Bodie State Park, CA
Some people say why shoot film in the digital age? There are so many reasons why digital is superior. Cost is the number one reason. You can shoot as many images as you wish. No need to purchase film or pay for developing. Digital is instant. You get immediate feedback and results. The availability of new equipment and technology is yet another reason. So why whould I choose film over digital? Three reasons. The look of film is unique. It’s mechanical and it is an absolute blast!
I have never been able to edit a digital photo to look the way film does. I’ve been shooting film since the 70’s and when I load a roll of film I know what the images are going to look like before I take the shot. There is a specific look and feel of a film image. I like the grain. I like the colors that Fuji 400 creates vs. the colors of Portra 400. I love shooting with Kodak TriX and know that I am going to obtain the black and white look that I want.
I enjoy the mechanical feel of an old camera. I’m in control of the exposure triangle. ISO, Aperture, Shutter Speed. I like to wind the film and reset the shutter. I love the sound my camera makes when I click the release button to make an image. Manual focus is fantastic and the only option on the film cameras I own. I feel that I am more of the process than the camera when using a film camera.
Lastly, it’s fun. It is something different, and a refreshing change after shooting digital for so many years. I’m not giving up digital by any stretch. I continue to use my digital cameras. What has changed is that I always take my film camera with me as well. There will always be shots that I want on film. Images of my kids on film take me back to when I was young. It’s nostalgic. I enjoy waiting for the images and the excitement when they arrive.
So I choose both film and digital. They can live side by side. You can shoot both and enjoy both. I recommend if you are new to photography, pick up a cheap film camera that has manual controls. Take a digital camera with you and compare the images. You may be shocked by your results. You might also learn a thing or two about photography in the process.
Until Tomorrow,
John