Recent Film Photography Articles

The Beauty of Velvia Film

Back in the era of film photography, you based a lot of your work and creative style around your choice of film stock, which could make a huge difference in the final look of your images. If you are interested in using film for landscape photography, be sure to check out this great video that shows what it is like shooting with one of the most famous landscape films ever, one that was the stock of choice for many shooters.

Restoring the Past With Photoshop

Humidity, sunlight, water, and most of all, time, are just some of the culprits in the damage most printed photographs will endure. However these memories of loved ones do not need to be thrown away or thought to be unrepairable. A few layers in the digital world can bring it back for your clients.

Ridley Scott: Words of Advice From A Master Filmmaker

Ridley Scott is arguably one of the greatest movie directors of his time. Blade Runner, Legend, Alien, Black Hawk Down are just a sampling of his masterful works.

In the following sound clips, Ridley Scott shares his beginnings through art school, how directing television commercials for 15 years developed his lighting and editing skills and how making feature films for himself helped carry him to Hollywood.

First and Final Frames In Cinema With a Side-by-Side Comparison

In many cases the difference between the first and last frame of a film can be the evolution of a great adventure, while other times it can be the bridge of similarity between a characters development. Like bookends to a journey through cinematic storytelling, the beginning and end of a film can tell so much by their side-by-side comparison. In this short video, first and last frames of a handful of films are compiled together to showcase the evolution of storytelling in cinema.

Is 35mm Film Worthwhile for Landscape Photography?

Film still has a loyal following, but many of those who use it shoot a hybrid of 35mm digital and medium or large format film. This great video examines whether the cheaper and more convenient 35mm film format is still worth shooting nowadays.

The Best Camera For Beginning Film Shooters? Maybe!

Although words like "best" and "ultimate" are fun to throw around, of course there is no objectively best camera out there for a beginner. But to me, the Yashica Mat 124G is pretty close for a variety of reasons. From its handling to price, there is a lot to appreciate in this little gem. Here are some of my favorite features and why I think a person starting out in film photography might be in hog heaven with the little Yashica.

Intrepid 4x5 Could Be Your Cheap Jump to Large Format

If you’ve been wanting to make the jump into large format photography on a budget, the Kickstarter for The Intrepid 4x5 may be your ticket. The Intrepid Camera Co., based in the UK developed a wood platform 4x5 camera. They aim to change the face of the large format photography scene by making it transportable and much more economical.

Fstoppers Reviews: Mastin Labs Fuji 400H Preset System

Late last year, Trevor Dayley wrote an article which introduced me to the Mastin Labs Portra 400 film emulation preset system. As a long time Kodak Portra 400 shooter I was thrilled to see side-by-side comparisons of Portra 400 against digital with the preset. They looked darn near identical. Now Kirk Mastin, the mastermind behind the presets is gearing up to release his Fuji 400H preset system and I couldn't be more excited.

Game of Thrones Season 4 - Wight Attack Sequence Behind-the-Scenes

The ever talented team at Scanline VFX have posted their most recent BTS video of the popular wight fight scene from the Game of Thrones Season 4 Finale. In this run down you can see the incredible detail and heavy visual effects work that goes into each and every scene from that fight. This one sequence has been remored to be one of the most expensive scenes created for the show.

Why You Should Move Beyond Snapshots and Make Art With Everyday Life

When I chose to move beyond candid snapshots of my friends and family and actually asked them to sit down for formal portraits, my approach to everyday photography changed. Candid moments are wonderful, but practicing your craft with the people around you both helps hone your skills as a photographer and leads to precious moments with the people you love.

'Muir Song' Will Inspire You to Photograph the Great Outdoors This Earth Day

Documentary Filmmaker Janssen Powers makes me want to go to the mountains immediately. The beautiful Pacific Northwest is on amazing display in "Muir Song," an ode to naturalist and conservationist John Muir. Fittingly released on what would have been his 178th birthday, Powers takes us on a beautiful journey through the mountains and sea. If after watching this video you haven't booked your tickets (or if you're lucky to live there and don't go outside immediately), there is truly something wrong with you.

An Incredible Guide to Every 35mm ISO 400 Film Out There

If you're looking to try out film for the first time, the veritable myriad of choices can be a smidgen overwhelming. This remarkably comprehensive guide will tell you everything you need to know about all the 35mm ISO 400 options on the market right now.

