Whole Roll Film Challenge?

[sirch]

This is entirely the fault of @MrDrizz because over in another thread he posted this

View: https://youtu.be/7gkAkb8RNF8



And I really like the concept of shooting a story on a single roll and making every frame count as part of the story, feels like a real challenge, both technically in terms of getting every frame reasonably exposed and in making them all count towards a story.

So is anyone else up for this? If so we can agree a timescale and some guidelines and then start regretting that we ever got involved in something like this in the first place

Go on, it'll be fun ... and no, a single large format sheet doesn't count as a roll!

 

[srichards]

I'd need a 3 image roll to make that work with my attention span

 

[MrDrizz]

I'm in.
I'd say it's your choice of frames used. You can even use a half frame camera if you feel the story needs it.

What if we mess up a frame, does that break the story.

 

[Harlequin565]

I'd need a 3 image roll to make that work with my attention span

6x17 almost has you covered. Pinched my idea too

Edit - I'm in.

 

[richardhall]

I'd like to say I'm in. But I haven't got the faintest clue what I'd do!

 

[MrDrizz]

I'd like to say I'm in. But I haven't got the faintest clue what I'd do!

Me either TBH

 

[Harlequin565]

I'd like to say I'm in. But I haven't got the faintest clue what I'd do!

Same

 

[Harlequin565]

Actually, thinking about it, it would be easier with film because you're "fixed" with a certain aesthetic. Pick a roll of film like Infrared, Any of the Washi range, Crossbird, Lomo purple etc and you're going to get a "look" that might help narrow down how you tackle it. I think doing some research on the Film February videos would also be good. Old Camera Guy and Madison Beach are always worth a watch too (IMO of course!)

 

[sirch]

I'm in.
I'd say it's your choice of frames used. You can even use a half frame camera if you feel the story needs it.

What if we mess up a frame, does that break the story.

I've been pondering this all day, I'm inclined to think that we say any format that gives 8 frames or more, it is a single roll challenge but you can obviously start a new roll if there are issues but you can't use shots off more than one roll. At the outset we say what format and number of frames, we produce a contact sheet of all frames off the roll but are allowed to "curate" (ooo, get me with the trendy words) a final set that make up a story which might not be every frame. I see it as a personal challenge, we might have poll for a "winner" but it would be more about having fun and learning from it. I think comment and crit of the final submissions would be more meaningful than a poll.

Edit - I'm in.

Great

I'd like to say I'm in. But I haven't got the faintest clue what I'd do!

I have no idea either but we can run it over the summer to allow ideas to develop. BTW, Hotel California rules apply so you are in

 

[Asha]

. and no, a single large format sheet doesn't count as a roll!

seeing as the surface area of one sheet of 5x4 plus one sheet of 5x7 ( 13x18cm for me ) more than covers that of 36 frames of 35mm,
I réserve the right to make a story with two exposures. One for the beginning and one for the ending.
If unacceptable, I ain’t playing

 

[sirch]

seeing as the surface area of one sheet of 5x4 plus one sheet of 5x7 ( 13x18cm for me ) more than covers that of 36 frames of 35mm,
I réserve the right to make a story with two exposures. One for the beginning and one for the ending.
If unacceptable, I ain’t playing

I think you should make a mask to put in the 4x5 dark slide so that you only expose 1/4 of the sheet at a time and then make 4 exposures on one sheet and 4 on another giving you 8 frames, you are in!

 

[Asha]

I think you should make a mask to put in the 4x5 dark slide so that you only expose 1/4 of the sheet at a time and then make 4 exposures on one sheet and 4 on another giving you 8 frames, you are in!

sounds like a plan except for the losing track of which corner of each sheet has been exposed

As if I don’t have enough projects on the go

 

[lindsay]

I think you (@Asha ) should take a series of 5x4's and print them as a set onto one sheet of paper using your new huge contraption (oooh err Mrs)

 

[MrDrizz]

seeing as the surface area of one sheet of 5x4 plus one sheet of 5x7 ( 13x18cm for me ) more than covers that of 36 frames of 35mm,
I réserve the right to make a story with two exposures. One for the beginning and one for the ending.
If unacceptable, I ain’t playing

But every story has a beginning, middle and end

 

[Asha]

But every story has a beginning, middle and end

My middle area for essays at school were often blank.
Well the teacher suggested that I put to paper whatever came into my head...... so I did!

