A Love Affair with 35mm

As much as I love my digital camera and how easy and convenient it is, there is something about 35 millimeter film that always draws me in. My grandfather used to be a professional wedding photographer so maybe it's just in my blood to love it. He only ever used 35 mm and when I expressed my interest in it to him he was so supportive. He even gave me his old camera strap which I still have on my Canon 35 mm right now. 

There is something about the photos that is so appealing. There's a dreamy quality that you just can't mimic with digital photography. Admittedly I have not pursued this passion of mine as diligently as I would have liked. I got my first 35 mm camera in high school when I took my first and only photography class. Since then I have dabbled in it, occasionally breaking out my camera for photo shoots when the mood strikes me. 

Recently I discovered I had three undeveloped rolls of film that I started before Nora was born. I took them to be developed on Mother's Day, as that was really the only gift I wanted (besides wine, let's be real). Unfortunately only two of the rolls came out, one was completely blank. I know I took pictures of Nora relatively recently, since we moved to Connecticut, so I'm not sure why they we're on the film. It may have been that the film was expired, or that the photo technician did something incorrectly. Who knows. I'm leaning toward the later as most of the prints I received have a mysterious brown streak mark on them. Oh well, we won't be returning to that place again. That's the thing with film though, you never know what you're going to end up with until the roll is developed. It makes it more challenging, and also a fun surprise. Although losing pictures of Nora was not a fun surprise, I still ended up with quite a few from when she was itty bitty.

I have rediscovered my passion for 35 mm. Hopefully soon I will be getting a new camera (mine is broken somehow and not working 100% correctly) and some more film so I can keep at it. Here are some of the pictures from those rolls that I found.

These were definitely pre-baby because we moved out of that apartment before Nora was born and Madison doesn't smoke anymore.

And just for fun, here are some photos I've taken previously with 35mm film cameras.

The picture quality may not be perfect (probably because my camera is broken....) but the emotions come across easily. And although your pictures may not turn out the way you intended, that's the beauty of it. You have to trust your instincts and just wait and see. I'd love to have a series here about 35 mm adventures, what do you think? Let's celebrate the art form. Now to find a new camera or get mine fixed...