I have been going through the massive task of scanning, organizing and cataloging all my film photography from negatives all the way back to 1989 when I got my first SLR.
Back then I shot with a Ricoh XR-M with a 50mm lens. Later I got a 18-200mm zoom. Then a friend gave me her old Olympus OM-1 with just a 50mm lens. Toward the later years (and I still have it to this day) a friend of mine gave me his old Nikon N70 with a small zoom lens. Between these cameras I got my chops and I see glints of my obsession as it has grown today.
I wanted to do a best of series from the 1990s, back when I was more interested in finishing school and working. My photography reflects that.
1989. My earliest favorite was taken at my grandma’s place in northern Michigan.
1991. When our Close Up class took a trip to Washington DC I caught this candid of an officer chatting with us.
1992. We drive to northern Michigan to pick up our friend for New Years’ Eve.
1993. One of my first attempts a night shot was taken in Vanderbilt, Michigan during a camping weekend.
1994. My earliest attempt at street photography at a bus stop in Toronto. Black and white suited this photo best.
1997. A friend of mine had the great idea to visit Hartwick Pines near Grayling, Michigan.
1998. More street photography, but at a safe distance in the diag on University of Michigan’s campus.
2000. Our dog Tasha rests in the sun.
2001. One of my most favorite images to show the vastness of the lakebed at low tide.
2002. Taken in the tunnels of Kentucky at speed.
2003. First time on the North Branch Trail, this is one of the last images I would take on film for years.
In looking back at 14 years of amateur photography, I miss film. From time to time I will take out the Nikon and shoot a roll or two. It feels good, sounds good. To this day I get excited at the prospect of heading to Central Camera to get my film developed. I don’t think that feeling will ever go away. Now if I can just stop chimping…