 

[ancient_mariner]

I think you (@Asha ) should take a series of 5x4's and print them as a set onto one sheet of paper using your new huge contraption (oooh err Mrs)

Where is Sid James when you need him?



I really like this idea, but I'm by no means sure about managing to complete (or even start) a story.

 

[sirch]

I really like this idea, but I'm by no means sure about managing to complete (or even start) a story.

Go for it, it would be great to have you join in. I don't think it needs to be a "complex" story, certainly mine won't be, a boat progressing though some lock gates was one idea I had, something with lego mini figures, a game of cricket, etc. I was thinking about creating a story-board for some ideas just to see what works in 12 or 16 shots. When I say story-board, I can't draw so it would just be a list of "frame 1: picture of..., frame 2: something moves, frame:3 etc."

Besides, you are in now, Hotel California rules

 

[sirch]

I think you (@Asha ) should take a series of 5x4's and print them as a set onto one sheet of paper using your new huge contraption (oooh err Mrs)

I take you are joining us too Lindsay, welcome aboard

 

[Harlequin565]

Right. I have just ordered a couple of rolls of film I've never used before. Birthday treat to me

I am ready to go, and with Chris opting in half of the TP community just for appearing, I think we have lots of folks interested!

What happens next?

 

[MrDrizz]

I'm really tempted to try reversal B&W for this.

 

[MrDrizz]

Now then here's a question. Let's say you choose to shoot a 36 roll do you have to use up all 36 frames? What if your story only takes 18?

 

[sirch]

What happens next?

If people are happy with what I outlined above (minimum 8 frames on one roll, contact sheet of all frames from the chosen roll and a final story board of most frames from that roll) then I guess we just need to decide on dates, how long do folk want, 1 month, 2months?

Now then here's a question. Let's say you choose to shoot a 36 roll do you have to use up all 36 frames? What if your story only takes 18?

Buy a 24 shot roll? Get a Hasselblad XPan? Ultimately it's up to you, I'll be aiming to do a whole roll but then I have the option of 8, 12 and 16 (and 24 and 36 but I won't be doing those). I think the whole roll contact print rule applies whatever. If you do your story in 18 we want to see contact sheet of 36 and a finished piece with the 18 or whatever.

 

[Asha]

how long do folk want, 1 month, 2months?

12 months??!!

 

[Harlequin565]

IDC about timings. A couple of months would probably be good as a minimum.

I'd try to keep the whole roll to the story (personally) but not bothered how others want to approach it. I do contact sheets of all my rolls anyway so it will be interesting to me to try and shoot something cohesive. Looking at some more of the Film Feb videos, quite a few people just shot random stuff. I think it will be interesting to see where it leads.

 

[PeterSpencer]

I have an alternative idea that maybe we could have a storyboard challenge, perhaps with a minimum number of shots 5 say, like a cartoon strip, with a bit of drama, you never know. I know that taking a whole roll of film of one subect could be tricky, this avoids the problem. So, if you are talking about narrative, a story board would be an interesting idea, completely visual, but with captions to define the image sequence? Lots of drama to be had. I think a couple of months is probably a good idea for the challenge. We could publish a book afterwards? I would like to work on that. Tongue in cheek of course.

 

[lindsay]

@sirch i think I just got suckered in! Oh well, why not. I’ll be aiming to shoot a roll of 120 on the Bronica or my latest gas confession that I haven’t received yet, if it’s as good as it looked, a Pentax 645

 

[MrDrizz]

I have an alternative idea that maybe we could have a storyboard challenge, perhaps with a minimum number of shots 5 say, like a cartoon strip, with a bit of drama, you never know. I know that taking a whole roll of film of one subect could be tricky, this avoids the problem. So, if you are talking about narrative, a story board would be an interesting idea, completely visual, but with captions to define the image sequence? Lots of drama to be had. I think a couple of months is probably a good idea for the challenge. We could publish a book afterwards? I would like to work on that. Tongue in cheek of course.

Now I like that idea too, maybe not as much a challenge as get all the pictures on a single roll. Still a challenge in its own right.

