Hi! Today's story is about The 208 Film Society and was written by Gabrielle Gibson, a local photographer, writer, and member of the 208 Film Society. Enjoy! - Marissa

Have you ever heard the phrase, that’s a Kodak moment?

It is often used when someone takes a photograph of a subject that encompasses a moment in time that will never be forgotten. It's called a “Kodak moment" because the Kodak camera was the first film camera ever created by George Eastman in the 1880s.

Film cameras quickly became popular after that and were used widely throughout the 1900s to capture historical moments.

Take a moment to think about an iconic photo taken from history that has stuck with you. Maybe it was an image from World War I or The Crowning of Queen Elizabeth. Perhaps you think about The Apollo 11 Mission or the Fall of the Berlin Wall photographed in black and white centuries ago. These iconic images were all captured on film, and the list of historical photos caught on film are endless.

As film cameras became more established worldwide, the types of film cameras began to progress along with them. The most common of them is the iconic 35mm, which is easy to use and lighter than others (this is the one I own.) You might have heard of a medium format or a large format camera as well. However, I am no expert and this story is not about different film formats.

This story is about the 208 Film Society.

The 208 Film Society

The 208 Film Society is an all-inclusive weekly walk where film lovers of all levels and backgrounds get together to shoot film photography.

Both distinguished members and first-timers meet to discuss their film passion, share film knowledge, and capture scenes and moments that many people miss by simply moving through life too fast.

The 208 Film Society was established in 2019 by two locals of Boise – Ted and Toast. Their first step was selecting a name for the group and starting an Instagram to share their photos. From there, individuals of all ages and all skill levels began to meet up weekly. Over two years, a real community has started to form within these film walks.

I had the privilege of sitting down and taking a deep dive into The 208 Film Society with Ted Harmon, co-founder of the 208 Film Society. Ted runs the society’s Instagram page, where the central planning for the weekly walk is discussed in Instagram stories. The stories consist of polls on location and time’s that work best for the majority and updates to any changes that might occur.

The Instagram page is also a hub for film discussion in a large group chat with the society’s participants, who often share their personal work or ask and answer all film-related questions. On the 208 Film Society's Instagram page, you can find local artists’ photography featured and discussed in detail in the posts’ description.

Ted’s ambitions for starting the 208 Film Society revolve around all-inclusivity, artistic freedom, and a place to get away from “corporate politics.”

“I thought to myself, wouldn’t it be nice if there was a place for people to hang out, take some pictures, and talk about anything other than politics,” said Ted.

A place to allow creativity to flow and to meet new like-minded individuals, and the only rule is to not discuss politics? I believe many could agree to those terms.

Every Sunday, with the occasional weekday film meet-up squeezed in, you can find the group walking the streets of downtown Boise, throughout the foothills, or my all-time favorite, the backstreets of The North End.

Often, the group is spread out amongst sidewalks and streets to capture anything that catches the eye. If you hear in the distance, “That’s a film photo!” a common phrase used within the 208 Film Society, you’ll know you are in the right spot.

Downtown Boise is a popular starting point for Sunday walks. Ted expressed his love to revisit an area that he has experienced so many times.

“I personally like going to places where I have been a lot of times, because more often than not you see something in a new way. If you have been to that spot in the morning versus going to that spot in the evening and you see how the light enables completely different photos in different parts of the year.”

There’s a good chance you will catch a glimpse of the 208 Film Society trekking through every season to capture a once-in-a-lifetime photograph around the city of Boise and beyond. The moments captured on snow-packed evenings or damp afternoons in the streets of downtown or on a back road tucked in the foothills have an incredibly inspiring weight to them.

The 208 Film Society opens your eyes so that you can experience Boise in a totally new way.

Weekly walks will usually have a designated “host” that decides on that week’s location and a specific place and time for everyone to meet up so they can all begin together. The host chooses the direction of the walk and could even assign a task for the group, such as taking a portrait of another member, looking at light from a new perspective, or capturing a unique color along the walk. After that, the rest is up to the individual’s discretion.

The walks often last from an hour to two hours, followed by drinks or food at a local bar or restaurant in whatever area was just explored.

Members of the group bring their personal cameras. It catches no one by surprise if someone shows up with more than one or two cameras varying in shapes and size from all different decades with fascinating history embedded into the body and lens to show the group.

These cameras range from the classic 35mm Nikon to a Medium Format Pentax or a Polaroid SX-70. Each camera has its unique features, and each camera performs in different ways, especially when you take what film you are using into consideration.

I believe it is safe to say on behalf of all film photography lovers, no matter the skill level, the process is one of the most satisfying aspects.

You are required to slow down, peek through the viewfinder, focus on the subject at hand, and wind the film before capturing the moment. The instant gratification and the satisfaction are embedded in the click and the breath that follows it.

“There is no pause to assess if the image is good,” Ted says. You just have to be patient.

Film photography 101

Boise has some incredible resources for you to use to get started. But first, you need a film camera in your hands.

If you want to try one out before purchasing one, reach out to the 208 Film Society via Instagram and ask if you could use one on an upcoming walk; someone will bring an extra one they have so you can feel it out and likely fall in love.

If you want to jump right in and purchase one, Analogue Boise Company is a great resource. You can visit their website to see the inventory or give them a call and tell them you are new and need some advice. Andrew and Warner are the owners and are incredibly educated in film photography. Unfortunately, they do not have a brick and mortar… yet! But, when you meet up for the exchange, you will leave feeling confident in how to use the camera. Bring questions!

When developing your roll(s) of film, I recommend dropping it off at Timeless Photo, located off Cole Road. Timeless Photo will walk you through how to fill out the paperwork to get your film developed adequately, and they will have your photos emailed to you in a week or so. Timeless Photo also has a great rewards system for film, so you can leave with a fresh roll. They usually have an outstanding variety and give great recommendations; as I said before, bring questions!

Tips & Tricks

Ask Questions: You may have heard the phrase “there are no dumb questions,” and it is so true! Ask questions about what camera to use, how to load the film, what to do after taking your last shot, how to unload it. Film Photography is a trial and error journey; you will get the hang of it!

Keep a log: This is a beautiful habit to carry with you throughout your film journey. Log your film, the speed, the time of day you shot so when you receive your film back, you will know what to adjust for next time.

Film: Keep your film in the refrigerator and don’t be afraid to shoot expired film. The expired chemicals can create unique images.

Take the shot: They are all worth it! The least expected shots can often be the best ones.

Get inspired. A few local film photographers to follow on Instagram:

• ​@208filmsociety
• ​@ted_the_capitalist
• ​@toastyhug
• ​@polaroidsbyandrew
• ​@warnergrandfield
• ​@sambrockway
• ​@boise.photo​
• ​@itmustbetheplace​
• ​@lenneckman​

I’ll see you on a photo walk very soon. To join the next 208 Society photo walk, visit @208filmsociety on Instagram.

Thanks for reading!

With love from Boise,

Gabrielle Gibson

Learn more about Gabrielle at www.gabriellegibson.me​

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