Film Photography

Film photography never really went away — and for a growing number of photographers, it's become more relevant than ever. There's something about the deliberateness of analog shooting, the texture of grain, and the chemistry of the darkroom that digital hasn't fully replicated. This section covers film cameras old and new, film stock comparisons, darkroom techniques, and the communities keeping analog photography alive.

Why Are Some Photographers Choosing to Go back In Time?

Not every idea is golden, and not all camera systems are destined to become legends. Digital photography has always grown by leaps and stumbles. 

Yesterday’s fresh feature inevitably becomes tomorrow’s standard issue. Each successive photographic breakthrough rests atop the foundations that came before. This is the natural way of things.

Pentax 17 Review: Fun and Quirky Film Photography

The Pentax 17 is here, bringing a fresh take on film photography. This half-frame camera uses 35mm film but gives you 72 exposures per roll, giving you more shots and a unique portrait orientation when looking through the viewfinder. For film enthusiasts, this camera could offer a fun and cost-effective way to enjoy shooting. 

3 Ways That Starting in Film Made Me a Better Digital Photographer

There was a recent meme that took a jab at photographers from the generation of the pen tool in Photoshop. It personified us as old ladies with walkers being escorted out by a younger generation with their AI tools. In the comments, someone remarked, “Let’s see how these young bucks would survive with the 1999 version of Photoshop.” 

Movie Director Christopher Nolan Has Some Great Advice for Photographers

Whether you work with still or moving images, there’s an art to telling a story with pictures. As a movie director whose preferred medium is analog film, Christopher Nolan’s shared experience with the evolution of his own creative process is sure to resonate with photographers. 

Exploring the Insane Fujica G690BL Camera

The Fujica G690BL, also known as the "Texas Leica," is a unique camera that has long intrigued many enthusiasts due to its blend of medium format quality and rangefinder ease of use.

Amazing Large Format Portraits

Getting the perfect shot with a large format camera can be tricky, but the results are worth it. The combination of a large negative and precise control over focus and depth of field can create stunning images.  

Kodak Gold 200: A Budget-Friendly Film for Stunning Results

Getting the most out of your film photography endeavors often means striking a balance between quality and cost. Kodak Gold 200 is a film stock that offers a compelling combination of affordability and pleasing results, particularly when shooting in 120 format.  

Achieving the Film Look With Digital Tools

The desire to capture the unique aesthetic of film photography remains strong among photographers, even in our digital age. While the convenience and flexibility of digital cameras are undeniable, the distinct colors, grain, and overall feel of film hold a certain allure.  

The Coffee Shop Sessions With Kai Eason

Saturday mornings, for most people, are about errands or relaxation. But for photographer Kai Eason, Saturday mornings are spent at local coffee shops, photographing a film photography portrait series known as "The Coffee Shop Sessions."  

Handcrafting the Image: The Art of Analog Photography

The transformative power of analog photography and handcrafted image processing is a captivating journey back to the roots of photographic artistry, offering a tangible connection to the creative process that is often lost in the digital age.  

The Art and Science of 8x10 Photography

The exploration of large format photography, specifically the 4x5 and 8x10 formats, has recently seen a resurgence among enthusiasts and professionals alike.

A Plea to Document Your life

In the age of selfies and having a camera in your pocket, it seems more and more young people have an endless camera roll of photos that will hardly, if ever, be looked at again. But is there a better way? 

How to Get the Film Photography Experience With Digital Cameras

Oftentimes, film photographers cite the slower, more considered pace and style of shooting film as one of the biggest reasons to shoot it. While that may be the case, it's a limitation that you can bring to the digital world with little lost in the process. 

Fujifilm Instax SQ40 Versus Instax SQ6: Which Should You Buy?

Fujifilm Instax cameras are the most popular instant cameras, offering a range of sizes from mini to wide, providing plenty of options. My favorite format is the Instax square film, and with the release of the new Instax SQ40, we conducted a comparison against the SQ6 to determine the best square format instant camera. 

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.  

Rediscovering My Grandfather’s Camera

Recently, as I've begun exploring the realm of film photography, my dad pulled out his father's old camera and passed it down to me. I never knew my grandfather, so this feels like a moment to connect where I was never able to. 

The Challenges and Rewards of Large Format Photography

Large format is a unique process that requires a lot of specialized technique and expensive gear, but the results are unlike anything you've seen before. This awesome video takes you behind the scenes to show you the process and images.  

The Camera That Follows Me Everywhere

Early on as photographers, advice you often receive is to take your camera everywhere. I did this as a beginner and have advised others to do the same. That said, this camera is one I carry for a different reason, and here’s why. 

Portraits of a Place: An Exclusive Interview With Simon Murphy, Photographer Behind the Must-See 'Govanhill' Exhibition

We catch up with photographer Simon Murphy who currently has a major exhibition of his work, having cast his lens on the Govanhill area of Glasgow over the last 20 years. Learn key insights into his methods, how he connected with members of this diverse community, and what advice he would pass on to photographers seeking to embark on long-form documentary projects. 

