#005 - 36 digital frames like film

Part I

Why on earth would you still use an old 2GB memory card in your modern camera? Fair question. I’ve got plenty of higher-capacity cards. More gigabytes mean more space for photos. Simple math, right? You don’t need to be a genius to figure that out. But here’s the thing: deliberately choosing a memory card with limited storage is exactly what I’m aiming for with a project I’ll be starting a new year in 2025.

I want to experience what it’s like to limit myself to just 36 frames, just like shooting with a roll of film back in the day. Specifically, I’m talking about 36 digital black-and-white frames, inspired by Kodak Tri-X 400. Therefore I'll use a stunning Fujifilm simulation by Anders Lindborg, paying tribute to the best-selling black-and-white film ever. Quite the mouthful, I know. But the essence of this project is to slow down and take the time to make every shot count.

One shot. No fallback on a quick burst of two or three frames, where you pick the best one later. You’ve only got 36 chances, and once you’ve used them, that’s it. Of course, you could do this with a larger memory card. Just take 36 photos and stop. But honestly, that feels like cheating. I want my camera to tell me, “Game over,” after 36 shots. That hard limit changes the way you approach photography.

To make this happen, some prep work is involved.

First, figure out the average size of a JPEG file from your camera. Multiply that number by 36 to get the total storage you’ll need. In my case, I ended up with about 630MB. Subtract this from the 2GB capacity of the card, which leaves me with 1370MB. Then, convert this number into bytes. You can use an online tool like SS64 Byte Converter to make this part quick and easy.

Now for the techy bit. Open PowerShell on a Windows computer and type the following command:

fsutil file createnew C:\users\[fill in your_username]\documents\dummyfile.dat [fill in your_number_of_bytes]

This command creates a dummy .dat file in your documents folder that you copy onto your memory card. This file fills up the unused space, leaving just enough room for 36 photos—no more, no less.

See why I needed a 2GB card? If you try this with a 32GB card, you’ll have to create a ridiculously large dummy file to fill all that space. Not exactly practical.

This project isn’t just about nostalgia. It’s about changing how we think as photographers. It forces us to slow down, compose thoughtfully, and make every single frame count again. Because when you’ve only got 36 chances, every shot becomes special.

Want to know how this 2025 project unfolds? Then stay tuned!¹

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1. My winter black and white project is now finished! You can read the full story here, and don't forget to grab your free eBook from the project.