Film At 11...Or Maybe Next Week

I've been using my film camera a lot more, lately. I love film, for many reasons, not the least being that that's what I grew up using. Granted, it wasn't always with a 35 mm SLR camera. There were a couple of Instamatics, possibly a Brownie (wow, am I dating myself!), a disposable camera or two...

Finally, though, I had access to a decent camera: my other half bought a Minolta 35mm SLR. Once he figured out how to use it, then showed me how to change film, focus, and all that fun stuff, it was frequently a toss-up as to who got to take what, photo-wise. Some things were his to photograph, as I had no interest in them; but then, I'm sure he wondered about some of my interests, photograpically and otherwise.

Fast forward to recently: I now own several cameras, all Canons. I have nothing against other brands; it's just easier to stick with one brand, so that when one buys accessories - lenses, for example - there's a better chance of it fitting multiple camers of the same brand. But that's beside the point. I have a 35mm SLR and a DSLR, both Canons. I like the film camera for sentimental reasons, while I like the digital for the fact that I don't have to develop film...just shoot, plug it into the computer, and then photoshop away.

A little over a week ago, my friend Boo invited me to come along to take some photos of St. Petersburg's monthly art walk. I only had access to my film camera, so I brought that along. Would have preferred to bring the digital camera, but there are times when we have to work with what we have. In retrospect, the digital camera would have been sooo much better...For starters, I only had a few rolls of film, so I had to pick and choose what to photograph. Also, while a few of the photos came out fairly well, the darker it got, the grainier the photos turned out. Then, there was the whole developing problem of...developing.

Several years ago, during my final year as an undergrad, I took photojournalim I and II at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. At the time, I only had a film SLR, so I worked with that. Never had any problem getting film developed, then put on a CD. Made it a lot cheaper than printing all the photos on every roll, especially since I wouldn't need all those photos. There was one particular drug store (part of a chain) that I almost always dealt with. However, if there was a problem with that one, every other drug store (including the main competing chain) could develope the film. Obviously, getting the film developed this past week wouldn't be a problem, right?

Wrong!

I called the drug store and spoke with someone who hemmed and hawwwed before admitting that, yes, he could develope the film and put it on a CD. Yes, I could have it that same afternoon. However, it couldn't be done in the one-hour I had come to expect. This was because no one works with film anymore, I was told, so the machine used to develope the stuff was off; it would take a couple of hours to warm up. The place, however, still sells film; but they like sending it out to be developed...Sort-of like a tire store selling tires for your car, but telling you to then take the tires elsewhere to have them put on your car.

So, I called around. My daughter mentioned a box store (which I won't name) that develops film, or, at least, used to. By the time they finally got someone in the photo area, I was informed that they could send the film out for developing and have it back in only seven to ten business days.

"But I thought you did one-hour developing!" I said. That's how they were listed in the phone book.

"We are, as long as it's digital. We no longer do film here." Of course, when asked, they do sell film, if I wanted to buy some...

So I called a drug store near my house and explained what I needed. "Okay," the guy answered. "Not a problem."

"So you can develope it there?"

"Of course."

"You don't have to send it out?"

No, I was told. He could develop it there, print up the photos or put the pics on a CD, all within an hour, and relatively inexpensively.

"Great," I said. "I'll be there in maybe half an hour."

"Okay." Then, half a second later, "Wait a minute." He put the phone down, then came back. I could hear him mumbling under his breath before picking up the phone. "Um, you're not going to believe this, but they took the machine."

Excuse me?

"Yeah, apparently they took the machine out. My boss said we're not developing any more film."

I checked the Yellow Pages, and found several places (non-drug store places) that developed film. The one I've dealt with is a long drive, so that was out, this time. Another place, one that a friend recommended, is open Monday through Thursday; this was Friday, and I needed the film that day! The third place listed was relatively nearby and was open.

"Sure, we develop film. Bring it on it and we'll give you a great price."

My daughter, M.H., picked me up and we headed to this third place. By the time we got there, it was about 12:30. The one person working the front desk kept getting called away to answer the phone. In the meantime, M.H. and I looked around the waiting area. It looked like this place dealt mostly with wedding and celebration-type photographers, most of whom had mega-rich clients.

Finally, the woman working the front was able to help us. "Sure, we develop film," she told us. "We'll get right on it, Monday morning."

"Monday morning?" I gasped.

"Well, we only develop film in the morning. Once we hit noon, that's it. So, yes, Monday morning. Now, our prices..." These included a little more for developing than other places, $5 for the CD, and almost 40 cents per photo to scan them into the computer to put onto the CD. For a roll of 24 photos, we're talking $8 for developing and CD, then $9.60 to put the photos onto the disk, for a total of just under $18 per roll. (Oops, don't forget tax...now we're talking $20!)

M.H. and I left.

At this point, we decided to go to the first drug store. I'd already told the guy at the photo section to "start that machine" (the one for film developing...the one that would take several hours to warm up.) Let's just say the guy had sounded as enthusiastic as if I'd offered to pull all his teeth using a pair of rusty pliers and a bent scalpel.

