I moved to Memphis in 2012 from Brooklyn and shortly after that got my first DSLR, graduating from long-zoom point-and-shoots I used to document the sights of NYC. I took a photography class at the Memphis College of Art (now closed) that forced me to learn to use my camera’s manual controls.
(To tell you how “green” I was about it — I didn’t even know at first that my DSLR had a light meter built-in! My learning to shoot manual was purely a process of trial and error until that momentous epiphany.)
When I found a Minolta X-370 at an estate sale, I was intrigued. An SLR was something I could never have afforded when I was younger, and here was a nice camera with a nice fast (f/1.4) 50mm lens included. Cosmetically, it was in great shape, but the film advance lever was stuck. I found out a gear was broken when I sent it to Garry’s Camera Repair. Garry repaired it and cleaned it, and it came back good as new. I began shooting lots of different films, just to try them out, while still using my digital camera.
A few years after arriving in Memphis, I had some health issues that, well, changed everything. I set aside my cameras for more than four years and started doing digital art instead. When 2022 rolled around, however, my health had improved greatly, and I was ready to pick up my cameras once again. So on a mid-February Sunday afternoon, I set out to take some pictures, not knowing where my explorations might take me.
These 5 Frames were all shot northeast of Memphis along rural roads surrounding US 70, near Braden, Stanton, and Gallaway, Tennessee. I had read about EZ Classic 400 film somewhere and ordered a roll on a whim. I opened the nifty recyclable cardboard film canister and loaded the film into my Minolta X-370 and finished the roll that day.
Where I was shooting a dark-ish subject against the bright sky, I occasionally didn’t compensate enough, so the shadows were underexposed. But overall I thought the film handled the semi-harsh light that day quite well without an excess of grain. The film was processed and scanned by Knoxville Film Lab. I did very little to the photos in Lightroom, so I think they are a decent representation of the film, which I would buy again. Enjoy!
~ Jon
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2 responses to “5 Frames… Just northeast of Memphis on Classic EZ 400 (35mm / EI 400 / Minolta X-370 + Minolta MD 50mm f/1.4) – by Jon Woodhams”
Thanks for your story. I’m glad to hear your health has improved again.
I’m a big fan od the Minolta X-370 under all its names and makes. I have many fine memories shot with one. I need to shoot 35mm SLRs more!
Thanks for sharing and tale care
Martin in Austria
Thanks so much, Martin!