Alright, let me tell you about this little project I got myself into. It was all about getting some nice shots of “Phil Flash Pics”. I had heard of this guy somewhere online, and his photos looked pretty cool. So, I thought, why not try to see how they were made and make some of my own?
First things first, I needed to figure out who this “Phil Flash” was. Found a few places mentioning him, some social media stuff, an online gallery called “Philip’s Photo Gallery”, and a couple of forums where people were talking about cameras and photo stuff. There was even mention of some exhibit in Boston showing off his work from the 80s. Sounds like he’s got quite the history. I also found some stock photo websites that had some of his pictures.
Next, I started gathering the stuff I needed. Obviously, I grabbed my camera, but I also dug out some old film rolls I had lying around. I figured since Phil’s work looked kinda vintage, using film might give my photos that same vibe. Also, I found a discussion where someone was asking about a “Promaster 5550 DX flash”. I have a flash, though it’s not that exact one, so I figured I’d try it out to see what kind of effect it would have.
Getting to work, I decided to start with some simple setups. I used some props I found around the house – an old radio, some records, a vintage-looking lamp. I played around with the lighting, trying to get that dramatic look I saw in some of Phil’s photos. I used the flash for some shots and went without it for others, just to see the difference. It was a lot of trial and error, adjusting the settings, moving the lights, and just seeing what worked. I tried to use some of Phil’s photos as a guide, but I also wanted to add my own twist to it. I remembered seeing some car photos in an online search, so I even tried taking a few shots of my own car, trying to make it look like something out of an old movie.
- Set up the props and lighting.
- Took some test shots with and without the flash.
- Adjusted camera settings (ISO, aperture, shutter speed, etc.).
- Reviewed the shots and made adjustments as needed.
- Tried different angles and compositions.
- Experimented with black and white and color film.
After a few days of shooting, I finally had a bunch of photos I was pretty happy with. Developing the film was another adventure. It had been a while since I’d done that, so it took me a bit to remember the process. But seeing the images slowly appear on the paper was super satisfying. I scanned the developed photos, did some minor touch-ups on the computer, and there you have it. My own “Phil Flash” inspired collection.
It wasn’t just about copying someone else’s work. It was more like, learning from a master and then trying to find my own style within that. I ended up with a bunch of photos that I think look pretty cool, and I learned a ton in the process. It’s amazing how much you can pick up just by trying to recreate something you admire. Now, I’ve got a new appreciation for film photography and a whole new set of skills to play around with. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll have my own exhibit at Time Out Market!
