Alright, folks, gather around. I wanna talk to you about something that’s been tickling my fancy lately – Fomapan black and white film. Yeah, you heard that right. In a world obsessed with megapixels and filters, I went old school.
So, first thing’s first, I got my hands on a roll of this Fomapan film. They’ve got a few kinds, you know, like the 100, the 200, and the 400. The numbers, they tell you about the film’s sensitivity to light – higher number means it’s more sensitive, which is cool for when it’s not super bright out. I started with the Fomapan 100. I mean, it is said that Fomapan 100 is the most friendly. I thought, why not start with something that is good for beginners and the price is not expensive at all?
I loaded it into my trusty old camera. It’s a bit of a ritual, you know? Making sure the film catches on the sprockets, winding it just right. There’s something satisfying about the whole mechanical process. And let me tell you, this Fomapan film, it’s known for being a bit more, shall we say, “classic” in its look. I loaded the Fomapan 400 after I used the 100. It is said that Fomapan 400 has high grain, so I was looking forward to see the result.
- Choosing My Subjects
With the film in, I started wandering around, looking for things to shoot. Now, black and white, it’s a whole different ball game. You start seeing the world in shades of gray, thinking about light and shadow, texture and form. I snapped some shots of old buildings, a bit of street photography, and even some portraits of friends who were patient enough to sit still for me. Also, I took pictures of my cute puppy. He was very active but I still captured some good photos.
- Developing the Film
After I finished the roll, came the exciting part – developing. I’m not gonna lie, I was a bit nervous. It’s not like digital where you can just hit delete and try again. But I’d done my homework, read up on the process, and I felt ready. It took some time to search for the developing time for Fomapan 400. Mixed up the chemicals, got the timing right, and went for it. There’s this magical moment when you pull the film out of the tank and see the negatives for the first time. I succeeded at the first time! I was so happy. For the developing chemical, I used D-76. I’m not quite sure about other chemicals because I could only get my hands on D-76. I think I also saw HC-110 but it was a little expensive for me.
- The Results
And the results? Pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. The Fomapan film, it’s got this grainy, moody quality that I just love. It’s not about being super sharp or perfect; it’s about capturing a feeling, a vibe. And I found that the 400 one was really grainy. The photos I took, they had this timeless look to them. It’s like they could’ve been taken yesterday or a hundred years ago.
Sharing My Work
I scanned some of the negatives, did a little bit of tweaking in editing software – just minor stuff, you know, adjusting the contrast a bit, cropping here and there. And then I shared them online. I know it is not allowed to post the link, so you can search for my blog. It was cool to see people’s reactions, especially those who weren’t used to seeing film photos. It sparked some interesting conversations, that’s for sure.
So, that’s my Fomapan adventure. It’s been a fun ride, getting back to basics, slowing down, and really thinking about each shot. If you’re looking for a way to shake things up with your photography, maybe give black and white film a try. And if you do, Fomapan’s a great place to start. It’s affordable, it’s got character, and it’ll definitely make you look at the world in a whole new way.
Stay tuned, folks, ’cause I’ve got more film adventures coming up. And who knows, maybe I’ll even try my hand at some color film next. The possibilities are endless!
