Lands End - Pro tog still using film

lawrie29

lawrie29

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Lawrie
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Was at Lands End this week and was a little shocked to see the pro tog under the famous sign still using a film camera (and no I didn't see what make/model) and posting the photos out to people for £9.95 a go.

Surely this must be the only pro tog using 35mm film only on a daily basis?

And surely Digital would be more cost effective? Ok it would be a reasonable layout out camera, lens (only need on one as every shot is the same) computer and mem cards, but this would be recovered in film/processing costs.

I guess if you do the maths it would take a while, and at least this way he only has to take the film to be developed, collect the shots, stick em in the mail, rather than all this PP malarkey.

Was just shocked, it almost seemed archaic.
 
Metal God said:
A lot of landscape photographers prefer to use film - in particular Velvia. But I can't see how they can make any money at those prices...
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There was a steady queue, complete with "Bob+June 50 Yrs" on the sign under the obligatory new york 200000 miles (or wateverer)
 
I think all art togs use film. 8x10 for landscapes etc, 35 for fast and mobile stuff. lots of togs still use daguerreotypes etc .
 
Metal God said:
But I can't see how they can make any money at those prices...
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Same way event togs make money, same sized print, mount and take the money. £10 at a time. £240 per roll of film isn't too bad proffit wise. There all day how many must he shoot? get a nice weekend he will make a fair whack on that especially with bulk developing etc.

Going digital whould be an advantage with on site printing and preview the images could improve sales but as he shoots the same thing day in, day out he could sit there with a remote trigger on a tripod if he wanted to.
 
A lot of togs use 5x4, there is a huge fan club for it :D But only real men use 10x8.

Just look at flickr to see how many people are still using film....
 
the trick is, you pose, he shoots, you give you details and pay your money and it turns up in the post. doesn't matter if your eyes are shut or your fingers up your nose, you've paid, deal done.

none of this selecting a shot and a size and all that jazz.
 
Perhaps he just enjoys using film:shrug: Shocking I know.
 
**** using film for commercial stuff, digital is better in every way for that task.

Film for personal is good but its more expensive and needless in this scenario
 
He's got the gig; doesn't have to have a pooter unless he wants one (may be phobic); has saved £1K to spend on cider; and has more spare time than the rest of us to drink it.
 
photon said:
He's got the gig; doesn't have to have a pooter unless he wants one (may be phobic); has saved £1K to spend on cider; and has more spare time than the rest of us to drink it.
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except for the time where he's getting the prints back from the lab, putting them in envelopes and posting them off to the customers, instead of wirelessly sending them to the printer for people to take away right there and then...
 
itsdavedotnet said:
except for the time where he's getting the prints back from the lab, putting them in envelopes and posting them off to the customers, instead of wirelessly sending them to the printer for people to take away right there and then...
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...and all the time it takes to learn that! I'll bet he's an older chap, whom if anything like the older members of my family.. just don't want to learn how to do it :)
 
itsdavedotnet said:
instead of wirelessly sending them to the printer for people to take away right there and then...
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Well that raises the bar several notches while his startup costs could be less than £50, which could get a P&S and portable printer off fleabay, with the additional hassle of charging batteries, keeping consumables and having somewhere to operate from.
 
takes time to collect the address etc. but there's that mystical feeling. that someday, you'll receive your photo rather than looking at it straight away and maybe not even wanting to buy it.
 
itsdavedotnet said:
except for the time where he's getting the prints back from the lab, putting them in envelopes and posting them off to the customers, instead of wirelessly sending them to the printer for people to take away right there and then...
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Thats the thing...... he doesn't want people taking them away there and then - he wants your £9.99 in his pocket not a discussion about how he's missed the focus on the eyes, blown the sky, Hilda's got her eyes shut etc all he wants is your money and the next £9.99 sorry - tourist under the sign.
 
Dogfish_magnet said:
Thats the thing...... he doesn't want people taking them away there and then - he wants your £9.99 in his pocket not a discussion about how he's missed the focus on the eyes, blown the sky, Hilda's got her eyes shut etc all he wants is your money and the next £9.99 sorry - tourist under the sign.
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exactly right !

we went there last year , load of commercialised crap , we only went for the kids to say they'd been. Theres even a permanent Dr who exhibition , quite what thats got to do with Lands end i'll never know
 
Great shame really. I went to Lands End in the 50s and the only thing there was a sign on a house saying, 'Last house in England.' No fees, just walked down to the end.
 
mrgas said:
exactly right !

we went there last year , load of commercialised crap , we only went for the kids to say they'd been. Theres even a permanent Dr who exhibition , quite what thats got to do with Lands end i'll never know
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I thought the same! the kids enjoyed and the in laws paid, so was a nice day out. took some crap landscape shots of the rocks too.
 
purpleclouds said:
...and all the time it takes to learn that! I'll bet he's an older chap, whom if anything like the older members of my family.. just don't want to learn how to do it :)
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I like your avatar...it compliments this thread...:)
 
mrgas said:
exactly right !

we went there last year , load of commercialised crap , we only went for the kids to say they'd been. Theres even a permanent Dr who exhibition , quite what thats got to do with Lands end i'll never know
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Cape Cornwall is far nicer IMO, nowhere near as commercial (well not commercial at all) and better scenery wise too. Having said that when I was at Lands End it was two hours before I saw a soul, unfortunately the sign wasn't up either (it was 5:30 in the morning:p).

Coaster said:
Great shame really. I went to Lands End in the 50s and the only thing there was a sign on a house saying, 'Last house in England.' No fees, just walked down to the end.
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There aren't any fees now either, other than parking if you take a car.:p
 
lawrie29 said:
Was at Lands End this week and was a little shocked to see the pro tog under the famous sign still using a film camera (and no I didn't see what make/model) and posting the photos out to people for £9.95 a go.

Surely this must be the only pro tog using 35mm film only on a daily basis?

And surely Digital would be more cost effective? Ok it would be a reasonable layout out camera, lens (only need on one as every shot is the same) computer and mem cards, but this would be recovered in film/processing costs.

I guess if you do the maths it would take a while, and at least this way he only has to take the film to be developed, collect the shots, stick em in the mail, rather than all this PP malarkey.

Was just shocked, it almost seemed archaic.
Click to expand...

I still shoot some film, not much, just a little. this guy could be onto something good...

1. the shutter life on a film camera is normally very good
2. he drops the rolls off at the lab with postage instructions.. job done
3. no PP
4. He may of never felt the need to upgrade, and spend a fortune... Its only recently that mainstream digital cameras have really begun to match the quality of film
5. no dust bunnies, few batteries to keep charged up etc..
 
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