Well day 25 has come and gone. It’s now the 29th as I write this. – I can give you excuses as to why i havent posted for 6 days, but Instead I will just give you this.
The above photo is my Yashica FX-D SLR. I Love this camera. It was my first found and hunted second hand shop Film camera when I was first trying to get into film shooting. – I’ve learned so much on this camera about shooting film. different film speed and light metering. the F16 rule shoot slow Black and White traditional films- using flash with film.
Next to it is a roll of Kodak Portra 400. It’s a professional fine grade film if you don’t know. You can’t get it in Canada anymore so I order 5 rolls from NewYork City.
While doing this month of Photo blogging I was also doing a Month of one roll of film. This particular roll in the photo to be exact. I’ve been really pushing myself to try and capture colour especially this fall as the leaves change on the tree’s. So, with this camera and film with 36exposures I set out Oct 1rst to capture 36 images for another 31 days of blogs in Novemeber from this roll. To explain my journey, findings, and lessons learned while shooting colour and fall on film.
Last sunday, I went on a walk with my gf to a punch bowl water fall in Hamilton Ontario. I really wanted to climb down to the river that led away from the waterfall and photograph the intense amounts of orange that lay in touched below. – it had rained the night before – As I scouted for the easiest way down, as there was no cleared safe trail. I found a spot that I was confident I could climb down. I try my best to convince Sarah that she was also capable of this descent.
As we started, we quickly realized that fear had overtaken us. That in fact the steep cliffs walls were holding much more moisture than I expected, and it was basically a mud slide. – I turned and was convinced by Sarah to turn and go back up.
I was wearing a HashtagHope Hoodie with the front kangaroo pocket. I wrapped up my SLR and buried it into that front pocket, because I did not want it to hit off the rocks of the cliff.
Just as I turned to reach out for Sarah’s hand, I felt the most particulate feeling. The kind of intrigue and confusion. The kind that quickly turns to realization and then into regret.
My camera, the one I love so much, has fallen out of my pocket and it wasn’t until it was tumbling down hitting what seemed to be every rock and tree on the way down, did I believe it to actually be happening.
dangit.
I guess straps are worth their value.
I ended up risking the descent to try and recover the camera. Only to find out just how dangerous it actually was.
I located the camera and my only desire was that the back of the body be closed, preserving the months work of film. – I knew by this point the lens would be toast due to amount of rocks I watched it make friends with on the way down.
To my sadness, The back had popped open. To my surprise, the lens was not in a million…little….pieces…
Risking my life to climb back up a mountain without ropes with my camera in pieces scattered in different pockets.
I’m alive to write this, so I guess I made it.
Camera still works, all shutter speeds seem normal. A few dents on the corners and the back takes a bit more to close. Will have to check for light leaks. The Lens seem to be okay. The only real loss was the film.
— I’ve been discouraged because of all my hard work that went into the 23 or so exposures that were on the roll already. – I haven’t even touched my other film camera’s since. been using the 40mm on the 60D (Digital)
Thanks for reading.
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