I'm sending three of my friends a camera and a loaded roll of film

[moggi1964]

So I was a little inebriated last night and decided that three of my colleagues (and friends) needed a bit of early Christmas cheer. So we keep in touch via WhatsApp right now and were in the middle of a chat when I said I was sending each of them a film camera with a roll of film inside. I told them they have one month to shoot the film and get the camera and film back to me; I'll pay for developing then scan the images and share them amongst the group.

The level of excitement almost woke a lightly sleeping person In fact, everyone suddenly had something else they urgently needed to do. But I shall not be put off.

So,

• One of them gets the Lomography Diana F with a roll of 120 Lomography 400 colour film. Minolta 7000 with Fomapan 200 B&W
• 
  
• One of them gets the Canon SureShot Telemax with a roll of Kentmere 100 B&W
• 
  
• One of them gets a Hanimex 35 AFX with a roll of Kentmere 100 B&W.

Sure, they aren't Leica's but they'll be easy to use and they should have some fun. The Diana F is going to someone who takes some nice digital pictures so should be able to work out the way to use it. They all get a handbook that came with the camera.

At the end of the day, they may end up with some Christmas memories they weren't expecting to capture. That'll be worth it.

So I would encourage you to see if this is something you can do (I know we don't all have spare camera's or at least ones we would send to non-photographers) or if not maybe send your friends a postcard with one of your images on it and write about it on the back.

 

[Stegosaurus]

What a superb idea! I do hope you'll get some interesting images.

 

[moggi1964]

What a superb idea! I do hope you'll get some interesting images.

I have warned them that I intend to share any overtly sexual images on Instagram with their name attached.

Knowing my mates that'll mean 48 exposures of, well EXPOSURE I expect The lady among them has much more decorum!

It'll be fun and I think I will get some fun images from them. Hopefully at least one or two they can cherish themselves. I'll run a few prints if there is anything I think they may want to keep.

I have had to ditch the Diana F as the film numbers would not show through the red plastic. I'm putting in my Minolta 7000 in its place. It's quite sensitive to trigger the shutter so I may get a roll of 36 for that one to cover off all the leg and lens cap shots.

 

[Harlequin565]

What a superb idea! I do hope you'll get some interesting images.

I agree. You can't really send someone a digital camera for a thing like this. Film is so very different. You should make a zine with the combined images and send them back.

I'm sorely tempted to do the same. Although I shall buy some el-cheapo point & shoots from eBay and they can have short rolls of HP5. No way anyone is getting their hands on my camera(s)!

 

[moggi1964]

Just a quick update: I have set a deadline now of the end of January 2021 for them to finish their rolls of film. I know one of them has found it challenging, I think there is a worry about the pictures not turning out but I think I have put that doubt aside.

So I'll report back when there's something more to share.