Reflections on Film

Photo Reeflections:

On my breaks on set, to pass the time I usually go over to the guys on “B” camera and try to learn all about the camera and how it works. It is so fun. I have learned how to pull focus, calibrate a lense, set up shots, dolly operate, do the camera report, and framing a shot. I have also learned about the different lenses, different filters, and how the camera processes light. To really make sure I understand how a camera works, the “B” camera guys gave me a real film camera for my birthday. I love it. I have been taking the camera everywhere and it’s amazing how differently I look at the world. I see beautiful and interesting things everywhere that I want to capture on film.

The film camera works differently than a digital camera. You have to get your film developed so nothing is instant and it makes you be more thoughtful about taking photos. The reason you don’t get your photos right away is because when the film camera takes a photo, the shutter opens for a certain amount of time (depending on what you set your shutter speed to). The aperture opens or closes a certain mechanism inside your lense allowing a certain amount of light to pass through the lense. You have to choose the aperture as well. The light passes through the lense onto a mirror inside the camera which reflects an image onto light sensitive paper (film) and the image is “recorded” onto your film. Once the film roll is full, you have to develop it by putting it into certain chemical baths in a very dark room. It’s complicated to do it all manually, it takes longer than pointing and shooting with an iphone, but I hope it will teach me more about how to frame a shot, and what light settings and lenses to use for the best picture. It also has made me think a lot before I just shoot the camera.

I have finished my first roll of film. I cannot wait to see what I captured. I plan to take many pictures. I want to take pictures in color and black and white. I plan to do a series of portraits and landscapes. I want to capture Lost in Space from behind the scenes as I see it. I also want to take pictures of Vancouver and the other locations we shoot. One day I will look back and see all that I have done and these pictures will tell my story.

My last day as 11.

Sometimes, you get to step where no one has stepped before...
It was my last day as an 11 year old, and I had to go on a location shoot. Everyone was nervous. We were going to Brohm Ridge which is a glacier that has been in existance for thousands of years. It is surrounded by peaks of jagged rock, four of which are ancient volcanos that exploded many years ago.

The night before we went to this location, we had to have a safety training where we talked about avalanche training, how to use an avalance transmitter, the buddy system, and the modes of transport we would be taking to the 8,000 foot elevation at the base of Mount Garibaldi.

On my last morning as an 11 year old, we were picked up at 7 am in an SUV. We drove 30-45 minutes up bumpy roads to the "snow line" We were met there by a huge red vehicle called a "Snow Cat" It's basically a tank with a shovel on the front. We headed another 30 minutes up winding roads covered in snow. The view out the window was spectacular. We were surrounded by mountains. We could see the Tantalas range, we could see Black Tusk, we could see, Table Top, and in the distance straight up we could see Mount Garabaldi, an ancient volcanoe that exploded many years ago leaving a peak that was both breath taking and forboding. It looked like all the snow on top of it would just fall on top of us. There is a First Nations tribe hundreds of miles away that found a piece of Mount Garabaldi which means the volcanic explosion was so forceful, it sent pieces flying HUNDREDS of miles away! And that was where were were filming Lost in Space!

We arrived at an old lodge in our Snow cat. This was where we needed to change into our space suits and get into hair and make up. Then, we got into a "Snow Quad"  and headed another 20 minutes straight up.

At last we arrived. The crew was there. It was a small group. Smaller than normal as we had to bring only what was necesary. The cameras looked lonely on the untouched snow. A mountain expert named Andre met us there. He would be with us the entire day. He knew weather patterns, he knew how stable the snow was so we could avoid sink holes and avalanches. He placed the Avalanche Transmitter on me and I followed him to a place on a ridge that no one had stepped before.... It was like a thick white blanket for miles. The snow glistened in the morning sun. And we began to work in this beautiful, quiet wonderland.

When I finished shooting, the stunt coordinator asked me if I wanted to ride on a snowmobile down to the lodge. I said yes of course and off we went leaving the peaks of Mount GAribalding in the distance.

The last day I was an 11 year old, I walked a glacier where not many will ever get the chance to go. I rode on snow mobiles and snow cats on roads that were built just weeks before to allow us to access this beautiful place. This year has been so full of unexpected adventures. This seemed like the right way to end this amazing year!
I wonder how year 12 will be....