Plant Development

 

The way I got involved with the DC Film Collective is actually really funny. Regulars to the blog know I met Brynn at the Suns, and we hung out like crazy for a month and a half. I find out after a little bit that she's into film photography as well and she lists me as her +1 for an event. She gives me the flier and I don't start shooting the new roll till I get to New York and find one (an ILFORD Ortho roll, 80 ISO, black and white...?). 2/3 of this roll is shot in New York and the last third I get onto after I get back to DC, since the weather has just started to look up. I meet Brynn's friend from the collective, Christian, who is so sweet and awesome and teaches us how to play tennis. That's on a Thursday, we're also there with Johnny, another new friend. Saturday of the same week, we go to his friend Colleen's 4/20 party and act as the annoying drunk ones because we don't smoke anymore. 

Sunday's the workshop. The host is this guy named Eric who lives on a scenic street on Mount Pleasant and has a darkroom. He gave Brynn and I instant coffee, since we were tired. I meet several cool people from the collective and get socials from everyone there I jive with, not limited to, but including:

Kimberly, who lives in Maryland and is so sweet and routinely does postcard exchanges globally through a little forum. 

Maya, Eric's girlfriend who biked up the severe incline with firewood on her bike (ash was part of the DIY amalgamation of development fluid we were making with plants), who Kimberly and I convinced to start sending letters to her friends. 

Caroline and Daniela, who are avid cinephiles and regulars at Suns, and are now on standby to watch surprise showings with Brynn and I. 

Vivian, who looks kind of like Faye Webster, is really chill, and showed me the mechanisms of a Holga she just bought. 

And Hani, who told me he started photographing in film in 2004. Old man! He let me take a picture on his Leica M6 (the president of cameras), which was awesome. 

We all hung out for 4 hours, and it was a success! Christian and Brynn were skeptical, since previous attempts yielded nothing, but it turned out great. My beginner's luck! I ended up leaving early for dinner plans, but Christian scanned everything by Wednesday. Here are some of my favorites.