 

[MrDrizz]

As for time scale. Aim for Xmas 2022?

 

[sirch]

I have an alternative idea that maybe we could have a storyboard challenge, perhaps with a minimum number of shots 5 say, like a cartoon strip, with a bit of drama, you never know. I know that taking a whole roll of film of one subect could be tricky, this avoids the problem. So, if you are talking about narrative, a story board would be an interesting idea, completely visual, but with captions to define the image sequence? Lots of drama to be had. I think a couple of months is probably a good idea for the challenge. We could publish a book afterwards? I would like to work on that. Tongue in cheek of course.

You are more than welcome to start a thread for that challenge, mean time this is the whole roll film challenge, as Kennedy said "We do these things not because they are easy but because they are hard" . Also there is already a twice yearly Zine swap thread so a booklet/storyboard might fit nicely into that.

 

[sirch]

As for time scale. Aim for Xmas 2022?

The lack of a smiley makes me wonder if 2022 is a typo and you meant December 2021?

I'm thinking first week in August as a target date, which is pretty much 3 months. Obviously it is more of a personal challenge so people can take as long as they like but it will have more of a sense of community if we have a shortish timescale and mostly aim to get something published around the same time.

 

[MrDrizz]

No no, 2022 wasn't a typo

I'll have to pick a camera to use as it'll be tied up for the foreseeable

 

[sirch]

OK, here's what I am going to do, obviously its a personal challenge so people can do their own thing.

1. Shoot a semi-coherent story on a single roll of film, for me that will be 12 no. 6x6 frames
2. In August, if not before, create a thread in the Personal Projects sub-forum with a contact sheet of all frames and the frames that make up the story
3. Probably print it as a zine just for myself

I'll probably use this thread as for discussion and updates on progress, or lack there of.

 

[Harlequin565]

Sounds good. I have some redscale coming from AW which I'm going to shoot this with. I'll be after hard sunny days for the project I have in mind so whilst August is a good deadline, I'd rather finish when it's finished than force it through. I honestly think it'll be fine though.

And yes - it might make a good zine, although as it'll be a one off just for me - I may well book-it. Esp if I ordered a 35mm roll and have 36 exposures to find...

 

[sirch]

So here's a question, should the shots on the roll be in story order or is it OK to shoot things opportunistically and then rearrange the photos into the correct order for the story?

 

[Harlequin565]

So here's a question, should the shots on the roll be in story order or is it OK to shoot things opportunistically and then rearrange the photos into the correct order for the story?

I'm of a mind to let people do what they want.

 

[sirch]

I'm of a mind to let people do what they want.

Well yes, I see it as a personal challenge. I suppose the question could be reframed in terms of how purist we are trying to be or should be. Again, individual choice but I think trying to get the story in the right order is probably quite a tough ask but it seems more "pure" to do it that way. However I can see a lovely sense of serendipity from assembling a story from a collection of photos which were not shot with a deliberate predefined story. It's all valid, it's probably just me overthinking it.

 

[Harlequin565]

One of the best things about the zine exchange is allowing people to do what the hell they want. It results in this huge wide array of ideas that ultimately inspires me. I guess that was the selfish thinking behind the zine exchange and is a reason why I'm keen to keep it completely open.

However you've taken the time to set this challenge, and thus you get to set the rules. I wasn't going to go for a story approach, I was going to go for more of a theme. Main reason being that a story on a roll of film will require me to either shoot it all in one go, or remember what I've done and where I'm up to. Both of these, I'm bad at.

it's probably just me overthinking it.

You're not alone in this....

 

[lindsay]

Crikey you two.
FWIW I see the Zine as being on a theme, whilst the On a Roll challenge is more of a story; but arguably both could be either, or either both, and could be fork handles or four candles. OK I'm losing the plot again.

As the proponents of each challenge, set your preferred rules. I've no doubt a shoehorn might appear regardless...

 

[sirch]

I'm not really big on rules, as I said its a personal challenge so people can do whatever they want.

 

[sirch]

Well ... plan A has been scuppered. I had a bit of time this morning so I went over to the local corn mill to start the roll only to find that it is closed. I thought it would be open by now under the vagaries of the Covid rules but it seems not.

Going to have to think up something else ...