What a refreshing video! Reminds me of one of my epic failures...there was this absolutely beautiful waterfall that I wanted to capture on 8x10. I had to climb down to the stream, cross it (because the best viewpoint was, naturally, on the OTHER side!), hike up-stream, then scramble along a very slippery rock outcrop (at about a 35 degree angle.) Remember...I'm doing all this with 8x10! Once I got everything setup, composed my shot, set focus, etc, etc, I inserted a film holder and took my shot; or, so I thought. I didn't realize that after 20 years of LF photography I listened for the audible click of the shutter. Well, the waterfall was so loud that no one could have heard that click! And, guess what, I never clicked the shutter and the film was blank! Luckily, I've only ever made that mistake one time!! ;)
I think failing is one of the most important things we can do, keeps us humble, reminds us we're not perfect, makes you strive for better. Plus when you do succeed the feeling means so much more. Great to see you back man and looking forward to more soon.
Last night I developed five 5x7 B&W shots I took in Monument Valley last Feb. When I poured the Rodinal into the water (before it went in the tank) I thought “huh, that’s pretty dark”. Well, what I got after an hour of stand development was the thinest negatives you could possible imagine. I doubt I’ll be able to get any kind of scan or print out of them. I’m Canadian and will likely go back, but it’s not my first mistake when going to Utah with large format gear.
I love the concept and delivery of this video. I am new to photography and expect to fail often before I learn a few things. But in the scheme of life in general, failure is super important. We learn from failure.
Thank you for a great video. I fail constantly with my photography. It makes winning all the more special. Isn't that the fun in it? Relax...try...and try again.
Thanks for this inspirational video Erik! A thought that came to my mind because of the looks of Cydney and the time lapse footage: I think you could do a real nice series with her with the looks of a pre-code movie.
You succeeded in making perhaps one of the most important videos about art making I've seen in a long time. The world is filled with images of perfection that don't reflect reality. Art is hard. Life is hard. Shit happens.
You know what - this IS a good idea for a video, in fact - a really good idea. It's really refreshing for someone to speak up about failures considering how often they tend to occure when shooting film vs digital - the medium is bond for occational failure due to its techical limitations. To share an experience: I once went on a trip abroad and brought like five different film cameras, 35mm and 120mm, but forgot to bring an empty 120-roll to load the film on to. Totally messed up my grandios plans for that trip. Anyways, thank you for this fresh take on film photography - nice vid!
I think its a great topic and needs to be covered/talked about more often both on social media and in real life. All the best on new adventures and move to NC.
It's a bummer we never got a chance to meet up before you moved away. Anyway, there is nothing more disappointing in buying the film, shooting the roll, paying for development, taking the time to scan them, and realizing there is nothing to show. It ends upo being a waste of time and money. But through those kinds of failures, I tweak the process to make the next time better. I discovered I really don't like Ilford Delta films. The grain is messy and the contrast is flat. Next time I tried shooting Kodak T-Max and liked that much better. Then I tried pushing it and fell in love. I sold the rest of my Ilford stock as a result. As long as I can somehow extract a positive and learn from my failures, it softens the blow just a little
Great video! Laura Kampf a CZcams maker from Germany did a similar video a while back and started a theme going where other makers shared their failures. Currently I am failing on a jewellery project I thought would be easy.
I failed 30 minutes ago! I poured the fixer instead of the developer! But as I was poured it in I realized and quickly drained the tank! Quickly I poured developer and agitated, and kept going as normal. Still waiting to see results.
Great video. It is interesting that when you went looking for the waterfalls but didn't shoot anything as the water levels were too low. I thought there would have been a lot of opportunity to shot the autumn leaves in the background. Maybe that is something all of us should consider is that to have some form of contingency is plans don't come off.
Most of the leaves were gone. I considered hiking up Indian Head, but I would have been losing light like crazy all the way down, and I didn't feel like getting lost in the mountains at night. (I've done it before and it sucks.)
What a refreshing video! Reminds me of one of my epic failures...there was this absolutely beautiful waterfall that I wanted to capture on 8x10. I had to climb down to the stream, cross it (because the best viewpoint was, naturally, on the OTHER side!), hike up-stream, then scramble along a very slippery rock outcrop (at about a 35 degree angle.) Remember...I'm doing all this with 8x10! Once I got everything setup, composed my shot, set focus, etc, etc, I inserted a film holder and took my shot; or, so I thought. I didn't realize that after 20 years of LF photography I listened for the audible click of the shutter. Well, the waterfall was so loud that no one could have heard that click! And, guess what, I never clicked the shutter and the film was blank! Luckily, I've only ever made that mistake one time!! ;)
"Nothing even remotely salvageable."
*shows pictures that would easily be a highlight in my portfolio.*
Imma go cry now.
