Over the years, I have developed an obsession, and so I admit it -- I, Amy Hubbard, am addicted to film. It is a blessing and a curse.
As a kid, I really liked photography. I remember one Christmas circling a Hello Kitty camera in a Toys-R-Us magazine, and being really bummed out when it was not up to my camera expectations. I was that kid on the school field trips who had five disposable cameras because 30 pictures just were not enough. I loved changing out the film in my parent’s camera and had a collection of old film canisters that I treasured. I do not know why I became so obsessed, but it was something about the ability to capture a moment into a tangible object that really excited me.
As I got a little older I received a small digital camera for my birthday, and I could not have been more excited. I remember taking it everywhere I went and taking as many pictures as I could until the battery died. To this day, I still have that camera and it has a special spot on a shelf in my room. It may not be antique, and believe me, it is not fancy at all, but to me, it is very valuable.
At that time, I do not think my parents knew the film monster they were creating. I became involved with the broadcast media classes in middle school, and high school and the obsession just grew and grew. I was able to be apart of some pretty amazing film products, and take lots of photos for the school’s yearbook. So yes, I have become quite consumed with the topic of film, and unfortunately as with every topic, a film obsession is a blessing and a curse.
Let's start with the curses and get them out of the way. The first curse of a film lover is they cannot just “watch” a movie or “look” at a photograph. Watching movies, TV shows and documentaries can be quite time-consuming. Especially when you watch the original and then the version with commentary from the producer. You are constantly seeing great opportunities for a picture, or thinking of an idea for a short film. Also, it is so nice to be able to own your own film equipment but this luxury comes at a price. Camera bodies, glass, flashes, lighting equipment, microphones, etc. have a wide price range, and you really have to pay quite a lot for the higher quality gear.
But now on to the positives, because there are way more of them. I can stare at photographs forever, especially amazing works like National Geographic’s. I am majoring in broadcast media with hopefully a future in the video producing industry. I love watching movies, documentaries, and TV shows. I love dissecting different producers film styles and I can watch a good movie or TV show over and over again and enjoy it every time. I can spend hours watching video on YouTube of filmmakers and photographers as they share shooting tips and show off their equipment.
Even though I have picked up a camera many times, each time still brings a smile to my face. I am obsessed with all things having to do with a camera, and I admit it, I love it.
