February 10, 2010

What Does Color Negative Film, Expired in 1997 and Shot in 2010, Look Like?

I ran the roll through my plastic panoramic point and shoot.



The slash of hunter's orange looks like a light leak. The green cast is the aging process. The deer has reached the end of his life. (Click an image to enlarge.)



A student suggested converting the images to black and white.



I like the suggestion.



I recently read the Slow Down issue of Good Magazine. Shooting film, expired or not, helps me slow down, brings me right into the moment. I find that it takes a month or so to shoot a 36 exposure roll. Each frame feels sacred.

In contrast, a few weeks ago I shot 56 digital frames during a five minute post-sunset abstraction fest.



Technicians at the local chain drugstore process and scan the film. As with prints, you are only charged for the frames that are actually scanned. I am really glad they scanned this end of roll abstraction.



Like the hunter's orange, I suspect light leaks.

What do you think?

Is this art, or the rationalization of poor image quality?

4 comments :

John Reuter said...

Well, it's hard to say that you couldn't have gotten similar results with newer film. I think sometimes just the notion that it is older material makes it special to shoot but the bottom line is always the image. In a Holga we expect surprises so it fits in nicely with that.

John Nordell said...

Yes, John, it is always about the final image. I wonder if we can figure out a method of "expecting surprise" when using digital gear...

Unknown said...

Well there's definitely rationalization happening, but I love the top image - definitely art!

John Nordell said...

Thanks Pam - I guess sometimes it is possible to have it both ways.