I think I use more films than other professionals. I bring a film Leica to almost all locations and use it. But, honestly, I want to shoot digital because I can check the results immediately and it's more cost-effective. Then, why do I need to use a film Leica? While I shoot and check with a digital camera, I also shoot films even though I can't check the results on site. The rhythm is completely different and I may even be distracted by the gap.

But, it's a sigh of relief, I think. It's about feeling "how sweet".

I drink sake hot more often these days and have some relish. I grab my Leica, touch the advance lever, look into the viewfinder, and take a few shots. Or, I only keep touching. Due to influence, I have no clue what I took until the films are developed.

I sat on the counter of a very old Izakaya bar I Biei, Hokkaido. There was a woman sitting a few seats away from me and she seemed to be traveling by herself. My wife asked where her she came from, and the master told us that she was from Taiwan. Solo trip from Taiwan, huh. How wonderful. And then the telephone rang.

"She's just finished."

Soon after the master said so on the phone, the staff of the hotel she was staying came to pick her up. Looks like the bar and the restaurant coexist. Not bad. I hope she will bring something nice back to Taiwan.

When I have some time before going to work, I break my journey. And I hang a film Leica from the neck and I don't even carry a bag. I never crouch, look up, and get close. It's like I put my eyes to the telescope on the observation deck.

The showcase of an old shop on Meiji Street caught my eyes. I thought of the face of the shop master. This shop must have been continuing for a long time and the master should look like this.
My office is almost there. I feel some pain on the sole because I've been a lazy commuter these days.

When I go for locations by air, I sit in the isle seat near the front. When I'm on a private trip, I sit in the window seat. When the flaps started to go down and the aircraft moved to a final approach, I saw another plane flying at the same speed. Once the seatbelt sign was turned on, I have to put my camera into the bag if it's digital. But, this camera has nothing to interfere with plane instruments. Two aircrafts are flying parallel to each other. So I took many shots. The CA glanced at me and smiled.

While my family is asleep in the middle of night, I look at the scan screen with a cold coffee to moist my throat intoxicated by cigarette. They're fragments of ordinary days and an honest personal record. Shooting has become easier since it has been digitalized. But, this is burdensome because you can keep shooting until you feel satisfied and there's no end. However, I tend to be affected by the last shot no matter how hard I try not to. It's no problem to do an assignment. But, it doesn't seem to take me anywhere. At least I'm moving around the same point by tracing the track I just made. It's not easy to release myself.

It's sort of checking, or breaking to be away from the daily life. Wondering when I can develop and take a look at the negatives, I think of the sweet time when doing it.

Honestly, I'm so bad at 35mm. When I keep some distance, my message becomes weaker. And, when I get close, I may be talking too much. It's a difficult angle of view, but better than 28mm. to overcome the weakness, I kept shooting with this 8 elements. I've owned 3 to 4 copies so far, there was one copy that proved the legend. But I've already sold it and this new one is so-so. The old lens life isn't easy. I used the ILFORD monochrome film that can be developed by C41 processing. I can have it developed on site at the photo lab, so I don't have to wait for days.
(K)