Time capsule

For the past 11 years or so, I’ve had a roll of black and white Kodak Tri-X film that I’ve kept in my desk drawer that I had shot in 1997-1998. From place to place, I’ve faithfully just taken it with me, resolving to get it developed someday but never really motivating to do so. By that point, of course, I had totally forgotten what images were on it, or even if any images were on it at all. I’m sure we all have dinosaur film canisters lying around like that (well at least those of us over a certain age heh).

Anyway, last week, curiosity got the better of me and I decided that the time had come. I tried to find a place in Chicago that still developed black and white film and there were 2 places, but neither very convenient to my location. So I sent it out to Dwaynes Photo in Kansas, and they did a pretty competent job for $5 bucks and about a week turn around time.

When the negatives arrived, I was pretty excited with anticipation. What could possibly be on the film? It turns out some pretty good stuff: old pictures of Zoe and family, old friends I hadn’t seen in over a decade, and my 2 cats that I also hadn’t seen in just about as long.

And I have to say, there’s just something so wonderfully rich about the tones and grain in black and white film (especially Tri-X) that I haven’t obtained with digital. It’s almost enough to make me want to shoot film again…

Related posts:

1. Photo London
2. “Don’t give up”
3. End of Summer