Frugal Film Project

April 5, 2019

The FRUGAL FILM PROJECT

Ah, just what I need, another project to change up my focus. Once again, on the spring Equinox, I decided I was going to start another #365 digital project, taking a pic a day for a year, using any medium I'd want, posting some to Instagram, but backing up all photos to a public google photos folder. 

Spring is a very easy time to take pictures; flowers are blooming, multiple events and goings-ons a happening, and longer days--I feel the hardest time to get any type of motivation is winter--If I take or see too much gray, I get a little blue, even in 'sunny Florida' so to speak :) 

So just as I'm starting to wonder what to photo next, a challenge shows up in my feed: The Frugal Film Project, started by Sherry Christiansen @ruralrouteonefilm (IG).   The project is simple; shoot a roll of the same type film, in the same camera for 12 months. You can choose 6 photos from the roll to have displayed on the frugalfilmproject blog. Unfortunately I was a little late to the party, but Sherry was able to get a dozen photographers from around the globe to partake in the event; one that is also offered to late-comers like me on Instagram, so; since I'm not an 'official photo-er' on the website, it'll be a fun side project, and I can incorporate some of these photos into the 365 project that I continue to do.  

Oh yeah, there is a catch--you can't spend more than $50 on the project--total!  

Since this sounded like fun, and since I have about 20 film cameras from which to choose, I had a decision to make.  I eventually decided on the film camera that got me back into photography four years ago. Dad's Fujica ST705W,

which was originally given to my daughter as a present when she got into Polaroid cameras (and never even used). The camera feels great, was easy to replace the battery for a spot on (no pun intended) meter, and some different m42 mount lenses to use from other cameras, like my Spotmatic 50mm f1.4, my Chinon 28mm F2.8; and a 135mm cheap-o unknown lens.  

I decided to use Ultrafine Extreme 100 Black and White for this project too, since I have a large amount of bulk roll film to use. I'll also process all the photos myself using Kodak D76 developer and Kodak Fixer with an Ilford top bath.  My month will start as of April 1, and my pics should be done by the end of the month and will post to IG with hashtag #frugalfilmproject over the course of the month to my IG @wr_35mm_ account.