CZcams might conceal the motion blur a little bit. If you saw them in Photoshop, you'd see.
@@ErikWahlstromPhoto Fair enough.
I think failing is one of the most important things we can do, keeps us humble, reminds us we're not perfect, makes you strive for better. Plus when you do succeed the feeling means so much more. Great to see you back man and looking forward to more soon.
Last night I developed five 5x7 B&W shots I took in Monument Valley last Feb. When I poured the Rodinal into the water (before it went in the tank) I thought “huh, that’s pretty dark”. Well, what I got after an hour of stand development was the thinest negatives you could possible imagine. I doubt I’ll be able to get any kind of scan or print out of them. I’m Canadian and will likely go back, but it’s not my first mistake when going to Utah with large format gear.
Like you I love my retro cameras. Keep the channel up.
I love the concept and delivery of this video. I am new to photography and expect to fail often before I learn a few things. But in the scheme of life in general, failure is super important. We learn from failure.
Thank you for a great video. I fail constantly with my photography. It makes winning all the more special. Isn't that the fun in it? Relax...try...and try again.
Did't expect this kind of come back, but welcome back! Glad to see you on the homepage again!
Thanks, man.
Thanks for this inspirational video Erik! A thought that came to my mind because of the looks of Cydney and the time lapse footage: I think you could do a real nice series with her with the looks of a pre-code movie.
You succeeded in making perhaps one of the most important videos about art making I've seen in a long time. The world is filled with images of perfection that don't reflect reality. Art is hard. Life is hard. Shit happens.
Thanks, Frank.
You know what - this IS a good idea for a video, in fact - a really good idea. It's really refreshing for someone to speak up about failures considering how often they tend to occure when shooting film vs digital - the medium is bond for occational failure due to its techical limitations. To share an experience: I once went on a trip abroad and brought like five different film cameras, 35mm and 120mm, but forgot to bring an empty 120-roll to load the film on to. Totally messed up my grandios plans for that trip. Anyways, thank you for this fresh take on film photography - nice vid!
Thank you very much. It's been percolating in my head for long enough that I just wanted to get it out. Now I can get started on some new stuff.
Great to see you back on here!!
Good to be back, Alan. (I'm probably not that far away from you now. )
Really good food for thought here Erik. Always enjoy your videos, thank you for making them!
Raleigh is a cool city man. In the summertime you can see movies outdoors at the art museum you were talking about - lots of fun
I value honesty, it takes integrity and spirit.
I think its a great topic and needs to be covered/talked about more often both on social media and in real life.
All the best on new adventures and move to NC.
NC!! Last of the Mohicans was filmed there.
It's a bummer we never got a chance to meet up before you moved away. Anyway, there is nothing more disappointing in buying the film, shooting the roll, paying for development, taking the time to scan them, and realizing there is nothing to show. It ends upo being a waste of time and money. But through those kinds of failures, I tweak the process to make the next time better. I discovered I really don't like Ilford Delta films. The grain is messy and the contrast is flat. Next time I tried shooting Kodak T-Max and liked that much better. Then I tried pushing it and fell in love. I sold the rest of my Ilford stock as a result. As long as I can somehow extract a positive and learn from my failures, it softens the blow just a little
Failure is the process of learning.
I’ve been wondering when you would be posting again - glad you are back!
Great video! Laura Kampf a CZcams maker from Germany did a similar video a while back and started a theme going where other makers shared their failures. Currently I am failing on a jewellery project I thought would be easy.
nice work Erik!
Some of my best photos were absolute failures in my mind at the time. Really enjoyed this video
Nice video
Thats why I have a shutter release cable attached to each of the lenses for my 4x5, and they never come off.
6:21 It just struck me. Like Edison (I think it was), you never 'really' fail, you just find ways/things that don't work.
I failed 30 minutes ago! I poured the fixer instead of the developer! But as I was poured it in I realized and quickly drained the tank! Quickly I poured developer and agitated, and kept going as normal. Still waiting to see results.
Welcome back! These are fails? A little hard on yourself:)
Missed your content man! You moved from upstate? Where are you now??
North Carolina.
2:18 If you succeed at failing is that a success or a failure or do you need to fail at failing to be a success. But that means you failed....
Great video. It is interesting that when you went looking for the waterfalls but didn't shoot anything as the water levels were too low. I thought there would have been a lot of opportunity to shot the autumn leaves in the background. Maybe that is something all of us should consider is that to have some form of contingency is plans don't come off.
Most of the leaves were gone. I considered hiking up Indian Head, but I would have been losing light like crazy all the way down, and I didn't feel like getting lost in the mountains at night. (I've done it before and it sucks.)
You should put a small shutter release cable somewhere inside the folded camera.
I swear you look younger lol wtf??
Dry January.