08.01.2016

I love my disposable!

08.01.2016

I love my disposable!

Just for the fun of it

Who out there has never even touched a disposable (I’m talking to people 30 and older of course)? That faithful companion to capture those immortal moments. You can just toss it in the bottom of your bag and it’s always ready… You wind it, frame your shot, and “click” it’s all done! It’s got ultra simple features, and some models have a built-in flash. Some can even go under water!

I often travel with a disposable camera along with other cameras. I often choose a Fujifilm 400 SA with a flash you can deactivate. I leave it in the bottom of a pouch and sometimes (when I remember it), I’ll arm myself with this celebrated device!

Fujifilm 400 ASA in Malaysia (Malacca and Royal Belum State Park) :

Disposable camera - ©jaimelemonde.fr - Malaysia - Malacca and its whimsical tuk-tuks

Disposable camera - ©jaimelemonde.fr - Malaysia - Royal Belum State Park village of the Jahaï ethnic group (1)

Disposable camera - ©jaimelemonde.fr - Malaysia - Royal Belum State Park village of the Jahaï ethnic group (2)

Old school operation!

The noise the little hand crank makes when you advance the film is just magical! I think it’s a fun sound, like some rusty old wind-up device. You just have to see if the device can actually take photos…  A hole just above the lens lets you frame your shot. No focus needed. You just have to click!  Disposable cameras have between 24 and 36 shots, so it’s a nice exercise: try to figure out which moments during your travel you need to capture.

The paradox 

The disposable is by definition a temporary asset. You know from the start that the camera won’t last and it doesn’t take a lot of concentration to use it… You can forget about and just use it without paying much attention.  The restricted number of pictures means you have to choose the “perfect” moments. The beautiful colors of sunset, or major events you want to capture… Unlike with digital photos, you can neither erase nor switch out the memory card.  Even with this gadget in hand, you should still think a little bit about lighting and framing your shot!

Polaroid 400 ASA in the old city of Fez in Morocco:

Disposable camera - ©jaimelemonde.fr - Morocco - Old City of Fez (2) Disposable camera - ©jaimelemonde.fr - Morocco - Old City of Fez (1) Disposable camera - ©jaimelemonde.fr - Morocco - Medhi serves tea in the Old City of Feź

The photographer’s surprise 

After several weeks of traveling and thousands of miles covered, this battered up little camera hasn’t fared too well in the bottom of my bag. I have some vague ideas about what’s on the film, and now it’s time to bring it in for development and see what secrets it might reveal. What’s in store? I love that moment when I’m on my way to pick up my developed photos. You ask yourself questions, whether the shots turned out well, and you try to remember exactly what pictures you actually took.

A real photo album

I’m always in a rush to open up that precious envelop as soon as the developer hands over my pictures! There they are! I finally have them in my hands.  The colors, sometimes powerful contrasts, the grain… You get a vintage effect I just love (better than Instagram!).These printed souvenirs really mean something quite different in an age when most often photos are enjoyed when they are displayed on a screen. I scan them (for my blog) before I paste them into an album with my other travel souvenirs (bus tickets, monument entrance tickets, packages, etc.) and write down some of my impressions.

I make a real album I can share with friends and family. We sit together and turn the pages and pass it back and forth. It’s a lot more fun than looking at slides in front of a screen, right?

Fujifilm 400 ASA in Turkey (Cappadocia, then Istanbul):

Disposable camera - ©jaimelemonde.fr - Turkey - The village of Uçhisar in Cappadocia Disposable camera - ©jaimelemonde.fr - Turkey - Galata neighborhood in Istanbul (2) Disposable camera - ©jaimelemonde.fr - Turkey - Galata neighborhood in Istanbul (1) Disposable camera - ©jaimelemonde.fr - Turkey - Kiz Kulesi Tower in Istanbul

Julien Grenet

He loves to share in the daily lives of local people and take part in authentic experiences. He travels with lots of cameras, including the irreplaceable Polaroid to give photos to the people who have left lasting impressions during his adventures. He is the author of the “Hands Holding Polaroids” series, symbolizing the people he has encountered. 

Website: https://www.jaimelemonde.fr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JaimeLeMondeFr
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaimeLeMondeFr
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