Remember when you had to mail film to a lab to see your star trail shots?

I was at the old observatory in Flagstaff in 2002, trying to get a shot of the Milky Way with a film camera. I took the roll, mailed it off, and waited three weeks. The prints came back completely blank because I'd messed up the exposure. That was the moment I saved up for my first digital camera, a Canon D60. Now I can check the shot right there in the dark and try again. Anyone else make the switch after a total film fail?

2 comments

2 Comments

clark.claire16d ago

Missed the whole process, honestly. That wait and surprise was part of the fun for me. My digital shots never feel quite as earned.

hugo_hayes16d ago

Honestly used to think digital was just better in every way. Then I saw a friend's darkroom prints and it clicked. That wait @clark.claire talks about really does make the photo feel different, like you put real work into it. Getting a good shot on film feels like a win you actually earned. Digital is easy and fast, but maybe too easy sometimes. Makes you wonder if getting something quick takes the special feeling away.