Something that was Normal In The 1990s but is Rare Now: "Taking your camera film to get developed, and having no idea if any of your pictures were even usable until you got the...

JD750 Loc: SoCal

"Taking your camera film to get developed, and having no idea if any of your pictures were even usable until you got the pictures back."

I do remember the surprise of "oh yeah! I forgot I took a pic of that!!”

"The delayed surprise was nice. Also taking a photo was one shot, no checks and reshoots, no time needed for post processing — you got back to having fun."

Source: Seen on Buzzfeed:
https://apple.news/AKfC8ZjowQUWFdPy3F1N3Gw

I miss those simpler times sometimes. But my gear is better now.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Nowadays, I take exposed rolls and add them to a zip lock bag in the fridge. I send off groups that might cover 6 months of shooting. So even today, yesterday in fact, I get rolls back, where even with my notes in my calendar, I don't remember every last frame / roll even when I see them again.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

To both JD750 and Paul. I never had to wait longer than it took me to get to my darkroom. I also pretty much what I was going to see when the film was developed.
--Bob

JD750 Loc: SoCal

CHG_CANON wrote:

Nowadays, I take exposed rolls and add them to a zip lock bag in the fridge. I send off groups that might cover 6 months of shooting. So even today, yesterday in fact, I get rolls back, where even with my notes in my calendar, I don't remember every last frame / roll even when I see them again.

I know how that feels! I do a similar thing. Maybe that means I should shoot more film? Then it wouldn't take so long.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

rmalarz wrote:

To both JD750 and Paul. I never had to wait longer than it took me to get to my darkroom. I also pretty much what I was going to see when the film was developed.
--Bob

I know you develop your own film so thats a big advantage. You get results quickly.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

JD750 wrote:

"Taking your camera film to get developed, and having no idea if any of your pictures were even usable until you got the pictures back."

I suppose this was true if you were using a camera for the very first time.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

rook2c4 wrote:

I suppose this was true if you were using a camera for the very first time.

So you learned how to get your photos to come out the first time you used a camera? That's great.

I'm certainly not that skilled. I'm still trying. I also still love the surprise of finding a photo I forgot about when I get the roll developed. Do you still shoot film?

Boris77

JD750 wrote:

"Taking your camera film to get developed, an... (show quote)

I keep (many older) cameras scattered about the house each with a different lens on it, and grab the one that seems best for the shot that pops up at home. Since they are not part of a real photo shoot I seldom download them until I have edited all the notable events.
I try not to use my travel cameras at home. This reminds me to keep the batteries charged in my older gear AND provides plenty of pleasant surprises. Photography = fun for me.
Boris

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Boris77 wrote:

I keep (many older) cameras scattered about the house each with a different lens on it, and grab the one that seems best for the shot that pops up at home. Since they are not part of a real photo shoot I seldom download them until I have edited all the notable events.
I try not to use my travel cameras at home. This reminds me to keep the batteries charged in my older gear AND provides plenty of pleasant surprises. Photography = fun for me.
Boris

BebuLamar

JD750 wrote:

So you learned how to get your photos to come out the first time you used a camera? That's great.

I'm certainly not that skilled. I'm still trying. I also still love the surprise of finding a photo I forgot about when I get the roll developed. Do you still shoot film?

If I remember correctly my first roll of film came out perfectly (at least to my eyes). It is later that I have so many frames I don't care about.

tiphareth51 Loc: Somewhere near North Pole, Alaska

I remember those days. My young son would see the mailman and ask if it was a Kodak day.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I remember those days of waiting to get my prints back from the lab, and only having six rolls of film for a week's vacation. I had to be "thrifty" with what I shot.
One thing I love about digital is I can see what I shot and make adjustments if necessary, while I'm there.
Another is the digital darkroom. I can work with color now as I only had a B&W darkroom.
And do it while I'm watching TV.
I have enough memory cards to equate to about 150+ rolls of 36.
Yea, I like digital.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

When I was in 'Nam the two shouts that always got everyone's attention were "Incoming" and "Mail". I do believe that if both were shouted at the same time that the company clerk would still be surrounded by guys waiting to hear their name called. Mailing off film to be developed was a pain but getting back photos, or any mail, could make your whole day.
Just the same, I'll take digital. It sure beats going on R&R, taking a bunch of never to be repeated photos and then discovering later that you had the lens cap on for about half a roll.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

With Lightroom, I frequently find photos I forgot I took back in the '90s and (way) before.

Picture Taker Loc: Michigan Thumb

I remember that when I was shooting 10 ASA slide film (was stationed in Libya) with my Argus C3. The 20 or 36 shot role. Brings back old times. Thanks for the reminder.