How Film Photography Shaped My Career and Passion

I still remember the first time I held a film camera in my hands. It was a gift from my father, who was a technology fan at the time which love photo an video. He taught me how to load the film, adjust the settings, and compose the shot.

That was the beginning of my love affair with film photography, and it has never faded since then. Even through the “dark ages”, film photography has shaped my career and passion as a photographer, and I want to share with you some of the reasons why I still prefer film over digital.

The Beauty of Film Photography

Film photography has a beauty that digital photography cannot match. Film photography produces images that have a certain warmth, depth, and texture that digital photography often lacks. Film photography also has a natural grain, contrast, and color rendition that give the images a more organic and realistic appearance. Film photography can also create beautiful effects such as light leaks, flares, and vignettes that add to the mood and character of the images.

One of the most famous film photographers, Annie Leibovitz, once said: “The thing that’s magical about film is that it has a life. It has a depth and a quality that’s different from digital. It has a soul.”

I agree with her completely. Film photography has a soul that digital photography cannot replicate. Film photography captures the essence and emotion of the moment, and it makes the images more memorable and meaningful.

The Challenge of Film Photography

Film photography is not easy. It requires more attention and care than digital photography. You have to be mindful of your exposure, focus, composition, and lighting, as you cannot rely on the instant feedback and editing options that digital photography offers. You also have to be selective and intentional with your shots, as you have a limited number of frames per roll. Film photography forces you to think before you click, and to make every shot count.

How film photography shaped my career and passion as a photographer

But that’s also what makes film photography more rewarding and satisfying. Film photography challenges your creativity and skills, and it teaches you the basics and fundamentals of photography, such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and metering. Film photography also helps you understand the characteristics and qualities of different types of film, such as color, black and white, slide, and negative. Film photography also exposes you to the process and techniques of developing and printing your own images, which can be a fun and fulfilling experience.

One of the most influential film photographers, Vivian Maier, was a master of the challenge of film photography. She was a nanny who secretly took thousands of photographs of the streets of Chicago and New York, using a twin lens 6×6 camera that she carried everywhere. She never showed her work to anyone, and she died without knowing that her photographs would become world-famous. Her photographs are stunning examples of film photography, as they capture the personality and emotion of the strangers standing in front of her viewfinder.

The Fun of Film Photography

Film photography is fun and exciting. It adds an element of surprise and anticipation to your photography. You never know exactly how your images will turn out until you develop and see them. Film photography also allows you to experiment and play with different cameras, lenses, filters, and accessories that can produce different results and effects. Film photography can also inspire you to explore new places, subjects, and styles that you might not have tried otherwise.

One of the most fun film photographers, Lucy Laucht, is a travel photographer who uses a Leica 35mm camera to capture the bright and the beautiful. She is drawn to the sea, and her photographs are vibrant and alive with color. The golds and deep blues warm you even if you’re miles from the Mediterranean coast. Her photographs are a testament to the joy and enjoyment of film photography.

Conclusion

Film photography is not dead. It is alive and well, and it has a lot to offer to anyone who loves photography. Film photography has a beauty, a challenge, and a fun that digital photography cannot replace. Film photography has shaped my career and passion as a photographer, and I hope it will inspire you to pick up your own analog camera and start shooting.

If you are interested in film photography, or want to learn more about it, you can check out some of the online articles that I have used as references for this blog post. You can also browse through some of the stunning examples of film photography that we have taken over the years.

I hope that this blog post has sparked your curiosity and enthusiasm for film photography, or reminded you of the nostalgic memories of the old days. If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, feel free to write us a couple of words or leave it below. I would love to hear from you. Happy shooting!

Wilson Santos

UNRUSHED.
UNCOMPROMISED.
UNAPOLOGETIC.