The Joys of Large Format Landscape Photography

In the era of digital photography, it can be easy to click away without a second thought, but what if every time you pressed the shutter, it cost you $5? That might sound like an insane proposition, but the beauty of large format photography is that you get images that are simply not possible with a full frame camera or even with the most expensive modern medium format camera. This neat video takes you behind the scenes to show you large format landscape photography's process and some of the images you can create.

The Many Joys of Film Photography

There is no doubt that digital photography is technically superior to film in most circumstances, but there are aspects of the film photography experience that can never be replicated and that keep creatives returning to the medium over and over again. This fantastic video follows a photographer on a day shooting a variety of film and shows you some of the joys of the experience.

Samsara Is The Most Beautiful Movie That You Can't Afford To Miss

This movie appeals to every photographer due to the stunning visuals. Shot entirely on 70mm film, Samsara is a movie that spans twenty five countries and took five years to make. Not only does it encompass the grand scope of humanity, the visuals are simply mesmerizing. Be sure to watch this trailer in HD and full screen to experience the full effect.

The Stunning Beauty of Large Format Photography

Photography offers countless ways to explore creativity, and Nick Carver embodies this diversity. Known for his large format photography, Carver captures striking images of both natural landscapes and abandoned office buildings. His work highlights how settings, whether pristine nature or gritty urban spaces, can tell stories about their past and purpose.

100 More Years of Analog Film | Film Ferrania Announces Comeback Plan

The film industry has changed dramatically in the past ten years. Most film companies have struggled with the reduced demand, many being forced into bankruptcy. Film Ferrania was one of the casualties of the digital age, but has decided to re-emerge stronger than ever before.
Scanning C-41 Film: A Quick and Dirty Method

There's something absolutely wonderful about holding a piece of film fresh out of processing. The feeling of accomplishment, that indescribable rush of holding something you created in your fingers makes the difficulty of dealing with the medium worthwhile. However, once you're done processing the film, the next phase begins. Scanning can be, to put it lightly, a royal pain. From dust-spotting to tweaking color and levels, there are challenges that must be addressed. This is how I do it!

How You Can Get in to Large Format Photography Cheaply

Large format photography is interesting to most photographers, but it's an expensive pool to even dip a toe in to. The Nicos Photography Show has created a guide on the cheapest way to try your hand at this coveted type of image creation.

Series Of Behind The Scenes Videos From The New James Bond Movie "Skyfall"

One of the most anticipated movies this year has got to be the new James Bond flick, "Skyfall", directed by Sam Mendes. A series of behind the scenes videos have been posted online, and they really do offer a great look at just a few of the many things that go into such a vast production. Well worth a watch. 12 more videos are inside!

Fstoppers Analog Reviews: Canon AE-1 Program

Creating beautiful and compelling imagery through the medium of photography is a difficult challenge. Capturing a scene as it unfolds is both art and truth in storytelling. Today, digital photography presents the effortless platform for image capture. Excelling technology allows anyone to pick up a camera and take excellent photographs. One might say the ease of digital imagery has opened doors across platforms. We’ve seen this paradigm before; we witnessed the introduction of gateway tools in the world of photography since the dawn of the medium, each time bringing in new and excited enthusiasts who will go on to redefine what it is to be a photographer. In 1981, well before the surge of digital technology, there was a camera that similarly ushered in a generation of photographers: the Canon AE-1 Program.

The Film Toaster Makes Film Scanning Easier, But at What Cost?

Tim Heubeck, over at the Waste of Film channel on Youtube, has made a great video detailing the Film Toaster, a platform for using your DSLR to scan film. DSLR scanning has rapidly become a preferred way to capture negatives with a potentially higher quality than a traditional flatbed. The Film Toaster brings attempts to make this process easier, but with a $1699 price tag that may turn off potential investors.

How to Get Started in Large Format Photography

Large format photography is unlike nothing else you have seen before, allowing you to create humongous negatives full of incredible levels of detail and creative renderings not possible with 35mm or even medium format. However, large format photography requires an entirely different approach and set of techniques, which can make it a bit intimidating. Don't fear, though, as this fantastic video tutorial will show you everything you need to know to get started.