Using the Vivitar XV-2

Sunday I went to the grocery store and picked up some batteries for my parent's old Vivitar XV-2. It's a nice film camera with 3 lenses, a 28mm, 50mm, and a 70-230mm . My mom had some film in the Fridge so I was able to get right to work. For those of you who don't know, putting film in the fridge prolongs its life or is better for it in terms of storage. I haven't felt like using it before because I didn't know much about F-stops and ISO and etc. But over the last semester, I feel like my experience has made me more comfortable about taking some film photos. I got one roll of film developed and bought four more 400 speed. If I can find some black and white when I get them developed, I'll probably buy that too.

For the lenses, I am ecstatic! I only have a 40-150mm on my Olympus E-510, so the variety is just great to play around with. I have only used the 28mm and the 50mm, and I have to say that the 28mm is my favorite. It's a great wide angle and I can just see so much more. I really want to start using this camera more often because I love the lenses and the look of the photographs.
I am applying for an internship next semester at school as a photographer's assistant and I really think that I can get it. This is the work that I have been waiting to do. Working with lighting, watching a professional photographer at work and solving key problems, I'm psyched! I just need to send him the application and then wait for him to go through my portfolio and interview me.

And this would be the perfect moment to regret not having a portfolio online for people to look at. Flickr can work for right now, but I really need to get one going, especially at my stage of involvement in photography. Now is the time that newspapers and such are looking for future potential. While other college students are only concerned about getting their studies down for their careers, I have been trying to get into the field since my senior year of high school! How many students can say that, seriously? Photography is such a competitive field of work, if you don't start off young, you better have some damn great photos to enter the field. That is how I am viewing it right now. I know a lot of photographers don't get into it until later, but now is my chance to really get dirty and learn my from my mistakes with people who know how to improve from them.

As I wrote in my last post, I was hoping to take some photos of my friend and her boyfriend this week, but sadly, it couldn't be done. Something came up and it just wasn't able to work out, so I'm going to have to wait to take them when I visit again. I was hoping that this could be a practice run for when I take pictures of my cousin and her family, but I'm just going to harass my friends for photos, haha! What are friends for, huh?

Anyways, I'm heading into the city today with my sister and I'm going to take both my digital and film camera with me. We have a gift certificate for $40 to eat at a restaurant and what else is better than a free lunch and taking photos? I am also getting my last HPV shot today, so that should be fun, not. But it's my last one and I'm just going to veg after. And probably catch up on my drawings that I need to finish.

I can't wait to get my photos developed! I won't be able to upload them until I get a working scanner (i.e. when I get back to school). And thanks to those responding to the poll! I love the feedback. And while you're at it, use the guestmap in the right side column. Where are you from?

I hope this finds you all well!

Ciao!