Film photography isn’t dead. It’s actually on a bit of an uptick.
I’m certainly not saying digital is bad, it is a whole lot more convenient and there’s a reassuring factor for photographers. You can review the images, know what you’ve got and not need to have a slight panic about postal services each time you ship an important roll off for processing. But there’s just something special about film, for some, it’s the colours or tones, the general ‘look’ of film. But, for me, it’s mostly how it affects the way I shoot, especially when it comes to film photography portraits.
What is the difference between digital and film photography?
Digital cameras use memory cards that can store hundreds of images, so with a handful of memory cards, you can easily store over a thousand images. Film cameras most often use 35mm film, which can capture about 36 images, or 120mm film, which usually has a limit of just 12. So unless a photographer wants to cart around a rucksack of film rolls, their shooting capacity is far lower. This might seem like a massive downside, but I think it’s actually a plus.
When I shoot film, I’m forced to be as focused as possible. I’m also forced to be as present as possible, this is great for portrait photography. If there’s a moment and I think I’ve captured it, it’s so tempting to just quickly check the image when using a digital camera, and the moment is often gone. With film, I get to capture it, then try to make it better. I can’t check, so I keep going.
Is film photography better than digital?
Personally, I don’t think one is better than the other and I like to use both. They both have the ability to capture fantastic images and with good scanning, you can obtain brilliant hi-res images from film as well as digital. Digital can offer a whole host of more options, especially in low light, and you can view your images instantly. But I think film has a little more soul.
One of the aspects I love about film photography is the ‘good’ defects. One of my film cameras has a rubbish lens. It’s a nightmare to focus properly and none of the images it has produced can be said to be sharp, but in the right situation, it’s just dreamy.
Film portrait photography
I love film portrait photography. Film cameras tend to have fewer controls, things that I find can get in the way of a good photo. As a photographer that thinks fancy gear can be a distraction, a simple point-and-shoot film camera can sometimes be the best option for creating beautiful portraits and I love using them. My vintage LC-A camera has just two controls, but it has taken some portraits that I love and have hanging on my wall. My Hasselblad 500cm is a lot more complicated, but it’s so fun to use. Settings lock into place with satisfying, mechanical clicks and the shutter has a loud swiping noise when it fires.
Plus, I like ‘rescuing’ devices that have been built with such care, many were designed to last and I still shoot with a camera my nan bought when she was younger than me. The case has a broken strap and her address written inside in biro. The camera itself is a little dusty, but the images it creates are beautiful.