A roll of Kodak Ektar 100 had been sitting unused in my basement fridge for almost a year. It was an impulse buy while at a local camera shop last summer, and because it was so much more expensive than the budget films I normally shoot with, I was hesitant to use it. I didn’t want to waste it. I felt like it needed to be saved for the right camera/lens combo and the perfect lighting/weather conditions.
When my sister asked me for Christmas present suggestions, I just said “film”, and not HP5 or FP4 because I shoot those pretty often. I was very excited to unwrap a roll of Kodak TRI-X. It’s one of the classic emulsions and I had never shot! Come boxing day, that TRI-X was in my trusty Canon A-1. I bought the A-1 for the 50mm f/1.4 lens on the front but ended up keeping it.
As you can see, these shots are quite simple and don’t have much in common. To me, though, they have a precious value; in fact they represent the first time I ever shot using a Canon A-1 and a black & white film. That’s why I’d like to tell you about my experience.I got interested in analog photography last summer, but the Canon A-1 entered my life only in November. The camera seemed practically new, but the man who sold it wasn’t even sure it was functional. I bought it anyway, encouraged by the amazing bargain. Luckily, the camera worked. I’ve loved it since the second I lay eyes on it (or “her”, if we want to make it even more romantic).
