Mistakes, Mistakes

Posted on Posted in da net

Mistakes Always Repeat

so, I bought a used Nikon. From what purported to be a camera store with an online presence. Bad stuff, painted, and plugged with putty.

Do This, Not That

don’t do what I did, do this instead. If you are older than the internet, you have deadwood growing, clear those impressions of what a camera can do, and go for what a camera made since Y2K can provide you.

why do I like that – because the print lives beyond the taking, the image outexists the subject. The after can be seen more times, in more impressions than the before the camera.

It is more than light — it is silver, it is ink

Plotting Fame

Posted on Posted in adverts, artgame

Jeff Wall decided his work as a means to fame, much as Will Smith tells of working with his agent, in order to estimate the easiest, fastest way to certain financial success in movies, Wall decided to make images that would be well received as Artwork.
They both were correct, given the evidence of their success. The way of success in a property market is to open new property. Then put up signs; even better, have someone else put up the signs.

Estimating Needs

Posted on Posted in Getting Stuff, The Other

your eyes point forward for a reason

How much emulsion should you store? How much film should you stock? Paper?
When I began, this was one of those business questions- economic order quantity. Now, it is a question about ending product lines. In 1970, we could impulse pickup film, or buy in bulk. Sheet film came in 50 or 500 sheet boxes, in addition to small 10 sheet sizes. Kodalith, Reprolith, etc came in 40 inch wide rolls. Dupont, Itek, Agfa made custom runs for some labs.
Currently, I shoot less film than just 5 years ago. And there are fewer choices, and rasons to use film. My method of determining film buys is to emphasize film from Ilford over Kodak. This is for black & white. 3 years ago I bought Kodak and stored it. I am working that down, and have no plan to buy anymore Kodak film.

The Answer I Had

How much film did you shoot last year? The year before? Are you increasing your shooting?
If yes, then buy at least as much as those 2 years added together
If no, then buy only the lower amount of those 2 years.

How much film could a film shop shoot if a film shop shot film

Old School Ordering

PranksterNotes 7661

Note line 5 (delivery delay), this is the uncertainty in this day. Film is now subject to great fluctuations in supply, with increasing risk of persistent supply.

Kodak Goes Special Order

The large format folks can’t even gather a consistent $15,000 per year group purchase. The first special order took 15 months to be put together. I used to spend more than that as my yearly purchases. I spent $5k on my last Kodak order — only 120 and 220 rolls.

if a film you use is being discontinued, and its loss ends your shooting, sell the car, hock the silver; otherwise, save the box and move on.

Operational Advice

order what you can store, and assume it is the last film you will use