That Awkward Moment

If you've used 35mm film before (past and present) and if you do not own a flash attachment for your film camera, I would heavily suggest for those to purchase one from your local photography store because of an experience that has happened to me a year ago when I was asked to do a candid photo opt. I wasn't prepared with a flash attachment for my camera when I went to the Marriott Marquis in Times Square at this one restaurant called The View and it was my mistake of not asking questions on the lighting situation, as well as checking the place out in advance. The film I used was a Kodak Tri-X (400 ISO) and luckily I was able to develop the film at school (the roll of film I used was Black & White). That night, I was really concerned about the quality of the film because of the very low lighting situation and another mistake was not buying a flash attachment from B&H. When I developed the roll of film at school, the roll of film was garbage because many of the frames were too dark and unusable to scan and edit. It became that awkward but an uncomfortable moment and how do you tell someone that the whole roll of film was/is unusable?

Several months later, I was looking up flash attachments on the B&H website, printed out potential copies of flash attachments and I had gone to B&H. AN employee at B&H had suggested a Sunpak Auto 422D Thryistor Flash attachment for my Minolta X-370 camera which costs $29.95 just for the flash attachment alone and I loved it because I've had the opportunity of using the flash attachment on two different occasions since I bought it from B&H almost a year ago. From the two times I've used my flash attachment, many of the photos came out fabulous! I hope to use my flash attachment again in the near future and I want to put my flash attachment to good use for as long as I can! My next item I plan on saving up for are Induro Adventure AKB2 Tripod Kit, reflectors, a Lowepro Pro Runner 450 AW Backpack (two or three, one bag for a photo shoot, one for travel purposes and a third just for leisure), an Apple laptop, an extra low lighting lens and whatever else that may come to mind at a later date. I have a lot of saving up to do and limiting my spending habits only to taking care of my son and saving up for photography equipment. If I could do what I can in terms of finding employment than I would be all set once when I'm established with work and save my money wisely (I hope). Just use some magick and I hope using some magick would help my money grow!

If you're new to the photography field and if the only camera that you that is within your budget, go for it. Yes, even if you're one of the few people that you actually own a 35 mm film camera when the rest of society owns a DSLR camera nowadays and I realize film cameras are mainly from the dinosaur ages but I think film photography is worth the experience (more than digital photography). But always be prepared with plenty of film, a flash attachment, and spare batteries for both your flash attachment and camera (in case if you forget to recharge your batteries over night to avoid that whole awkward moment of "How do I tell this person that the roll of film is no good so (s)he doesn't that I am a fraud?" It's always important to be prepared for such occasions if you're ever asked to do a pre-candid engagement photo shoot at a restaurant with low lighting.

Warm blessings,

Jennifer