Adapting is difficult, but mostly, it's very frightening. Still, that's just another part of this package, isn't it? The package you get when you're born, and the one you carry on your shoulders for the rest of your stay here on Earth. Life is always changing, always on the move - so adaptation is almost unavoidable.
And yet, we always find ourselves adapting to something new, then immediately think - almost like a defense mechanism - that this one will be the last change; that from now on, it's only about getting better at this one thing, that will never change, until the end of time. And it certainly is true, and sometimes it feels amazing, but then, eventually, you hear a strange noise from behind, so you turn around and find a new giant wave rushing down the coast and hitting you straight in your shocked face.
I saw my wave forming and heading its way towards me about a month ago, as I searched Cyprus on Google maps and found out there isn't a single film lab here. Knowing we plan on staying here for three months, more or less, as someone who hasn't touched a digital camera in two years, and was quite certain his monogamous relationship with film will last forever - it was a big shock for me. Taking pictures and reviewing them after a week or two is one thing, but waiting patiently for months without any new material to work with and share with the world - that just won't work.
And so I've finally been convinced by the excited winks my digital camera gave me - enough that now the terrifying adaptation scenario makes a litlle bit more sense in my head. I pulled her out of my bag two days ago (a Fuji XT-2) and took some photos around the garden of the co-living hostel I stay in (the ones you see right now as you read) - but not before deciding on some ridiculous rules for myself, that I must maintain as long as the camera doesn't get frustrated by my stubbornness and decide to give up on me. Being clear with myself about these rules was very important to me. I wanted to do the best I could to preserve the analog process and workflow I've created, which was exactly the reason for my initial decision to go film all the way.
Here are the rules :
I'm only allowed to take one picture per 'frame', exactly like I do with film. So no safeties or burst mode, or anything like that.
Full manual mode, including focus, and no exposure meter or exposure effect display on screen. I use my lovely Pentax digital spot meter for all the light measurements, exactly as before.
No picture previews on the spot - but only in lightroom afterwards. If I screw something up, well... I can try again next time.
I must wait a few days after a session before editing the pictures to maintain at least some of that surprise/fresh-perspective effect going on, as it is one of the best things about film.
It went quite well, I think. I have lots of thoughts and conclusions to share about this new transition, but I'll keep them for next time.
