Film scanners and the removal of crude oil from sand near a body of water

[AlabamaLibrul]

I always liked film more. There's something about being in the flow of the moment, eye to viewfinder, actively taking photos as opposed to using menus and screens to check every decision and review every photo, slowing down the creative process.

"Back when I worked in a darkroom, I used to come home smelling like fixer. Smelling like pixels isn't nearly as fun." I forget who said (something like) that, but I'm totally butchering it. Film gives you something to do with your hands. It's a good excuse to put off smoking for another hour or so - or a test of your dexterity. It's kind of an exercise in finesse and dexterity even if you're not holding a cigarette in one hand.


If you tried to do that now, the anti-smoking people would be all over you about it. That's just how I'm used to handling film - and it's my damn business.

It's fun to make something! Film has all these cool characteristics that keep you coming back - reciprocity failure and specific tonalities and how it reacts if you give it double the agitation for 9 minutes instead of regular agitation for 8.

I'm still trying to figure out how to use a film scanner, especially cleaning and scratch removal, but I like it enough to say I'm keeping it (for $40, why not). Canoscan 8400f.

I just kinda... hung out with the cleanup people a while back. Couple months ago, probably. We talked a little bit, the supervisors gave me shit over it, and the guys just told them to back off about it. Nice folks - they didn't cause the disaster after all. Kinda surreal knowing that you're on your knees in the sand, working the camera to get just the right angle, and here you are essentially rolling around in toxic waste.

You only live once.