Here's comes a hobby related post! And I have been waiting a long time to write this, actually about 2-3 months. Why? Good things take time, right? Grab a cup of tea, coffee or anything else you like because this post got a bit longer than I had planned. Creativity just flowed! ☕️I was at a thrift store in around January I believe. I found this camera for about 10€/$, and I decided to take a chance on it since it said (not tested) 🤞
This is an Olympus Trip AF-30! I put 2 new AA batteries in there and I got it working and cleaned it up. What I did notice is that it didn't seem to always be "awake" when I tried to take a photo, as if it doesn't go on fully. Still trying to figure it out. And when having the results of the photos I noticed that unfortunately a bunch of the photos didn't get captured on the films. But the photos I got were truly looking great, so if I ever find this camera in a more decent condition I will go for it! Super neat to bring with me in my bag - but for now I can't trust it fully until I know and can figure out why it does this and how I solve it! 🤔 I am afraid it has to do with the mechanic inside, and this camera is 30 years old and most likely hasn't been well taken care of.A while after, I went to the same thrift store - because they were closing for a month because they were moving to a new and better place. The last day they were open I went there because they had 50% on everything, and I had no idea they would still have cameras left. So for 50% off the price, also with the same label "not tested", I found this one:
This is an Olympus AF-1, a bit sharper camera in general than the previous I showed you. It didn't have any batter, not AA but a different special kind, but I found that one for 10€ to add to my new purchase so it wasn't that bad. The store asked 60€ for this camera, but with the 50% off before closing I felt I could sacrifice 30€ to see if it actually works - because if it did - OH MAMA. And yes - it did work 🤩 And this one surely had the majority of the photos snapped on the film and negatives, so it was without a doubt a better condition and I love how the photos looks. Both cameras are using 35mm film, and I am just so happy to see that they are still available. When going to the photo store in the city I was glad to hear when they shared that the films are selling like HELL! "Really?!" I asked - and he was eager to share how all generations, especially the younger, is picking up this again. He has heard that they are quite tired of their phones, and the anticipation and beautiful results (and funny) from the "real deal" is way more fun! I mean, how many times haven't we taken photos with our phone we actually never really looked back on? 😬But, I want to highlight something that is very important here, which is a bit like when we get the question if vinyls and CD's will die because of the digital stuff and the other way around..Just because one thing exists, it doesn't have to mean the other one will disappear. We have to realize what a luxurious world we live in where we can have BOTH! I have so, SOOOO many photos and film clips of my passed babies (Diesel & Tofsa), and I am so grateful for the amounts. Thanks to this I can see them move, hear them purr, remember momens where I took a photo of them in the morning when I just woke up because I had the phone by my nightstand.. there are so many opportunities I had just because of my phone that I am deeply grateful for. Because I remember my mom telling me about a cat she and dad had before me, her name was Ida. There is basically only 1 photo of this beautiful baby that they still have. And they cherish it deeply. And that is also beautiful, but my point is that we are so lucky to live in a world where we can have the best of two worlds.And that is what I am doing now - embracing it. I have my phone daily, I take photos every now and then but mainly it's work. Now I bring this Olympus AF-1 almost everywhere I go to catch moments that are just as described; "In the moment". And then I may forget about them, but when I leave the filmroll to the store and weeks alter get the envelope with the photos.. oh man, that feeling. I picked up the two envelopes yesterday with such a big joy. I had one roll for AF-30 and one for AF-1 so I could compare, and also to see if they function properly 💌The wait was almost a month for the photos - insane right? Only because the pressure is SO high as they informed me about, which is a very beautiful thing and made the anticipation even more intense! Let me show you some examples from the Olympus AF-30 of moments I just randomly captured because I felt like it. And as always, in real life on real copies they look amazing. Here, you get the vibe but it truly comes to life holding it in your hands - like music albums and movies too:
By the sea and harbor in Helsingborg. You see Denmark from here!
Rikard working! Love the 90's vibe here!
