Nothing like sitting outside of my work in my car watching this video. Peter I hope you know, you’re the reason I got into photography and you’ve helped me through a lot.
I so relate, Peter. I’ve been shooting for 40 years, and EVERY SINGLE night I go to sleep, I’m thinking about what I want to shoot next. It’s the best passion in the world. And cars. Love cars.
This is just a silly little thing, but one thing I've picked up in my traveling with gear is the realization that I'm never going to use a whole roll of tape for something - if you take a run of tape (even if it's waaay more than you think you'll need) and just roll it up solo with no core, or around a sharpie/pen you're also packing, it saves even more space!
I had the same experience Pete. I was shooting 72 pictures while in Split, Croatia and I am loving every single one of it meaning I would share them with the world!
Bloody love watching this, I’ve also gone to film watching others learn at the same time is so helpful thanks Pete for being an inspiration to us all. ❤
I love how a lot of photographers here on youtube are doing film photography! Ive been doing it for a year and i think that it changed a lot the way i shoot. Even when i use digital, i shoot less photos but i plan more!
Next step, grab a press camera and load some sheet film in 4 holders. When you realize you only have 8 shots, then it really gets intense and liberating at the same time. Love the tower black and white photo man.
I love these kinds of videos! Once upon a time, I became adept at film shooting- including having an array of those little cut out squares from film boxes that slid into the slot on the back of the camera. I was way in to Adam’s zone system. I would shoot all day, come home to develop the film and start printing negatives that night. So satisfying! I especially loved shooting the diapositive Agfa Scala, and one day processing I had in Rome. Thry would even print your name on the slide mount… Moving to digital has been hard. The cameras are more capable, but the number of variables has left me less able to make images. I’m hoping that giving up my sony and buying the Q3 will lead me back to my more mindful photography origins.
Inspiring, but sadly the reality for me is affordability. The cost of the film, the processing and the scanning makes the experience one I have to forgo. Fortunately I can still have fun with black and white, just via digital which is almost free.
Pete, just a little tip on how not to be shy about approaching people to take pictures: When I want to photograph a stranger, I find something about their appearance that I like and compliment them beforehand and then ask permission to take their picture. "Sir, you look very manly, excuse me, can I get a picture of you on camera? " "Hey girl, you have a very nice manicure. Can I take a picture of you with your hands in the frame? Don't think anything bad, I have a girlfriend and I'm just a photographer)" When you give people something sincere and pleasant, you become more confident📸✊🏻 I hope this helps😉
If it's possible with film, PLEASE make the Eifel Tower shot a limited edition print. I have 3 of your prints already, and this would make an exceptional addition to the wall.
Watching Peter talk about film photography is like seeing two worlds colliding. Seeing him always carrying the latest and greatest of digital cameras and lenses and now seeing him talking with such passion of film photography is unreal. This was a great way to start a days work 😊 🙏 thank you Peter
I live a few hours from Paris, in Germany, but I rarely go to Paris as there are so many old things to photograph here. Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland are also not far with a lot of great motives! But you did a great job shooting on film, very daring to say the least!
Interesting as hell, having shot film for so many years, going back to the 1960s, I find with shooting digital that I still try to make every shot count even though it costs me nothing to shoot hundreds of pictures. I shoot digital with a film mentality. It's not intentional; it's just the way I shoot having started on film.
Vive la film photography! I'm quite strange I think because even with digital I don't like to 'click, click, click ' but he intentional when taking photos. I think we all have something to learn from using film.
I wonder what the difference would be if I went out into the city with my A7iv and 35mm 1.4 GM. I could set my ISO to 400 and the camera to black-and-white, limit myself to 36 shots. Take more time and be more deliberate with my shot choices. Would there be a huge difference from the film? I guess being able to adjust the images afterwards instead of having some prints mailed back to me would be a big difference. Thanks for your time and energy and all of these great videos!
I spent 20 years shooting film professionally. A lot of it was photojournalism where I never knew what I would find. Used to load my own short rolls in ISOs from 100 to 3200 so I could swap out on the fly without wasting much. Love the film Renaissance, but also love shooting with wild and reckless abandon. If I was still shooting film I would totally be out of business, LOL.
I learned on film and fell out of photography during my 20's. Never switched to digital until my mid 30's. I still treat most shots like my film camera's. I can go out all day and only have about 100 shots.
That's funny that you say that's make easier being n Paris while as French, it's easier for me when I'm in the US. I guess we just look for what we don't have at home and see unusual things :)
Imagine having Photoshop that would only allow you to edit in B&W and already applied grain in the picture. YOu do not have a choice. Your world just changed. Your photgraphy just changed forever.
