It’s a beautiful and warm spring afternoon in Melbourne. Sitting in a cafe with my coffee by my right side and my laptop ready to face on my ferocious typing. I’m looking out the window and observing at the scene outside. Cars and people are going about their business in a slow, fuzzy yet steady pace. This is how I rediscover my friendship with time. Time has been my enemy these past months, but it’s about time I change that. With time on my hands, I can start to do the things I want to, like writing!
A couple of months ago, I finally plucked up the courage – and I didn’t even know I had to have this – and bought the coveted Contax G1 35 film camera as my main film camera. Set aside the luxurious status, the stunning lens, beautiful titanium satin finish, and overall appeal of it, it was a long and arduous journey to buy it but it was worth all the effort. Why did it take me so long to succumb to it? The main obstacle was justifying the hefty price tag and whether or not I could use a cheaper camera and achieve similar, same or better results. I also knew I had to be realistic with my skills and that I am and still am learning the quirks and perks of film photography, various film types and various camera bodies. My entry point was the disposable camera, which I covered in my previous blogs. Eventually, I wanted more quality photos and bought a cheap Pentax point-and-shoot camera. My little Pentax is a hidden gem and its results have impressed me very much. You don’t need an expensive camera to be able to take great photos. Ultimately, I found myself wanting more out of my point-and-shoot camera. That’s when I decided it was the right time to dive in and snap one up for myself.
A couple of months down the track, it’s been a curiously enjoyable journey. I’ve been able to take the camera with me to a few outings or events where I know I wouldn’t be too bummed out with not taking fabulous photos. Every time I’ve taken it out, I’ve learned something new about it. For one thing, I’ve found the light meter in the camera itself is really your friend. It won’t fire unless it knows it will be able to take in just enough light and isn’t too nose-close to your subject. Despite it being an expensive camera, I’m surprised to find it a cost-effective film camera. It won’t take the photo, but it’s only trying to help you. The last time I was at this cafe, I took a photo of my empty coffee cup. About a few weeks ago, I finally developed the film and the result is stunning:
See for yourself. This was literally just a quick close-up snap of my empty coffee cup. The tone, lighting, and softness of the photo sets the entire mood of the setting. Relaxing, cosy, and warm.
I needed this courage once again to bring the Contax G1 to PAX Australia, the biggest event my camera’s been to, and put its limits to the test. The biggest battle I faced was the indoor light and how well the photos would look. Composition was also another tricky aspect to put into practice due to the big crowds. However, I went in there and focused on shooting with a particular theme and that was capturing the lights, shadows, and neon-colours, anything that screamed cyberpunk. I’ll be sharing more of my thoughts and experience at PAX Australia in another blog entry, but the Contax G1 held itself really well. Although my camera didn’t really pick up much of the neon vibrancy that well nor were my compositions that great, I did manage to capture a few stand-out moments.
It’s been a great two months of learning with new camera and I’m thrilled that there’s still more learning to do with it. I haven’t reached any stage where I regretted buying the camera and am thankful that I have plenty yet to learn.