Adrianna Tan
On the 'things don't last as long as they used to' front:
I'm really into mechanical and older cameras. They last forever, most of them don't need batteries.
Having those types of cameras also mean having contacts with people who keep these cameras going. I talk to a very old Japanese man in Georgia about my Yashica; older people going into nursing homes have sent me their cameras so I can keep using them.
I really enjoy this aspect of mechanical cameras. If it doesn't work, open it up.
Adrianna Tan
i have a collection of cameras that people have given me because they know i love this stuff. it gives me an insight into some of their lives and families.
a friend's father used to be the photographer for indian national tv, and he gave me his stuff. he's very excited to know that i'm still using the cameras that he took to photograph various conflicts.
some friends have given me their parents' cameras after they passed. honestly i have too many cameras at this point, but i love it.
Adrianna Tan
the camera in my profile pic is from the 1950s. i've had it since the early 2000s, when a boy i knew in high school started buying beat up leicas to teach himself how to repair them. he let me have one for cheap.
i expect it'll outlast me and i'm going to have to write it into my will to bequeath it to some future mini me who is going to really want a 100+ year old camera.
Adrianna Tan
Even though cameras are just tools, in service of photography and story-telling, I feel that the form of the tool sometimes impacts the story and the conversations and interactions have that shape the story.
I’m never interested in a photo just for ‘technically perfect’. Super crisp, sharp especially digital photos feel soulless to me.
When I have my Yashica TLR, people want to tell me how they had one. Then they ask me to take a photo of them.
Adrianna Tan
My silly / cute Hasselblad contraption with a Instax back has stopped people in their tracks. They all want to know what it is. Then they want a photo. Then I give it to them.
A few weekends ago, an immigrant dad shyly asked me for a Instax photo so he could have a pic of his daughter, who was going to leave. He wouldn’t see her for a while. Being able to take that pic and give it to them felt so different. Different camera, different stories.
Jess👾
Though some amount of the "things don't last as long as they used to" is also a symptom of survivorship bias. It's true even high end stuff these days is practically built to be disposable, but there was also an awful lot of cheap garbage in the past too.
Adrianna Tan
@JessTheUnstill there are a ton of crappy old cameras! they can probably still be made to work, but often isn’t worth it.
Adrianna Tan
I’m also into developing and printing my film in a darkroom. It feels excessive sometimes, but more and more, I really want to be able to make things with my hands.
Adrianna Tan
@dendari sure. Will have a look
Dendari
@skinnylatte
My son is currently a digital media major and is learning about photography. Would you consider selling one of these interesting cameras. He's the type of person who would love to learn and play with a different form of photography.
https://sites.google.com/view/ianmurphywork?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabHtxo2GIvGjM2d86F2M1cxPqiukqnD_PMtHMNC2G3bW4GMMLU-RNcOPxA_aem_9mDLykvK9DHgOn4WUZdFNg
Adrianna Tan
@KatS id like to take classes here some time!
Kat
@skinnylatte This is what keeps me thinking about trying to get back into metalwork - forging and welding. But mostly forging.
I did a course about 20 years ago, and really enjoyed the way you can make and reshape your own tools to suit the job.
Also, powerhammer go BAM BAM BAM :)
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