I've never shot with film before?

Question

I've always shot with digital but i want to learn how to shoot with film. Last year in my sophomore year i took my first photography class that was all digital. I was shooting with a Nikon D40. I recently was given a Canon EOS Rebel G, it was my mom's old camera. I want to learn how to shoot with film. It just seems so hard for me since i'm used to doing everything digitally, for example if i take a picture i can look at it and see if i like it or not and retake it or whatever. And how do i know how to set the right shutter speed and aperture? Because with a digital camera i can take one and see if its good and set it right. How do i get used to shooting with film?

And btw take a look at some of my pictures: http://flickr.com/photos/24141813@N03/

Thanks.

Answer 1

- How do i get used to shooting with film?

The same way you would get used to riding a horse to the next city for food and clothing. You just do it...!! And remember.. what you did..!

Now a days it seems no one wants to actually - learn - something. All want instant gratification and the answers given to them. Shooting film IS different than digital as a horse is to a car. Both do most of what they were set up for but in way different ways.

To under stand film, you have to burn up a LOT of it, remembering what you did for many of your shots and shoot some more. And some more.. There ARE no short cuts here. You learn - by doing..!

As you look thru the film cameras view finder you HAVE to look at everything. Corner to corner, side to side and top to bottom. And often you have to do this quickly as you are taking the pic. Luckily, your camera is as auto as they can be so you don't have to worry about focus, shutter speeds or f/stops.

Long time ago a traveler once asked someone - How do I get to Carnage Hall..?? The person said - Practice. Practice. Practice...

BTW - by the looks of "your" photos, I'm not really sure WHY your asking what you are here...!

Bob - Tucson

Answer 2

No pro but must agree w/ assailors.

With film you get one chance at a time.

You have to learn the effects of choosing shutter speed  ,lens opening & playing w/ depth of field .

Good composition is basic to any photography but w/ film it is more deliberate.

As mentioned shoot a lot of film & experiment....practice, practice , etc

Try black & white film & learn to use filters if the camera will let you.

Not a serious photographer by a long shot  but SLR's were just coming out , autofocus was unheard of , some internal metering, but you still had to do adjust by hand.

Got my first autofocus SLR just before digitals came out & still miss the old way. ....hand held lightmeter & all.

Learning the basics will also help you use all the features of "modern "cameras.

I think it will give you a real edge over the electronic "image grabbers."

Best regards

Answer 3

ok,    being able to look @  a picture as soon as you take it is great, but using a regular camera, you have to LEARN settings... you have to know your Fstops, and what shutter speed is best in whatever kind of light...   and since the camera  wont keep track of that for u, your  going to have to experiment, get some film {the cheap stuff from walmart is just fine for this} and go out and practice...   on each shot, write down your settings {fstop, shutterspeed }and then get them developed....

im surprised they didnt teach you this in your first class?!?!