What's in my Camera Bag?
- Carolanne Rose
- Jan 11, 2016
- 3 min read
I think most Film Photographers - heck ALL photographers, will agree that falling in love with photography comes hand in hand with falling in love with cameras. We all have our favourites, our 'go-to' gear but it's hard to stop searching and buying when you've been bit by the bug.
I wrote in my first blog [click here if you missed it] about how I was first introduced to film photography. My Grandad passed away and I was given his old Zenit TTL, since then the collection has expanded. As I talk to more and more film photographers, it becomes clear that I'm not the only one that can't stop adopting new cameras.
So what is in my Camera Bag? My Olympus OM1n is my resident camera. It will always be in my bag and is the camera I shoot on the most. Despite it not being my first Film Camera I have quite the connection with it.
Due to the evident faults with my Zenit I was set on finding the perfect 35mm that I could learn on. While I was working in retail, the floor manager was in fact a retired photographer and I had long conversations with him about it all and he guided me in choosing which would be the best camera for me.
I wanted something that would give me full control with no manual option and almost force me to learn the ins and outs of film photography. The Olympus OM1 seemed to me the best option. The search began.
After looking online for a few days I managed to get my hand on the following:
- Olympus OM1 body
- Olympus 50mm Lens
- Miranda 18-70mm Lens
- Hannimex 0 - 200mm Lens
- Itorex Bookeh Lens
- A multitude of filters.
= All for under £70 !
When I discovered film photography a whole new world opened up to me. I began to explore other formats, like 120mm and polaroid. Thats when I bought my first Lomography Camera. A Blue Holga 120.
Shooting on the Holga is unlike many forms of photography. You really have to be able to let go from all you know about photography, you have no control and the results are wild and unpredictable. That's why I love it. The shots are care-free L.A colourful dreams captured in a moment.
The colleciton then grew when Otis bought me a polaroid. While it is the most costly, polaroid is so much fun. No waiting around, the photo is in your hand right there, right at that moment. It's hard to be carefree with this camera though. When the shots cost you £18 for 8 sheets you're often thinking about whether the shot is worth it. A trick that I think most digital photographers could learn from.
You need to understand when is the right time to take a photo and when it's right to appreciate the moment.
The last things in my camera bag are the dark room essentials. Ok, so these don't go in my Camera Bag but they are the important tools that I regard as staples. Learning how to develop your own film is so important. It makes you appreciate the science behind the magic. Although I don't dev all my film, I go through spurs of developing colour and then sometimes black and white and while it's tricky and frustrating - BOY is it rewarding when you look at that roll of negatives and you see your creations come to life.
So what's in your Camera Bag?
See more of my shots on instagram here: @carolannerosefilm I love to hear from other film photographers so go follow me and leave me a line for a folow back!
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