5 years of Analogue Wonderland

Written by Paul McKay

You know it’s been an unusual year when you plan a guest article in May and start to write it in November! Either that or I’m just terrible with deadlines…

My name’s Paul McKay and I’m one of the founders and co-owners of Analogue Wonderland. Today I will be taking you through the past 18 months in the rollercoaster life of a fledgling small film business. EM’s invited me on to talk about Analogue Wonderland a couple of times since we started. You can get caught up here and here but links do also follow in the text below.

We begin with…

…All change!

Think back to the second half of 2019… It was a glorious time of freedom and socialising that feels a lifetime ago. And a period of time that changed a lot for Analogue Wonderland!

In the summer of 2019, shortly after we celebrzated the first birthday of the business, I left my corporate job and committed full-time to developing and growing AW. At the same time we moved the business premises into a large office/warehouse unit in High Wycombe.

This combination of change drastically increased the financial stress – and risk – for both myself and Mary, but we couldn’t ignore the pressure that the growth of the business was already putting on our time and energy. It was time to make a big decision, and we felt ready for that jump.

A promising start…

Autumn and Winter passed in lightning time as we coupled the admin and logistics of the change with Paul’s personal house-move, trying to plan for a great Christmas with our community, and beginning the process of hiring employees for the first time.

Our suppliers also contributed to the excitement of the period by launching Kodak EKTACHROME in 120, ILFORD ORTHO PLUS 80 in 35mm and medium format, Acros II back into market, and Lomography Metropolis across all formats! Film photographers were given the incredible opportunity to shoot new black and white, colour negative, and colour slide films within a matter of weeks – and the relentless innovation attracted attention from the wider photography industry. Film is alive!

Launch of Kodak EKTACHROME E100 in 120 format

2020: A bright start

January allowed us a small breathing space where we could regroup, finalise contracts for our first permanent warehouse staff, and work out our priorities for the new year.

High on the list was attending The Photography Show as standees. By combining with other small businesses in the film photography world a group of us had persuaded the company behind TPS20 to carve out an ‘Analogue Spotlight’. This would be a focal point for film-lovers in a conference that has been digital-dominated for many years, and a really exciting step out of the niche for all of us.

It was not to be.

As COVID spread across the globe we moved from excitedly designing stand flyers… to speculating about attendance from Asian camera manufacturers… to doubting the number of public visitors who would risk the trip… to cancelling the entire event. At first the group tried to arrange a smaller Analogue Spotlight in Worcester, in line with live government guidance, but within 48 hours had decided against that as well.

The next few weeks passed in a blur. Changing regulations, supply issues popping up on many of our best-selling films, brand contacts disappearing on furlough, understandable anxieties from our staff about health and personal finances, schools and nurseries shutting, and all of the other issues that hit everyone around the world. It meant for one of the most tumultuous periods of our small business’ life – every week (and sometimes every day) we were having to start from scratch with warehouse shifts, cashflow planning, safety considerations, and managing stock, desperately trying to keep things afloat.

I know these issues weren’t unique to Analogue Wonderland, and I am also immensely grateful for the support from the film community throughout this time. People messaged support, people placed orders, and when things went wrong with deliveries or stock then people were forgiving and kind. It made a huge difference and kept us sane and focused through the worst days.

Analogue Television

We also took the opportunity to invest time and energy into hanging out with the UK film photography community on YouTube. Hosting weekly live chats with brands and contacts from all over the film photography world: from Matt Day in America, Hanna and Michael in Austria, and even Hamish calling in from the Worcestershire wilderness! Thursday nights became a little ritual of opening a beer, chatting about film with lovely people, and letting some Usual Suspects from Twitter and Instagram pose questions and challenges to our guests. I don’t know about the people watching but having something fun, stable and fixed every week was a huge help for my own mental health!

The next stage

Eventually things seemed to settle. The country moved out of lockdown and factories, nurseries and schools reopened – allowing for the basics of the industry to restart. We also managed to get back into the swing of our ‘usual’ marketing activities, with a Kodak Summer Competition celebrating the quality of Kodak Ektar and new products from Dubblefilm (straps) and Street Candy (eco-packaging).

We had also taken the opportunity to upgrade parts of the Analogue Wonderland operation. We redesigned our small boxes – that from launch we estimate fit through approximately 60% of our customers’ letterboxes – so that they now fit through >90%.

New packaging (hand models can apply through our site as usual)

We launched a mobile app for iPhone and Android to make it even easier for folk to browse and stock up on film while out-and-about. And we’ve recently started the mammoth task of translating our site into multiple European languages!

Our suppliers are reporting that – generally speaking – the COVID pandemic hasn’t seemed to dent the analogue momentum. Sales and interest are continuing to rise, albeit with greater variation across regions, and it would appear that lockdown has allowed people with the luxury of financial stability to spend more time enjoying their favourite hobbies.

Your favourite films – now available to order in seconds while Photowalking!

Speaking personally I went through a very dry photographic patch across the beginning of the pandemic. I fell into the trap of feeling creatively empty and disengaged – which meant I stopped carrying my camera around as much and inevitably that fed back into the negative cycle.

This was broken by a discussion on Twitter where several people voiced similar experiences. It prompted me to start a ‘pass the parcel’ with my Lomography Simple Use Camera – heading first to Sandeep (@givemeabiscuit on Twitter) who was in full self-isolation – and also to force myself to go back to basic. Take out my favourite camera to shoot with, the Olympus OM1, and just start taking photos.

The Olympus OM-1 on a lovely walk in the Oxfordshire countryside

The Wonderbox!

