Recent Film Photography Articles

Memories of Overdevelopment and 9/11

On the morning of September 11th, 2001, many NY based photographers and film makers found themselves documenting one of the most traumatic events in American history, the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers.

Could You Take the Disposable Camera Challenge?

Us photographers love our expensive gear that features the best quality in optics, autofocus, sensor design, and more and offers us the utmost control of every last setting. So, could you take a shooting challenge with the lowest quality camera and absolutely no control over any settings? Check out this fun disposable camera challenge.

A Waterproof Film Camera Experience

The Canon Shot WP-1, a waterproof film camera from 1994, stands as an intriguing option for photographers who cherish the tactile and nostalgic qualities of film photography. Its waterproof nature and aesthetic appeal make it a unique choice for specific photography projects or conditions. This fun video takes a look at the camera and what you can do with it.

Sitex Computers:  The Photoshop Of the 80s

Every now and then it's fun to go back in time to see how photographers approached photoshoots requiring a large amount of production. Back in 1988 Brian King was on the cutting edge of digital photography with his use of Sitex imaging computers. Well before the advent of Photoshop, Brian was able to piece together multiple images by scanning negatives and turning them into primitive digital media. By today's standards, the final product is pretty comical but this is what the first results of 'digital photography' looked like in the advertising world. I have to say, if a single photograph took this much effort and planning today I would probably have given up on commercial photography a long time ago.
What's Your Film Photography Hot Take?

Film photography has seen a resurgence, capturing the hearts of many enthusiasts with its unique charm. What's your hot take on the trend?

Kodak Brings Back Beloved Gold 200 Film in 120 Format

Kodak Gold 200 film is a popular choice and one of the most affordable stocks you can get, but the 120 format version was discontinued, much to the disappointment of medium format film photographers. Well, after some well-known folk in film photography — at least insofar as social media — kept asking for it, Kodak decided to deliver.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 40 Versus Polaroid Go: What Is the Best Mini Instant Camera?

Fujifilm has been dominating the instant camera market for quite some time now. The Instax division from Fujifilm is its most profitable sector when it comes to the photography industry. However, a familiar brand called Polaroid is once again on the rise and aims to take its place back on top of the market.

Kodak Discontinues T-Max P3200 Film

This is for all you film fanatics out there. Grab yours as its still in stock! Kodak announced that it is discontinuing the Professional T-MAX P3200 film due to "low sales volume". In the past few months Kodak stopped producing digital cameras, sold its sensor business, increased the price of film by 15%, and discontinued three slide films in an effort to reorganize its business.

Gallagher In Slow Motion ... This Video Was Destined To Be Made

In an attempt to create the best camera review video the interweb has ever seen, FCTN (Fiction) put the Phantom Miro up against Gallagher, 80's icon and nemesis to watermelons the world over. There's enough 80's power, shirtless old men, whacky hair, glitter and splattering in this video that some of you may confuse this for a Richard Simon's workout tape. But be certain, Phantom Miro + Gallagher = you're all going to watch this, love it and share it.

Three Decades of Lomo: We Interview The Lomography Founders

I went to meet the founders of Lomography, Sally Bibawy and Matthias Fiegl, on an unseasonably warm Halloween morning in Brooklyn. For three decades, this unicorn of a company has maintained an unwavering commitment to analog long before analog’s recent renaissance, and I was eager to uncover what has fueled their commitment, what currently drives them, and how it might shape Lomography’s future.

Crappy Green Screen Footage? Fix It Like This!

I have been learning a ton of video know how in the past few months from watching the tutorials over at VideoMaker. I recently shot a green screen video for some background compositing and didn't take as much time as I should have setting up the lights for the green screen (the subjects on the other hand were flawlessly lit, haha). I thought I was out of luck until I came across this video which showed me how to fix my beginner's mistake and also has a few more handy tips for other green screen screw ups. Enjoy!

Helpful Tips for New Film Photographers

Film photography has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, and it is a fun way to explore your creativity and experience a different way of making images. If you are new to film photography, this excellent video tutorial will provide you with a variety of helpful tips to get you up and running in no time.

The Joy of Aerial Film Photography of New York

Most of the time, when you see aerial photography, it is taken with top-end modern equipment; after all, it is not cheap to rent a plane or helicopter, and usually, the photographer wants to get the most they can out of the experience. But that does not mean you can't shoot film from the air, and this fun video shows just what a joy it can be.

Harry Taylor Shoots Ambrotypes On Glass

Harry Taylor donated his time and talent to HeartsApart.org, an organization created to keep families connected while our military is serving abroad. In the video below Harry shoots 3 portraits which involve creating a positive image on a sheet of glass. This type of photography was created in the 1850s and if you are as interested in it as I was, you can learn more here.
Cyanotype Printing: Is It Photography, and How Do You Do It?

Explore the Art of the Cyanotype. In this article, we examine the step-by-step process of cyanotype printing and its place within the realm of photography. You can decide for yourself if you agree whether this is a photographic medium or not.

Developing Cyanotypes on Glass

Very often in photography, things go very wrong. In this video, Nicole Small shares her successes and failures in developing cyanotypes.

A Chemical History Of Photography

When I bought my first DSLR 4 years ago, I offered a very enthusiastic "SAYONARA!" to the film era. This wasn't because I'm not grateful for the journey that photography has endured to end up where it is, but because my ADHD spark plug of a mind needed a process that was faster and more efficient than it's film and darkroom roots. Even with the mindset that I have towards the film era and the process of early photography, this video is pretty cool and goes through a brief history of photography via the paradigm of a chemist. Enjoy!

The Lomo'Instant Square - Fully Analog Instax Square Film Camera

While the world grows increasingly digital, there’s something that draws humans to the physical gratification of analog media. Whether it’s the surge in vinyl record or cassette sales or the cult VHS collectors, it’s clear that there’s a deep-seated nostalgia that draws many of us to physical mediums. That nostalgia inspired Fujifilm to make the Instax Square Film that’s now being utilized in the quintessentially retro, “Lomo'Instant Square” from Lomography.

What Style of Camera Should New Film Photographers Get?

Film photography has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, and there are literally hundreds of used film camera models available to choose from, which can lead to a bit of decision paralysis. So, what kind of film camera is right for you? This great video discusses three different kinds of film cameras, their pros and cons, and which is the right kind for you.

Anastasia Taylor-Lind's Fascinating Portraits of Ukranian Protestors

One does not often associate violent protests and the threat of sniper fire with portrait studios. However, photojournalist Anastasia Taylor-Lind’s recent portraits of protestors and fighters in Kiev, Ukraine make us question this apparent disconnect. Taylor-Lind's stunning and revealing portraits were taken with a medium-format film camera between outbursts of violence, documenting the men and women fighting for their freedom in Kiev.

The Secret to Making Low Budget Films Look Expensive

Every videographer and filmmaker has to start somewhere and it can seem as if you need tens of thousands of dollars at your disposal to create anything worthwhile, but you don't. Here is one filmmaker's secret to making low-budget films look expensive.
What Were Press Cameras?

With well over a century of cameras under the industry's belt, there are many niche cameras that have fallen through the cracks of history, with very few remembering them. One example is the early press cameras which are special in their own right.
Does Shooting on Film Instantly Improve Your Photos?

There's been a lot of (digital) ink spilled about the look and feel of film photos being vastly superior to their digital counterparts, and while that's a question up for debate, there's also something else I've noticed among my fellow film-shooting friends: the propensity to elevate objectively terrible photos as art.