© Armando Bellmas

I stopped into a local lab today to drop off a few rolls of film. I hadn’t been to this place in a while and since I shoot mostly all digital these days trips to any lab are few and far between.

I had two rolls of C-41 and one black and white. All 120. The lady behind the counter took the two color rolls but told me they stopped processing black and white a few months ago. Too bad. But no problem, I know of a couple of other places in town that can handle it.

After a few minutes of back and forth with her about how little film they see these days and how digital has taken over — you know, the same things all labs are going through and talking about — I told her that I still like to shoot film and will continue to do so, if not for work, mainly for pleasure.

Then she says to me: “You’ve got to get with the times and get yourself a digital camera.”

Classic.

I love digital, I really do. I actually prefer it most of the time. So do most of my clients. But I also love film and can make a place for both in my life. It’s just going to take a little longer to get the damn rolls processed around here.