"Ooookay," he enthused...

Several hours, when M.H. and I came back, he was still slowly working on the order, while taking care of other customers. When his manager arrived - just as he was ringing up my order, he kept telling her, "This is the nice lady with the film." Over the next two minutes, I was the nice lady, the patient lady, the wonderful person...If it had gone on much longer, I would have headed back to the pharmacy to see if they had anything to help me keep from throwing up...

Let's put it this way: From here on out, I'll probably work as much in digital as possible, and when I need to develop film, it's going to Lake Shore Camera Exchange in Palm Harbor. At least I know they can handle the job, and do a great job with it!

So, We're a Crafty Bunch of Artists...

My daughter, M.H., stopped by this afternoon. She couldn't stay long, but she did want to drop off some stuff, as well as pick up a few things. Nothing earth-shattering.

Sometimes, though, she'll drop off craft stuff, or we'll go out and pick up a few odds and ends. It's always kind-of fun to figure out what crafty, artist-y things we'll end up with. I'm still wondering what kind of painting she did on the black canvas she picked up last month; I know what I'd paint on a one. (Note to self: Must pick up a few black canvases ASAP.)

Artistic talent runs in our family. Mom was a writer, though her writing output seems to have dwindled over the past few years. But when I was a kid growing up in New York (state, not city) decades ago, she had an old typewriter on a desk in a small out-of-the-way nook in the kitchen. I'd watch her write, then, later, as she started fixing dinner, I'd write stories on the same typewriter, hunting and pecking away. One of my job-search cover letters starts out, "I am a writer. According to certain relatives, I was born, not with a silver spoon, but a pencil in one hand and a stack of paper in the other. It took me a while to crawl to the typewriter. (Mom and Dad may have exaggerated a little.)" The apple - or writer - doesn't fall too far...

She also did quite a bit of painting over the years; I have two of her watercolor paintings of flower arrangements on my wall. Years earlier, she'd worked in oils.

Mom and I have two cousins, a brother and sister, who are also very artistic. D. had a small studio in his parents' basement for painting; his sister was also so inclined.

My paternal grandfather's artistry tended toward the mechanical workings of radios, which he repaired in his electronic repair shop for years. But on my dad's side of the family, there are definitely artists and craftsmen. (Check out Art-N-Time Creations.)

My oldest son, J.A., also has a painting hanging on the same wall as his grandmother's watercolors. It's a really cool oil painting of a sunset, and looks like it's of the Southwestern U.S. I've had numerous people admire it; they're almost always surprised upon hearing that J.A. was 13 when he painted it, it's that good. He's now trying his hand at craft beers, with thoughts of eventually starting a microbrewery. (Butternut squash ale, anyone?) I wish he also kept up with the painting, too. He also wrote a lot; I keep running across old notebooks of his with stories and drawings in them.

My younger two, who still live at home, also write. A lot.

Getting back to M.H...When she discovered that some of my old acrylic paints were no longer usable, she decided it was time for us to get some more. Ditto on stuff to make Sculpey creations.

Note: For anyone who is unfamiliar with Sculpey, it's a type of polymer clay that is hardened in a regular oven. I first heard of it from my ex-, who used to make beads with it, then hand out bracelets to various people. I've also used it to make all sorts of creations. (Here is one of the sites for Sculpey.)

The next thing that M.H. and I have to pick up is a bucket of sand; since M.H. lives near the beach (remember the Tampa Bay (Car) Triangle fiasco?), that shouldn't be a problem. Between that and a bunch of shells (both whole and in pieces), we'll be making a bunch of sand candles. We won't get into my photography and videos (you could check out http://robinshwedoproductions.weebly.com).

Sand candles, Sculpey creations, paintings, writing, ale, time piecs, photography, videos...we're just a crafty bunch of artists.

Art Show

So, I mentioned my photography, right? The three large framed photos? (Check out last Sunday's post on selective deafness...the part about the yard sale.) The darn things are 20 X 30 inches, without the frames. Most people who've seen them have been somewhat impressed, judging by comments made.

I'd joined the Pinellas Park Art Society earlier in the year. The group meets every month, holds classes in photography, water colors, drawing, oils, you name it, and has art shows that change on a monthly basis. Their web site is www.pinellasart.com.

This month's show is a combination of two shows in one: Florida: Past, Present and Future, and Mayor's Choice. With the Mayor's Choice, Pinellas Park's mayor shows up, looks at the artwork, and purchases art to display in City buildings. It's a win-win situation; the artists whose artwork is purchased earn something from their art, the artists also get publicity from having their work hanging throughout the city, and city-owned buildings - City Hall, library, police station, etc. - have something interesting to display on what might be otherwise plain walls.

I dropped off the above-mentioned three photos today. The meeting is Monday. Anyone wanting to see what photos were dropped off can find them at robinshwedoproductions.weebly.com.


Here's hoping...