A Beginner's Guide to Choosing the Right Film Stock

The realm of film photography, rich in variety and nuances, can be an overwhelming journey for beginners. Understanding the array of film stocks available is not only crucial for achieving desired photographic results but also forms the backbone of a photographer's artistic expression. This helpful video will show you everything you need to get started. 

Harman Phoenix 200: Brand New Color Film Made in the UK

There hasn’t been a huge amount of good news on the film photography scene this year. Every “new” film announcement either seems to be rebadged cinema film, rebadged Kodak film, or rebadged ORWO / Wolfen film.  

Don't Miss This Beast of a Camera

Released between 1987 and 2007, the GX680 is most well known for its sheer size and weight. It lives up to its "beast" reputation, with many photographers feeling it was far too large to use outside of a controlled studio environment. However, as demonstrated in this video, the GX680 can in fact be used in the field for select applications like landscape photography. 

The Forgotten Excitement of Casual Film Photography

Do you remember the excitement and anticipation of dropping off film rolls at the photo development lab, waiting days or even weeks to get your printed photos back? For those of us who grew up in the pre-digital era, film photography was a much more nostalgic experience than the instant images we can take and view today. 

Film Photography Sees Surprise Renaissance Among Young Generation

Film cameras are making an unexpected comeback, experiencing a revival in popularity among teenagers and young adults. Vintage cameras like the Nikon F3, Canon AE-1, and Pentax K1000 that were collecting dust in basements are now selling like hot cakes on auction sites and at vintage shops. But this analog resurgence faces challenges around film scarcity and cost. 

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.

We Review the Reflx Lab Light Meter

A long time ago, I picked up my first Leica, a beater of an M4 that had been collecting dust and mold at the bottom of an old leather camera bag in a retired photographer's closet. With it came a number of oddities: close-up adapters, table tripods, and the like. But perhaps most interestingly, it came with an old Leica MC light meter. 

Five Mistakes That Ruin the Quality of Your Film Images

Film photography has enjoyed a notable resurgence in recent years, offering users a chance to take part in a different approach to the craft and enjoy a more tactile and nostalgic process. Just like digital, though, there are some common pitfalls that can derail the quality of your images.

The Joy of Large Format Photography

While there are differences between micro four thirds, APS-C, full frame, and medium format, the general shooting experience of all those various sensor sizes is mostly the same.

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. 

Shoot Storytelling Street Photography Like Fan Ho

Learn about storytelling through Fan Ho’s masterful photographic techniques. 

Through viewing the work of the late Fan Ho, we are reminded that intention is an important key in making a picture. In this video, Tatiana Hopper discusses how to leverage geometry in architecture along with light and shadow to your advantage, which is something that Fan Ho mastered.

What Happens When Your Film Is X-Rayed 19 Times?

One of the most frequently discussed topics in any film photography Facebook group is traveling with film. Newbies and old hands alike will share experiences of transiting through various airports, detailing their success rate of asking for hand checks of their film with security staff.  

Everything You Need To Know When Starting Film Photography

Considering getting into film photography? You have arrived at the appropriate destination. In this concise yet comprehensive video, you will learn all you need to know to get started with the fundamentals of film photography. 

Daido Moriyama: A Retrospective Comes to The Photographers Gallery This Autumn

Coming to The Photographers’ Gallery in October: the first UK retrospective of one of the world’s most innovative and influential artists and street photographers. If you are interested in documentary or street photography, Daido Moriyama's work is definitely something you should familiarize yourself with. 

A Hands-On Look at the New Polaroid I-2

Polaroid is an iconic brand in photography and has been since the late 1940s! Now, Polaroid has a new camera released, and it has a lot of pros, but potentially one large con. 

From the Archives: Stories From Life Magazine's Greatest Photographers

Life magazine was known for its large format photojournalism. In 1984, filmmaker David Hoffman made this not-to-be-missed television documentary about the history of Life, which included interviews with some of their greatest photojournalists. It's just as interesting today, if not more, than it would have been back then. 

How to Become a DOP for Sherlock, Game of Thrones, and Justice League

As I began my interview with Fabian Wagner DOP, he sits there, totally relaxed and easygoing. Describing himself as just an ordinary guy, it quickly becomes clear that my conversation was going to be a very relaxed affair, without pretenses, and totally open to all questions I threw at him. 

Photographing a New York Times Photo Story on a Large Format Camera

There is no format more extreme than large format, where the negatives dwarf even the biggest medium format sensors and each frame costs upwards of $5. With such intense costs and demands, would you use it to photograph something as important as a photo assignment for The New York Times? This neat video takes you behind the scenes with a photographer who did just that.  

Funleader x Brightin Star XSLIM-M Lens Review

Over the past few years, there has been a remarkable rise in M and LTM lens manufacturers, throwing in with Leica and Voigtlander in an attempt to carve out some space of their own.

The Drawback of Film Photography

Film photography has enjoyed a notable resurgence in the last few years, and while it can offer an enjoyable and different experience over digital, it is not without its drawbacks. The cost is the most commonly cited con to the format, but there is something arguably more crucial to consider.

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.