As you may have read in the review I did on Kodak Tri-X, my first introduction to it was on a trip to NYC. As it happens, I have been to NYC a couple times before this visit but I had never taken a film camera; all but one trip I had taken my Sony a7 with me. Generally, when I’m trying something new – like a new film – I try to keep the experimental conditions to a minimum. At best, I would have my same camera, in the same or similar enviroment, taking photos similar subjects. How else am I supposed to know if I really like the new film?
If you’re me or like me, you don’t tend to shoot as much normally as you would if you were out and about – particularly if you’re on a trip. As such, I don’t always get those chances to get out and go through a roll or two as an experiement before I go on a trip. Instead, in some instances, I pick up some film and I find that the best time to give it a go is when I’m on a trip, potentially in a place I’ve never been and potentially in a place I’ll never go to again. If you’re like me, you like to have photos from these trips so taking the risk of using a film you have no experience with leaves a lot to chance.
And sometimes that chance rewards you with photographs you never expect and will now treasure for the rest of your life.
That’s what happened to me on a recent trip to NYC. Granted – I was taking a chance with Tri-X, a film that’s highly acclaimed and well documented. Nevertheless, I didn’t know what to expect from it and I couldn’t have been happier.
FILM PHOTOGRAPHY 