“I can trace so much of what I do every day, when I’m writing, to what I was taught back then by my teachers at Syracuse.”
—Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, A Few Good Men)
The first photography class I ever had was as a sophomore in high school. The teacher told me to drop the class after the first assignment. I’d borrowed a 35mm film camera, taken a roll of photos, but forgot to rewind the film before opening the back to take the film out. (A good teacher would have said develop the film anyway and see what opening and quickly closing the back did to the negatives.*) Anyway, I told her I was there to learn photography and refused to drop the class. For the last 40 years photography has helped pay the bills and been a key source of personal creativity. Be someone who builds up others rather than tear them down. (Especially if you’re a teacher.)
P.S. I took the above photo on Lake Howell last week from a kayak. I didn’t have to worry about rewinding the film because it was shot from an iPhone. I have taken my Nikon out a couple of times, but so far my better shots have been with the iPhone. I’m grateful for my film and darkroom experience, but love having a device that can quickly grab and process (and share) a vision you see.
*There are apps now to give your photos the effect of “flashing” and light leaks.
Scott W. Smith is the author of Screenwriting with Brass Knuckles
Screenwriting from Iowa 