I have a number of blogposts on the horizon and I thought I would start them off with an overview of a great event that I attended last week. The event was a three day film photography extravaganza (digital shooters were welcome too) in Cleveland, Ohio. Analog's Pulse was coordinated by
Scott Meivogel, photographer and owner of
Aperture: A Photography and Variety Store in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland and was sponsored by
A and A Studios, Film Photography Project and
Old School Photo Lab.
As the title of the event implies, this event was focused on film photography. While digital technology has been flooding the photography landscape for the past decade, there has been an increasing number of shooters switching to film or rediscovering film. There is a movement taking place and there is a clear energy behind it. It's a very exciting time to be a photographer, especially one that loves to shoot film. Regardless of your personal opinions, it's clear that
Lomography and
The Impossible Project have helped to foster this rejuvenation; all which led to an event like this being held in my home state of Ohio.
The event kicked off on Friday night with a "social hour" opening reception at Aperture. A group of approximately 20-25 people attended from different areas of the U.S. (even Canada), enjoyed some frosty beverages and listened to opening remarks by
Scott,
Michael Raso of the Film Photography Project and
Jake Bouchard of
Old School Photo Lab. After we went over the itinerary for Saturday and purchased our film, we went our separate ways. I had the pleasure of having dinner with a few individuals at Prosperity Social Club. Jared, a relatively new photographer from Point Pleasant, West Virginia (home of the "famed" Moth Man) and
Chris and Katie, two amazing photographers from Milwaukee, were my company for the evening. We enjoyed great food, beer and conversation.
Chris and Katie regularly travel Route 66 and document it with the help of Polaroid cameras and film. In fact, they just released a book, six years in the making, entitled
Polaroid Photos from Route 66. In addition to that, they run a site entitled
"Fading Nostalgia," they're Urban Explorers and
Chris is an amazing night photographer. It was a pleasure to meet these great individuals and it was the perfect kick off to the weekend.
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Camera: Canon AE-1P
Lens: 50mm
Film: Fuji Provia 100 (XPro) |
Saturday was a jam packed day with three themed photo walks, with the first set to start at 8:30 a.m. We were to meet in between Gund Arena and Jacob's Field (now Quicken Loans Arena and Progressive Field) and start out on a street photography themed walk. While the numbers weren't to the level of RSVP's received on Facebook, there were still a good number of people that showed up for this event and we added individuals as the day went on. We made our way through the Gateway District, E. 4th Street and ended at Public Square. The walk was very informal, with
Scott pointing out various landmarks as we walked. Shooting took place sporadically, with different groups forming and advancing along the path. For the first part of the day, I decided to keep my shooting pretty mindless and went with two "point and shoot" film cameras. I broke out the Olympus XA2 loaded with Ilford HP5 Plus black and white film (I'll post those results once the roll is developed) and my Holga micro 110 camera loaded with Lomography's new Orca 110 black and white film. I was able to finish my roll of HP5, but didn't shoot my 110. The morning started out hazy with drizzle and the fixed aperture and shutter speed of the micro Holga coupled with the 100 speed of the film didn't lend itself to being used. By the end of the first walk, the haze and drizzle lifted, the sun came out and the heat began to intensify. I enjoyed the walk, but after attending several meet-ups, I've come to the conclusion that this type of event doesn't lend itself to my style of shooting. I'm a solitary photographer that takes a lot of time to line up a shot, using my exposures sparingly and prefers to shoot with a tripod versus hand held. However, it's fun to meet new like minded people and geek out about cameras, film, photography and beer :)
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Camera: Canon AE-1P
Lens: 50mm
Film: Fuji Provia 100 (XPro) |
After a bit of a break and some rest, the instant cameras came out to play and the instant photo walk began. Most attendees were shooting multiple cameras, with a mixture of Polaroid pack film cameras and Polaroid integral film cameras being used. I sported my original Polaroid SX-70 loaded with Impossible Project PX70 Cool film and my Polaroid SX-70 Sonar One Step with ND filter loaded with PX600 Silver Shade UV+ Black Frame. This walk featured a contest for the best instant photo submitted (with three wonderful prizes at stake as well as pride) and spanned through the Warehouse District and the Flats. It was a great walk, hearing the beautiful Polaroid sound coming from many integral cameras and other individuals pulling and peeling pack film. I have a number of images from that walk that I'll also post once I have them scanned. After the walk, we all chose our one best shot for the contest and headed back to E. 4th Street for lunch. We decided on Flannery's Pub at the corner of Prospect and E. 4th. I had a wonderful Reuben sandwich, enjoyed some beer and wonderful company. We had about a total of two hours before the next walk was set to start. I had a brief issue with my Hasselblad back (which seems to be fine now) and so instead of shooting a roll of slide film for the next walk in my medium format beauty, I had to switch it up to a roll of 35mm slide film in my Canon AE-1P with 50mm lens. Since my hotel was right down the street, I switched out cameras, unloaded some gear and grabbed an iced coffee at the Erie Island Coffee Company before we headed out for the third and final walk of the day - the cross process walk. We headed out to the theater district of Cleveland and snapped away using film provided courtesy of
A and A Studios. Jake Bouchard from
Old School Photo Lab gave us a few pointers on shooting the film for cross processing and we trekked across the theater district and ended up in an old cemetery right behind Jacob's Field. I had fun on this walk, but I had to change gears as a shooter, seeing as how I had to get through 36 frames within two hours. Anyone that knows my photographic style and how I shoot knows that the task set before me is a tough one. However, I was able to finish, although I had about 10 "throw away" exposures and candids at Panini's, which was where we ended the day.
Scott said a few words, announced the winners of the instant photo shoot, and we all drank and enjoyed each other's company. After awhile, everyone began to go their own way and soon the night was over.
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Camera: Canon AE-1P
Lens: 50mm
Film: Fuji Provia 100 (XPro) |
Even though a few attendees headed out on Sunday for a large format walk, my Analog's Pulse experience was over. It was a great time and I'm glad I could take part in the event. I met a lot of great photographers and people for that matter, enjoyed great food and company and got to shoot the cameras that I love so much. It was the second time that I've been to Cleveland in the past few months and I'm really beginning to dig the city. I want to return to shoot some of the areas by myself; where I can set up my tripod and just take my time. Regardless, I would participate in this event again. I know something is brewing for next year, so stay tuned to Scott's website and get excited for
F8 in 2013. Until then, cheers and keep shooting!
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Camera: Canon AE-1P
Lens: 50mm
Film: Fuji Provia 100 (XPro) |
