Why I shoot Film
Slow Life - The wait
When you have 36 or 10 (for my medium format 6x7) frames available you take your time before you decide to shoot.
The procedure when shooting film is something like this:
- Find elements you find visually captivating
- Think every element of the photo. (light, pose, environment)
- Plan (from tones to contrast and from saturation to composition)
- Set carefully every camera parameter
- Be patient and concentrate
- Shoot
- Enjoy the moment
These constraints foster creativity, slow you down and help to empty your mind of any other thoughts.
Digital photography rewards trial and error whereas film rewards learning and understanding.
After the click you have to wait again to finish the roll and to develop the negatives, all that waiting makes you look at your work with more detachment and cognition.
Technology is wonderful, but using film cameras allows me to forget about chasing the latest and greatest equipment and focus on what really matters in making photographs: composition, atmosphere, and emotion.
Surprise - Curiosity
Yes, thats the second most important reason for me shooting film. I can not describe the feeling…
- …when I open the tank and see the developed negative.
- …when I develop a film that I have no idea what is on it and I finally see the forgotten pictures.
- …when I go to the photo lab to pick up the development of the film. It’s like a Birthday present, always!
History
All of my favorite great works by photography masters were taken on film and when shooting film I feel like I am experiencing photography the way it is supposed to be.
Experimentation
Multiple exposures, expired films, grain, dust, blur, vintage filters, light leaks, and other imperfections make the result unique and unpredictable.
…Endless possibilities!
The analogue cameras
Each camera is different.
I have 6 cameras, all of different ages, styles, and formats. Each one, is different and unique. Each kind of film is also different. You have a world of choices. So analogue photography is never boring!
I Also like film cameras because:
- They look industrial in their construction
- They feel solid and real in your hand
- The don’t need charging
In my opinion you have to love the camera you’re using (for personal work) or there is really no enjoyment in the process of taking photos.
- The medium and large format cameras
- shooting with 6x6, 6x7 or larger film makes you happy because you can see all these little details that take you beyond the real world.
- The very simple film cameras (just 1 button)
- it is easy to carry with, and there is no complex settings, just focus on the main subject.
Lastly, I do not want to invest a lot of money in equipment that will be obsolete in a very short time. Film cameras last for decades!
Quality
Quality of negative/slide. Yes it is neither cheap nor easy procedure until you get a good result but sometimes its better than digital.
With a good medium format camera (600$) and a professional film you can achieve results way better.
- Fantastic bokeh (DOF) and amazing feeling of the representation/rendering of the 3rd dimension (depth)
- Huge raw files when scanned in a good scanner
- Amazing results on print.
I Also love:
- The thickness and density of shades and shadows
- The dynamic range
- Film allows me to retain highlight detail (especially when hand printed in a darkroom) even when I deliberately over expose my images for a pre-visualized picture.
- The deep contrast of film
- The smoothness of the grain and the feeling of continuity from the foreground to the background. It has a very organic look and I think nothing can replicate it
DIY
I like the “do it yourself” approach. Loading the camera, pushing the film, developing and printing the rolls with my hands.
I love how I don’t have to sit in front of the computer for hours editing an image. It looks great right out of the camera.
The end
Film photography is pure and real, it requires patience, concentration and dedication.
And thats why it is the best way to train the eye and refine your technique.
With film photography there’s a fulfillment in me and a feeling like I’m doing something, creating something. I am a software engineer and I love my job for the same reason. I create things and I understand how things work.
Alternative titles for this post:
“8 things I love about Film” | “Why you should try shoot film”