The summer provided a small respite as infections, and therefore regulations, stabilised. We could start ‘normal’ business planning again, and at the end of summer we launched something that had been in the works for months. The Analogue WonderBox! A 35mm film subscription service designed to expand film photographers’ knowledge and shooting range, and foster a community for shared wisdom, tips and tricks.

It has nudged me to invest time each week diving into a specific film’s strengths, weaknesses, and the honest view of our customers who have shot it before. This has been an eye-opener for me, and I feel like I’m learning more every week! For example: you can use Digital ICE to remove dust from Ilford XP2 because it is not processed in normal B&W chemicals; Rollei Retros 400S can ‘see’ through atmospheric haze thanks to it’s IR sensitivity; and Bergger Pancro 400 has two light-sensitive emulsion layers to improve exposure latitude! Who’d have thought.

It’s also been really fun seeing the subscribers take the information and translate it into delightful and creative photos. Our first Monthly Photo Competition showed a breadth of talent that was heart-warming and inspirational, and I cannot wait to see where this project goes over the coming year.

 

 

 

 

 

 What’s next?

The joy of running a small business is that nothing stays constant, and already we have a long list of things to add, improve or change for next year. Many of these ideas have come from direct customer feedback – we read every message that anyone sends us on social media, email, or through the site – and we cannot thank the community enough for their passion and critiques!

But before we get started on that list we have the festive season to navigate. I’m also thrilled that EMULSIVE’s Secret Santa is back! The world obviously has a very different vibe for 2020, but I’m really looking forward to seeing the generosity, creativity and in-jokes that this community project inevitably unleashes.

On that note… I’m off to do some online research into photobooks 

 

To everyone who continues to support Analogue Wonderland, Mary and I would love to give you a great big heartfelt THANK YOU! We are incredibly grateful for the trust and love that you show us each time you choose us for your film orders, and we can’t wait to continue this journey as part of THE best community in the world.

#BelieveInFilm and Happy Shooting!

Paul and Mary, Christmas 2019!

Want to submit your own 5 Frames...?

Go right ahead, submissions are open! Get your 5 frames featured on by submitting your 350+ word article by either using this Google form or by sending an email via the contact link at the top of the page.

This series is produced in conjunction with Hamish Gill's excellent 35mmc.com. Head on over to read the other half of these stories there.

Share your knowledge, story or project

At the heart of EMULSIVE is the concept of helping promote the transfer of knowledge across the film photography community. You can support this goal by contributing your thoughts, work, experiences and ideas to inspire the hundreds of thousands of people who read these pages each month. Check out the submission guide here.

If you like what you're reading you can also help this personal passion project by heading on over to the EMULSIVE Patreon page and giving as little as a dollar a month. There's also print and apparel over at Society 6, currently showcasing over two dozen t-shirt designs and over a dozen unique photographs available for purchase.  Share this article.

 

 

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Seven Creative Photography Ideas Now

L&C Photography Students See Success atWood River Art Competition 

 

November 16 2020

 

 

L&C Photography Students See Success at Wood River Art Competition November 16 2020 10:30 AM 

GODFREY – The work of Lewis and Clark Community College art students is being noticed in the thriving local community art scene.Seven of the college’s Film Photography students had a total of 12 pieces accepted into the Wood River Heritage Council’s Small Works Art Competition, held Oct. 16-29 at Wood River Museum and Visitors Center.The pieces, all artistic black and white prints developed by hand in the class’ darkroom, were among the 64 works of art at the eighth annual event, which was juried by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Art and Design Department Chair Brigham Dimick.The images presented were by students Trevor Davis, Kaleigh Grace, Chandler Herron, Morgan McGuire, Samantha McPherson, Kayla Meyers and Lexie Pulliam.

L&C Professor of Art Jeff Vaughn said it’s the largest representation L&C has ever had at the show.“I have a particularly good group of students this year,” Vaughn said. “The art was as good as I’ve ever seen at this annual exhibit, and the fact that our students did so well shows that.”McGuire’s piece, entitled “Mirror, Mirror,” placed second overall. It’s a surrealistic image of a decorative mirror McGuire says she found at a yard sale. Placed in a park gazebo in Bunker Hill,she draped lace over it until, “it looked perfect.”“Her image stood out very prominently,” Vaughn said. “It had a very layered effect that used reflection and distance to move your eyes. It’s really a beautiful, captivating image.”McGuire said photography is more than a field of study for her. It’s her passion.“I spent about three to four hours in the darkroom one day trying to make the print look as precise as possible,” she said. “I made about 15 copies of it until I was happy with the final result. I was extremely excited with how it looked after the whole process was completed.”Davis received one of five Merit Awards for his closeup image of roses he captured during a photo outing at Gordon Moore Park in Alton.“Converted to black and white film, you could precisely see the intricacies in the growth pattern of the petals,” Vaughn said of the image. “He captured the beauty and light wonderfully.”It’s the first time any L&C Art Department student has taken home an award from the Wood River Museum exhibit.Vaughn said it’s important for his students to exhibit their art in the community whenever possible.“When they’re able to go out into the world and receive feedback from people, it’s an invaluable experience,” he said. “It’s really a reward for the work they’re doing in the classroom.”McGuire said it was amazing feeling to have her work recognized in a show off campus.“This event makes me want to enter my art in more shows because this is what I love to do,” she said. “Most people think photography in general is simple, but they don't realize how much time it takes to complete the process. I love putting in all the work for something beautiful to come out of all the time spent.”She said the film photography class has helped her take work to another level.“This is a great class and Professor Vaughn is a wonderful teacher,” she said. “He helps us bring our ideas to life, and always has great advice.” To learn more about the L&C Art Department, visit www.lc.edu/program/AFA art or contact Vaughn at lvaughn@lc.edu.Text @RB to 618-202-4618 to sign up for Text Alerts from River Bender!