Nikon FM2 + Mamiya RZ67 + Hasselblad 500c/m

The Nikon FM2 is my small, portable film camera. It fits in my purse or fanny pack so easy and is my camera that is the fastest for me to shoot: children in movement, artists in movement, candid family moments. My Hasselblad 500c/m is iconic and again light and small. I love to use it for double exposures, selfies and everything. It is my hardest to focus clearly and I use a loop to help me. It requires you to think and compose in terms of a square. The third film camera is my Mamiya RZ67 which is a beast of a camera. It is heavy but gives me sharp beautiful images. I tend to use this with performers and for portraits. It offers a 6x6 option or a 6x7 option which I love for 120 film. Although I can shoot it handheld I generally use a tripod these days with this camera. I truly love the sound these cameras make when you push the shutter button and I love the look of surprise of my clients who always respond to the sound the first time they hear it. It requires patience when using these cameras and being present for myself and subject and this forms a bond. It is always a conversation piece that becomes and an entire event and feel that both my clients and I love. The sound of winding is amazing as well. You really think much more about your images when using these cameras. With digital I can shoot a thousand images in a day and I have, but with my medium format maybe 40 images which is a lot for film and I'm tending to really plan much more these days and shoot maybe 20 for a day or less.

Along with your film camera comes other equipment I didn't realize I would need at first. My Nikon has a meter and I tend to always use the camera meter with it. For my medium format cameras, the Mamiya and Hasselblad I use the Sekonic L-858D-U which can spot meter or take an ambient/ incident meter. I use loupes to focus my Hasselblad. In general a 5X range is great for general focusing and a 10X for very detailed fine focusing. Often I just have a 5X with me and go with that. What I have also learned is that Cable releases are essential to getting a sharp image and preventing camera shake on a tripod. I suggest having several, I tend to break them or lose them. A tripod is essential when you want sharpness in your images. I didn't photograph mine because I was using it to take this image. However I received my new tripod yesterday. I invested in the Manfrotto 057 Carbon fiber 4 section tripod with the 057 Magnesium Ball Head with top lock quick release. This tripod is heavier but can handle anything. It goes beyond high and requires a small ladder or low to the ground. If can handle the weight of the Mamiya or a large format camera, my next purchase and goal. This tripod will allow me to shot from so many angles. Then there are the books of painters and photographers that I see as a very important part of my kit. They inspire me and open my mind, helping me to grow as a photographer. No, I rarely bring them along but I scatter them throughout my house to inspire me.

Now that you have your shots there is the development. There are amazing labs you can send your film to or you can develop your film at home which is what I do with my black and white film. You need a bathroom or a kitchen. I have a film loading bag I stick my hands in and load my film into the tank on my dining room table and then from there it is about a 20 min process. I use Kodak HC-110 developer and TF-4 Rapid Fixer. From here you can scan which I do using the Epson Perfection V850 Pro or you can print in the darkroom which is my next step I hope to be at soon.