Film Photography ?

We live in a world where consumers can’t keep up with the advances of technology. Products are outdated as we walk out of the store. Cameras become more sophisticated and photographs can be taken and shared with friends and colleagues as fast as the buttons are pushed. The question occasionally comes up…in today’s world, is “film” photography even needed anymore? Is it worth the trouble involved?

    Today’s digital cameras are technical wonders. They can produce sharp exposures, snap pictures at unbelievably high speeds and even ingrain the GPS coordinates into the pictures should you want them. Since everyone has a cell phone in their pocket, they already have access to a great camera. Using your phone, pictures can be made rivaling large format cameras, without the time or trouble. The speed and ease of today’s photography would suggest that manual film cameras are outdated and basically, useless. Outdated, I would agree but useless, about that I’d have to argue.

    To use a film camera, there is a specific process that needs done to produce a useable negative. The film must be loaded into the camera. The camera needs focusing, a proper exposure must be determined, and then after taking the picture, you have to wait until you’ve finished off the rest of the roll before you can see your pictures. There is no “sneak preview”, no screen to check to see if it is good or not.

    Having only a certain amount of exposures per roll, most film photographers tend to limit their shots, choosing carefully what and how they will photograph. Their choices tend to improve over time. Mistakes often happen but this can be used to your advantage, it is another lesson learnt!

    Once the roll has been removed from the camera, it needs to be developed. Sending your film out will take a while, possibly up to a couple weeks, a couple weeks of waiting and wondering how the pictures came out.

    But then, when the pictures or negatives arrive; “Oh, the excitement!” It is time to compare what you envisioned, and what you took; they are often two completely different things!

    Those with a darkroom or their own chemicals can do this process in about an hour. Taking a roll of still wet negatives out of the can is a great experience. Unrolling the negatives and seeing your images is truly exciting! “There they are, the pictures I took and developed myself!” It is a moment that I find, never gets old!

    The time and effort put into film photography doesn’t necessarily produce better pictures. What it does produce is something that I made myself.  Is it art? That is a truly difficult question to ask but I find it rather easy to answer. To me, yes it is. To an art critic perhaps not, but this doesn’t bother me. The pictures I make are only to satisfy myself. Should others enjoy them when I share them, so much the better. Perhaps this is why I am so critical about my shots and why they rarely meet my expectations, I am my toughest critic!

    Going back to the original question, is film photography necessary or needed anymore, especially since we have such advanced methods of taking and making pictures at our disposal. No, it isn’t really necessary but it is important! It is a part of our (photographers) history. It teaches how light and chemicals work together, it teaches us order and discipline, and how to accept and work through problems.

    As technology increases its width, as AI starts taking over the elementary things for us, maybe we should just allow our computers to “take” our pictures for us. While we are at it, let’s get rid of paper and pens, potters wheels, easels and paints. Our smart machines can produce our art for us, no need to get dirty. The future is here, relax and enjoy it!

    We need to keep doing things which involve using our hands and our minds. We need to continue to make things ourselves. It is a marvelous feeling, one that everyone should experience; making something that you are proud of.

    Film imaging may not be for everyone but it is important to me.  The choice of how you take your pictures is up to you, and no one else. How ever you take your pictures, have fun and keep making your art!