‘Digital Monochrome’ has been around for a good three or four years now. Maybe I should switch to it.
I enjoy the experience of using film – the 35 minute train journey downtown to Rajubhai’s shop where I purchase the film and then a rickshaw ride to Bandra to get the film processed after I have exposed them. And then the scanning – at home on my EPSON V600. I’m not so sure about 35-millimeter film anymore. Firstly, it isn’t easily available. Fuji Neopan is the only film easy to find but something seems to be wrong with it. Maybe they don’t store it right. And secondly, scanning is a pain. The dust, spots and scratches are difficult to negotiate. I still enjoy medium format 6×6 photography (120-millimeter film on my Yashica Mat). And medium format negatives are a lot easier to scan. I shot this photo at a Kathakali performance at Fort Cochin in the last week of March. I didn’t particularly enjoy scanning it. So I’ll put my Canon AE-1P away for the moment. Perhaps.
FIN
The world of travel photography 
You are so so so talented 🙂
Thanks, Dew.
very striking photo. I was lamenting the demise of 35MM the other day. With digital photos, it always feels like a bit production to edit and then upload them. I miss the days of going to drop off and pick up film – sooooooo much easier. And if I could do it on a rickshaw it would be all the more awesome. (have you seen the Seinfeld episode with Kramer and the rickshaw? A classic.)
And yes, beach over mountains. Hands down!
Thanks, carma. I think the *digital* way is a lot easier than film simply because it gives you that much more control over your photos after you’ve shot them.
And yes, I have seen the episode, but I didn’t mean that kind of rickshaw. I meant the auto-rickshaw 🙂
I’ve loved looking through your site – some great images – my favourite so far is the one of the kids on Juhu beach.
Thanks, lulu.
It´s a beautiful picture!
Thanks, Donut Girl.
Efficiency eventually wriggles its way in to the artistic process. Meanwhile you could flog this particular photo to publishers of theatre studies textbooks. Great shot.
Thanks, Mitzi. I’ll keep that in mind.
Pure art! Nice shot…I could possibly 🙂
Thanks, Tyra.
You have such an artistic flair the way you choose your subjects & your shots. I love looking through them all. I am going to ad you to my blog links page.
Greetings from Tasmania
Thanks, Tony. Thanks very much.
Wow! I am really enjoying all your photos, but you really seem to have an amazing talent with portraits/people! It is not easy to capture those hidden moments. Sometimes a subject may be looking straight into the lens, but the picture still isn’t ‘alive’. Not so here. I am in awe of the way you ‘capture’ people! Striking work…and I am now subscribed so I can see more! 🙂
Thanks, Heather.
Awesome photos and blog. I like monochrome.
Thank you for coming by.
Thanks, Regina.
Thank you for this insight into your world far removed from mine!I am blessed in that my film supplies are 5 minutes car ride from my home.You are passionate about your art of photography.
Thank you for stopping by my blog.
Thanks, naturegirl.
what a great picture that is. You have captured the moment, and it tells such a great story.
Thanks, Cityhippyfarmgirl.
Beautiful photograph! But as someone who just enjoys capturing any and everything of interest I prefer digital cameras… the best part is the limitless capacity, without worrying about the roll finishing… though sometimes it’s a pain to choose what to keep and what to delete.
The tonality that one can achieve by using film is hard to reproduce digitally. For example, the tones and texture of this photo would have been far poorer had I shot it with a digital camera.
Thanks, Indian Homemaker.
simply excellent
Thanks, elaine.
lovely intimate feeling here. the middle figure is so interesting with the white on his face that it took me awhile to notice the first figure on the left corner – that’s a nice surprise.
Thanks, michele.
It took me a while to make the switch to digital but now I prefer it. I can shoot forever and print just my favorite. I just sold my Yashica Mat on eBay this past fall.
Thanks you for stopping by my blog and leaving your comment! So nice perusing many of your posts!
Kindly, ldh
Well, I don’t think that I’ll actually sell my digital camera on ebay, but given a choice (and money), I’d shoot only film.
Thanks, ldh.
Dear you, i love your site and all those beautiful monochrome. I’ll be back for sure. Thanks a lot for your visit !!
Thanks, Aurore.
Hi, thanks for visiting my blog… and wow, knowing you do photos at the old way is fascinating. I use to have my own black and white lab many years ago, my god, lots and lots of work plus the intoxication from the quimics, but it was so fun… many many hours to get few pictures. Today just usisn a pocket digital camera, and things go more or less well.
Congrats for your so beautiful pictures… and living in India must be great!!!!
Cariños,
Maria Cecilia
Thanks, Maria Cecilia.
Hey! Aniruddha here…..we met a @ Bassien if you remember.
I just got my hands on a Pentax K1000 film camera. It isn’t exactly in working condition. Would you be able to direct me as to where I can get it serviced from in Mumbai?
I’ll email you.
And I have a similar problem, my Dad’s Olympus OM10 was neglected a lot, now the lens has a weird purple discoloration. I don’t even know if it’s salvageable, but could you please please email me too? Thanks.
Thanks, Magali!
More later.
Superb! Great Shot
Thanks, VigneshTg.
Your photos are so beauitful, & you’re so knowledgeable about film photogrphy. I have just got interested in toy photography, & I even bought a SuperHeadz Golden Half. I’m still on the first film roll. I know absolutely nothing about Medium Format, though I’ve just heard of it. Is it even available in Mumbai? 😦
Who are you, and why are you so awesome? Do you take film photography classes? 🙂 If I really knew you (in real life) I would have asked you a ton of questions by now.
Well, as far as medium format film cameras go, they’re only available second hand (in Mumbai i.e.). And the film is hard to find.
It´s so sad that 35 mm film photography is about to dye!! 30 years ago I used to have my black and white lab at home, it was lots and lots of work but sooooo fun and beautiful!!!!
greetings from Chile,
maria cecilia
Chile? WOW! I’d like to visit Chile someday!
Few use film today. A lot of film is available in Amsterdam though.
Thanks, maria!