My local print shop
And the joys of film
Hello,
A short walk from my apartment is one of those super-convenient shops that do a bit of everything - print wise. Besides getting your photos printed, you can buy picture frames, have your passport and ID photos taken, and print off other documents. They even sell packs of mints as… well, you might need fresh breath when doing some photography.
And one Saturday back in March, I wandered down to get some printing done myself. While I was waiting in the queue to place my order, I spotted a display rack holding a range of extra photo goodies; Polaroid film, calendars, notebooks, that sort of thing. It was there that I noticed a lone disposable camera partially concealed by one of the notebooks.
I cannot remember the last time that I bought one of these, but a short time later, I left the shop with the receipt for my printing job, and the disposable camera tucked away in my bag.
Here is one of the test shots:
The disposable camera came out again a few weeks later when I attended the final day of the Hong Kong Rugby Seven’s in early April.
Looking back at these images reminds me of the film camera that I was given for my 10th birthday. And much like the photos that I took three decades ago, the resulting shots are a bit haphazard, blurry around the edges, and of course, there is a distinct graininess to them. But these photos feel more personal to me and real than many of the photos that I take using my phone. And with only 26 shots available on the film, each click of the camera had to count. It reminded me that I don’t need to take pictures of everything.
This is something that I would like to do again, although I am considering investing in a small film camera from my local print shop. Plus, advances in technology now means that when your photos are ready, you receive a wallet with the physical photos AND a digital file! Win, win!
Take care,
Sarah
For new readers, a few weeks ago I shared a post with some of my feelings about photography, and the post seemed to resonate with a few people about how it feels like camera phones are everywhere. Here is a link if you want to read more:
Capturing the moment or missing out?
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Disposable cameras! Gosh, what a throwback. My 14-yr old son recently started asking about disposable cameras, unprompted. I asked why he wanted one, since he can take however many photos on his phone. His response was that they just seem "cool." I agree, and as you said, they are a good reminder that less is often more.
Use to work at a camera print shop for 5 years. It was always fun to see who would come in, what would they want to print, and what other things would they see discover and buy.