I went to mom one afternoon to help her with some computer related stuff and I showed her the camera. I put it on the table, we made coffee and then all of a sudden I see the flash goes off. It was like a muscle memory for mom to just pick up a camera she saw on the table and take a photo - like when we were smaller. It moved me deeply, more than she knows I think, but it was such a beautiful thing to see happen and realize she was just happy to take a photo like back in the days. It turned out great, haha! And the flash really emphazised their safety jackets in the back they wear on darker walks outside, brightening - haha! Having this photo in my hands yesterday made me realize that it is 30 years ago I sat by my first computer ever. 30 YEARS. Look:
It's 30 years ago 🤯 And I don't think I've ever shared an old photo of me as a child here, haha. My god. Well, there I was - not knowing shit about computers but apparently figured a lot out. I remember the first games I played was Wolfenstein 3D, Quake 2, Worms (demo) and about 4 years later I was introduced to The Sims because of an offer in a clothing store. "Purchase clothing for xx amount of money, and you get this brand new game included" - which was a CD-rom of The Sims Original. That turned out to be a daily life saver for me during the school years where I could flee the heavier times in school and the bullying but ALSO, most importantly - I realized that you can set goals and actually reach them. The daily using my brain, fantazising about what I wanted to become and what to achieve in life. Also the empathy I felt if someone got emotionally hurt in the game and it took time before you could recover the relationship. I learnt a lot, and that's why I still stand by how important games, music and art in general truly are. And don't worry, playing Wolfenstein 3D as a child was fun - and mom and dad made sure to tell me it is not real, it's not how you behave in real life.Other favorite games I had a child later on was also on Playstation 1 when we afford one. "Hogs Of War": My brother and I played this game so damn much. Jesus. "Command & Conquer: Red Alert": Such a great game, damn it. SO GOOD. "Oddworld Abe’s Oddysee": Just knowing you could make your farts into gas clouds as a weapon was brilliant and Abe was so darn cute!Anyway, I went a bit further down memory lane than I meant to - sorry! But am curious if you also played any of the above games! 😄
Let's check some exampels of the final photos coming from the Olympus AF-1 that seems to work way better:
A beautiful morning outside of the studio. I love the vibe in this photo so much. This looks more like in real life honestly (how I see it) than how it looked through the lens of my iPhone. That's what I really appreciate!
Went for a fika with mom. I miss these semlas SO MUCH. And I am sorry mom, if you ever read or see this.. I know how you're reaction were but I don't care right now 😂:
My beautiful mom. Her reaction to this photo yesterday was: "No god damn it I am not photogenic, jesus christ look at me blablababla" and I zoned out. I just continued to look at the photo showing my beautiful mother. So I am sorry mom - not really - for sharing this here 😌 My mother is 66, about to turn 67 years old - and I can't see that. And not notice either because she and dad has more energy than I have ever had 😂 And it is always as cute to see her fiddling with her phone always cursing about the non-existing buttons and the touch screen. "It never fucking works" - SO CUTE 😭 😂
Some beautiful nature!
A beautiful cold morning in February outside of the apartment.
The guys discussing, vibing and what not after a rehearsal upstairs in our HQ. I feel extra proud because I managed to snap it when Victor is smiling 🥹
Just a random outdoor photo. Not the best one of me, and the door looks.. great 😅 But it was just to try it out in different lights, scenarios and landscapes. I am truly happy with this camera and am eager to dive into more in the future when finances allows! I would like to find another Olympus AF-1 at least to be a dedicated touring/band camera. It feels so cool thinking of being able to capture moments on tour, develop the film and share more exclusive photos with you! 🤗If anyone has an Olympus Trip AF-30 or AF-1 laying at home (or something similar that has 35mm film) that you'd like to get rid off - let me be the buyer! Just send a DM here on Patreon. And if anyone feels inspired to pick this up too - GO FOR IT. It's a beautiful thing to have! I have photo albums I've bough in thrift stores for like 1€ that looks beautiful that I am not putting the photos in. I also write approx. when/where/what I was doing on the back in case the memory ever fails me. And I will pick up these albums when I feel like it and just soak in the memories and beauty within the photos ❤︎I hope you enjoyed this post, and I thank you for your time! ❤︎With love, Madeleine