San Francisco on film
These are just a few recent frames from a site visit out in San Francisco where I told myself I was just going to “check things out” and not need a camera, but I’m really glad I did decide to bring one of my film cameras along. I traversed so many different pockets of the city in just a single day. I forgot how it is to walk around, find those little pockets of light and shadow. I think I did almost 9K steps that day (nothing compares to this one time I had a gig at SFO and in just three hours did over 10,000 steps!).
Even when I’m on a site visit and technically working, I’m still just responding to what feels good visually. I think that’s why film continues to shape the way I photograph everything else. It forces you to be patient. It brings back that feeling of anticipation. And when the scans arrive, it really does feel like opening a wonderful little gift.
We live in a world of instant gratification. Digital is fast and immediate. Film asks you to wait. You don’t get to check the back of the camera and see if you nailed it the way you envisioned. You just have to trust your eye, your skill, and your camera’s light meter lol.
Still, I won’t pretend I don’t appreciate that my version of waiting involves a (very) short drive (ok really, I should walk) and not a trip to the post office. I honestly think if it wasn’t for having a local film lab less than a mile from me, I wouldn’t shoot film as consistently as I do. It’s not about cost, because it’s still pretty expensive, it’s just about ease. I don’t have to package rolls up and mail them off and worry if they won’t make it there or back to me in time or intact.
At Underdog Film Lab, I can easily stock up on film, drop off rolls in person, and know they’re in good hands. There’s something about physically handing it over that gives me a real sense of security. And the turnaround for scans and prints means film can stay part of my rhythm without it feeling complicated.
San Francisco Bay area film photographer
Film stock: Portra 400
Developed and scanned by Underdog Film Lab
