To be an analog ambassador...

What is that you ask? The website Old School Photo Lab is looking for five people to explore the world of film photography and share their experiences through their blogs.  They will provide the camera, film & developing and you share your work and experiences.  Read below to see why I am interested in this opportunity!

For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to be a photographer... (this is my Goodfella's opener!). 

Throughout my life I have been stuck in a transitional period between analog and digital. I'm old enough to know how it feels to get my hands dirty yet still young enough to see it taken away and replaced with the fast-paced, impatient world of digital.  My name is Jen I'm a thirty-something living & working in Cleveland, Ohio as a digital retoucher and freelance photographer. My photographic history begins with film... a manual Minolta SR-T 101 & a lovely hot pink and yellow Polaroid Cool Cam.  I began to get serious about photography shortly after taking my first film photography class in early 2000. 

above: Film: "Walker" A photo based on one of my dreams,  Film:  A portrait of Elizabeth

After that I took a hiatus from college to travel and follow my favorite band around. About this time I began photographing live music. I started with film and learned a lot. It was hard to work so fast with film. You had three songs to get the best shots and changing film so fast with such pressure was a bit of a rush. I loved it, but it got a little expensive. This is where digital started to creep its way into my life.

  

above: Film Chad Sexton of 311

It was a slow process but I eventually completely switched over to digital.  I started to photograph weddings & portraiture, and the occasional concert.  I decided to finish school and returned to finish a degree in photography... although it may have been too late as I was enrolled in the last film photography class my college was to have.  The darkroom was dismantled and soon became a big empty room with desks and a cabinet full of laptops. A sad day.  My darkroom changed from a dark room with trays of chemicals and a dim red light to a dark room with monitors, keyboards, mouses and a bright monitor glow.  Looking back I feel as if I learned more about Photoshop than photography, luckily I was always learning on my own. While in school my interests began to form around landscape photography as well as surreal, dreamy concepts.  After graduation I got a job as a digital retoucher.

above: Digital: Foggy Lake Erie day

I've found that lately I've been longing for the days of film.  I've been slowly trying to get back into it with Polaroids and vintage cameras and really want to experiment with toy cameras but the cost of film and development has been a little intimidating.  I found the little experimentation I've done in film recently to be a great experience reminding me to slow down, to focus and to really think about my photo subjects.  I find that in a digital world, like mine, this is a great escape.  As an Analog Ambassador I would be able to share this experience with many who feel the same way I do.  I've got a good eye, a head full of ideas, the ambition to experiment and work hard, and the desire to help others remember film or discover it for the first time.  I would love to share my journey into film with my friends & supporters, and hopefully make many new friends along the way. 

 

Comments

[Nicole Moen]

Good luck Jen, you've got this! Love your shots!

[Laurie Langman]

Good luck Jen, your photo's rock!!! your a shoe in

[Sf35772]

What a great ambassador you would be. Not only do your photographs reflect your talent and skills but your way with words capture and convey your thoughts and feelings in a most expressive way... you truly deserve this.

[Donald Veale]

Good Luck, you know I love your work..

[Pamela Renfro]

Just figured out where to leave a message. You are the most talented person I know. You've got this! Love you!