The ‘garage sale’ film was found in an old camera bag in the wealthy inner-Melbourne suburb of Newport. “Can you do anything with it?” the woman asked me curiously as I opened the canister, “I studied design at university and had to shoot film. Of course, a couple years later film became ‘obsolete’ and it’s just been sitting around since then. I didn’t even know I still had a roll!”
“Do you still photograph?” I asked her. “No not really. You know how it is, smartphones are ‘better’ than that film anyway. Even my little daughter’s phone can take better pictures! It’s killed the fun for me.” I smiled a wry smile. How many times do people with literally no idea try to tell me how crappy film is – in this case even while trying to gift me a roll! “I’ll take it.” I quickly said and excused myself.
The next day we went to Frankston, an outer suburb on the other side of Port Phillip Bay. Melbournites call it ‘Frankanistan’, a reference to its lower socio-economic status and criminal element. The garage sale film, with its 24 shots loaded in the M4, loved Frankston and her neighbour, Mornington. It felt like I was pulling an Australian flag through the Leica and I think about 24 Missy Higgins songs went round my head as I crept around taking pot-shots at things that caught my eye. It was an awesomely hot day and in-between swims in the crystal clear water, we walked the back streets, drank coffee and became amazed how much red, white and blue is in everything! That old garage sale film finally got a chance to see the world...
Leica M4 | Elmar 50mm 2.8 | Fuji Experia 400 EV+2 | Michael's Film Lab Melbourne