I am a programmer and not a photographer, but still, I've got goosebumps watching this video because I want to go on a journey like this and experience the joy you get through photography. Thanks for the video, Peter.
If you haven't already, try some Kodak Tri-X 400, Fomapan 100 or 400, Lomo Kino Potsdam 100(motion picture film), Ilford FP 125, Astrum Foto 400, or Kodak XX5222 250(motion picture film). Or for colour, Kodak Vision 250D, motion picture film as well, needs special developing though.
Fantastic Peter... you said we would be seeing less of you but the quality of your videos would go up and you are delivering on the promise. Super engaging videos lately.
Gina Payne from Van Life With Gina sent us your way! Said you are an inspiration!! 1st time seeing a video & she speaks truth 👍👍 Sending Aloha from Kauai, Hawaii
Definitely cracked a smile. Thanks Pete. Such an inspiration. You are such a bright light. Never let anyone or anything dim that. Hope you have a wonderful day man 😁
Peter in five years, probably: "What it's like to vlog with an Super8 camera". Edit: I didn't quite make it, but I'm still taking credit for that prediction.
I've been doing street photograpy for over a year now and I honestly it feels exactly like you mentioned. The excitement and confidence you need. The eye to catch that one moment. The stroies and ofcourse all the people. It is such a beautiful and fulfiling form of art. I want to continue and grow and hopefully bring more stories of ordinary people on the streets to light.
wow! amazing bro! thank you for the love xo we got to link up at some point! 👬 really like how that Eiffel Tower shot came out! hp5 is where it’s at🎞️📸
This is like someone explaining why the crackles and pops of a record are superior to mp3s. :) The real lesson is slow down and make good choices with intent in ALL your photography...film has nothin' to do with it. That and street photographers are the creepiest. Watching that guy shove his camera & flash into the face of that couple without asking for their permission is gross. There isn't a reasonable expectation of privacy out on the street but there should be a reasonable expectation of basic humanity. Just because you go outside doesn't mean you consent to be someone else's art piece.
Pete, I’ve been following you for years and you’ve been such an inspiration. I’ve been shooting photography for 15 years now and at times have lost the spark. Videos like this one pump me back up so much! You inspire many my brother. Many thanks owed to you. 🙏
I quite recently got back into film photography myself (and started uploading videos about my journey here on YT - wink wink) and I agree with everything you say, Peter! The slower paced, more intentional type of photography is such a fresh breeze. Sadly prices for film photography is steadily increasing, but props to you for helping bring it back. Cheers for a fantastic video bud, and can't wait to see more! /Freddy
Gotta say, Pete -- I've really been loving these film videos. They're truly my favorite videos you've posted in a long time. I also jumped back in -- all in -- to film about 5 months ago, and you so accurately describe what it feels like, and to see this kind of excitement from someone with such an immense body of work like your own is refreshing. The intention and the anticipation is everything, and makes the craft of making a photograph so much more enjoyable.
Peter, this is probably my favorite video from you. It's real and honest and it actually made me blow the dust off a 1950's 35mm Leica I had sitting doing nothing. I share your excitement in shooting film. Thank you.
You have to try cross-process developing. You use a slide-film and develop it as negatives. The colors are amazing and you never know how it's going to turn out. You can do the reverse as well but the result is not as good for me.
Even tho it is possible to get very similar, maybe even equal results with digital, there is really something to it. Maybe it is placebo, but I still like it anyways!
Welcome to the dark side Peter! Streets require a different mindset than shooting anything else. Adding the film factor it becomes even more demanding. But I think it is even more rewarding than any other type of photography. Keep shooting street!
Great video Pete! For sure film has its own aesthetic and workflow that differs significantly that of a digital camera. That being said, do you think that bringing a single 256MB SD card could yield similar results as far thoughtfulness and composition? I don't see myself diving into film anytime soon, but I do appreciate the mentality you've brought up. Cheers!
Crazy thing with film vs digital for me is this: Digital: Wow, I nailed that shot, sharp and crisp, perfect composition. Get home and look at it on the big screen. Meh, it's ok but not as good as I thought it would be. Film: Damn, I think I mistimed that shot and I think my setting were a bit off. Get it developed, scan it and look at it on the big screen. OMFG, that looks amazing. Best photo I ever made.
For anyone else just starting to get into film try the light meter app on your on your phone. It very quickly helped train my brain on the appropriate settings for each shot and probably rescued a lot of images I would’ve otherwise messed up
Damn that ppppwhat's up everybody, it's Peter McKinnon is nostalgic!!! I remember when I first saw Pete's video way back in 2018 that inspired me to also create content. Good old days!
