ChatGPT Suggested I Title This Post "A Pictorial Chronicle of Everyday Adventures"
Out here trying, ya know?
In October 2021, I picked up a half-frame camera at a photography-centric flea market that took place in a glorified alleyway about an hour from where I live. I remember everyone being equally welcoming and weird, much like one would expect from such an environment. The camera in question, an Olympus Pen EE-S, first hit the scene in 1962, with the main selling point being that you get twice as many photos per frame. Six decades later and the advertising has absolutely stood the test of time; shooting film hasn’t gotten any less cost prohibitive a hobby these days. As a Gemini intrigued by all things #duality, I was instantly drawn to the concept of two photos sharing space, so it was a relatively no-brainer impulse buy for me.
What I’ve learned in the two years since: shooting a roll on a half-frame camera takes TIME. Working with a range of 48-72 photos, depending on the kind of 35mm film you’re using and how many exposures it allows, is not the easiest feat. I like to think of myself as someone who shoots with intention but with so many images available, it’s tempting to go quick. However, with this camera especially, if you hit the shutter too haphazardly, a blurry image is all but guaranteed.
TL;DR: shooting a half-frame is a balancing game. On one hand, you want to be thoughtful about what you’re capturing, such as thinking about the composition and how two things will look side-by-side, but on the other, it’s just as tempting to shoot as spontaneously as possible and see where you land. Most of the time, because it takes so long to finish a roll, I completely have forgotten what I’ve taken pictures of, which is absolutely also part of the fun.
Anyway, general musings aside, here are five (aka ten) of my favorite shots from the roll I just got back from ye ole scanner.
And there you have it! I’ve started shooting my next role, so see you in 2-3 months when I get through it.