Old School

Yesterday, I had a roll of film developed. The pictures are amazing, not exactly as fine as the digital cameras of today, but the pictures have a soft quality that is so pleasing to the eye. I know how convenient photography has become thanks to the digital age, the instant replay factor that allows for immediate editing is a good development in photography. It effectively saves on film and printing. But then again, the element of anticipation and surprise is gone. For all the pictures that were taken on my film camera, I had to risk getting a bad picture for those that I took myself with me in it and if I asked a third party to shoot it for me, I had to trust that person to get the picture right. There were no instant replays, each shot had to be the right one. Film cameras also require patience, it's knowing exactly when to take that shot, with the best lighting, best angles, in order for the pictures to come out beautifully. Much in the same way as waiting for the right one. Where everything is disposable, it is easy to fall into the trap of getting by with whatever comes along, anyway, with the power of instant replays, editing, deleting, is very easy and convenient. I would still like to believe that hearts are not so disposable. Waiting for that perfect shot, that perfect match, that perfect guy is like shooting a picture using a film camera. Figuring out where the light shines best, where the angles are perfect takes time, much like waiting patiently for the knight in the shining armor to come along. He will come along, if you wait long enough, if you are patient with the process. if you take what old school has to give. But old school has its own perils, not having the instant replay option can be a source of anxiety. This is where trust plays its biggest role. Just because the answers aren't as instantly available doesn't mean that it's doomed to fail. No. That just means you have to trust more, that you have to wait to consume all the shots of the film before having it printed out.