@@phillipbanes5484 If you think you can get Sony's poop-tastic colors to look like 400H or Provia, call Fuji cause they'll probably want to buy your secret formula🤣
Yep. Film comes in a ‘can’. It’s real, you can hold it in your hand, and the results. I shoot digital mostly but love film too. Vintage cameras etc. It’s a true joy 👍📸
Just discovered your site. In this particular episode, I found why I have used and collected film cameras since 1963. I am now in my 70's and live in Devon (UK) but born and worked in London (and for a while in Japan). Of all the websites on "youTube", this is the one site I can relate to. Thankyou
Born in '92, I didn't have much experience shooting film other than probably a few random frames on disposable film cameras that my parents bought throughout the years. I bought my first digital camera in college about 13 years ago and up until recently, I was shooting digital exclusively. I picked up a film camera about 2 years ago and was instantly hooked at the process. It felt like I was discovering photography again. What I thought I knew about making an exposure shifted. Knowing that each frame could be financially punishing forced me to slow down. Looking for better compositions, being careful with settings to get proper exposure, etc. It taught me patience among other things. But I also have a knack with collecting tangible items. Something about cutting film and storing them in sleeves is very therapeutic to me. Even if the negatives are not even mine!
What I’ve come to understand - from your comment, as well as some from others - is that the “younger” generation’s reason for using film isn’t much different from mine. It teaches patience and method. And I need that as much as anyone! Thanks so much for watching and sharing your perspective. And keep picking up those random negatives!
@@vintagecameradigest That's it! Something about analog feels much more natural too in a sense. In terms of creating an image from the light-exposed emulsion and chemistry. No electronics needed. Similar to the process of vinyl record playback; it absolutely blows my mind that a needle can reproduce recorded sound just by tracking a groove (electronics needed to spin the record and amplify the tune of course, but you get the point)! Analog is just much more human than digital. The sheer curiosity of the method behind the madness is fascinating to me, which is perhaps another reason I was drawn into film. Anyhow, great video and keep it up! Will be looking forward to your uploads in the future. Enjoy the holiday season. :)
Funny you brought up the vinyl LP analogy. I just mentioned that to someone else. How such a technology can produce beautifully music is basically magic!
Also interesting is the need for. Correct / no mistake, photographic process. Composition, lighting, depth of focus…. Many other factors that can change, moment to moment. With the Rollei, you see the moment of ‘truth’, the experience is unlike any Hassleblad, Mamya, or SLRs. Then there is the RUSH of the entire job experience. Wow. Being sent out with 2 rolls (24 exposures) and expect to deliver 20 near perfect compositions. Wedding photography is another level.
This video left me breathless. From your excellent commentary on film to the spectacular images at the end. This video was superb, to say the least! In the picture section I had to pause with every image and simply gaze upon & study it a bit. For me @ 78 years old, I was skipping heart beats at many of them. And on a side note, you did such an excellent job of preserving them. If there are awards or accolades for You Tube videos, this one deserves a healthy nomination!! Why shoot film today? My best analogy is with cars. I drive modern vehicles, but am also an old hot rodder. While my daily transportation is a newish Toyota Camry, the opportunity to sit behind the wheel of a Tri-5 Chevy or a C3 Corvette is nothing short of a thrill! In today's digital age, shooting film seems to provoke those same kinds of feelings. So, in essence, going out with a film camera today is the same for me as taking a '68 Corvette Stingray out for a joy ride. I shot film from 1970 to 2002, and developed & printed my own b&w from day 1. Starting in the 1990's, I also took a photography course at a local Community College "every" semester for 10 years running, where I could print my own color negatives AND transparency film. Bought my first digital camera in 2002 (a 6 mpix Fuji), and from that point to recently, I put film photography in my rear view mirror. It was your first video that renewed my interest in film, particularly b&w. So, you get the credit (or blame 🥰). I recently purchased a mint Yashica Mat 124G, and, already owning a couple of vintage Nikon F2's, I made my first investment in 35mm & 120 b&w film in over 20+ years, from B&H. Loaded up with T-Max 100 & my favorite, Tri-X, I am now going to further mimic you by going to a variety of places nearby, find interesting subjects & compositions, take meter readings with my hand meters, and fully enjoy and engulf myself!
I’ll happily take the “blame” for that :-) By the way, I was out with the Yashica-Mat 124G today and enjoyed it thoroughly. That’ll be coming up next! I like your car/camera analogy. It’s been made by a few others on here, as well. The user experience is different for just about every one you pick up. However, I’ve not shot with one yet that gives me the same feeling as a ‘68 Vette. I’m still searching for that one! Thanks for watching, my friend!
This is a bit of a late reply, but as someone who is a lot younger (20s), digital has been around for my whole life, but I get that same feeling you describe from using a film camera. I'd always had an interest in the history of technology which eventually led me to get my parents' old film cameras out of storage and try them out, and I've been primarily using film ever since. For me, it's the fact that it's something far more tangible than digital photos and just feels more "real" to me.
I will be 95 in a few days! Took my first photos by the end of WW II in France before serving in the US Army in 51-53. I was really in love with photography and movies later on. When I touch a negative I know it really «saw » the subject, the event, before it became an image ! Took my first professional wedding shots at age 21 ! only stopped a few years ago. My favorite BW camera has always been the Rollei SLR and SLX not the Leica even though I I own an M6 and love its construction. I miss developing and printing BW. Thank you for the video.
Well, let me wish you a VERY HAPPY 95th! I really like the idea of the film “seeing” the actual subject. I’ve not thought of that before, but that’s a great way to describe film. And one of my bucket list cameras is the SLX - such an amazing work of art! Thanks so much for watching!
wow, this is the first of your videos i've watched and i wasn't looking for this, but, your explanation of this, well, it somehow re-kindled why i decided to start shooting film again. and at best, i'm a hobbyist photographer. i'll never make money taking pictures, and i'm okay with that, and i'll never have a popular YT or INSTA showcasing what i shot, and yes, digital makes the most sense for someone like me, but at the same time, i'm like, you know what, i wanna commit to this shot, even if doesn't come out. i love my digital camera and will basically always use it, but, i still like loading a roll of whatever, even expired film, in a film camera that i could have never afforded when it was relevant, and, well, just experiencing the process. i've shot a few rolls of film where i didn't even know what i was going to get back because i waited so long to either pay to get them developed or i took the time to develop them myself, and you know what, i was still happy with results, even if those results sucked. i'm subscribing after this one. not that it matters, but, it's nice to hear a fresh, and or, a real take on film photography and why people do it. i mean, beyond its resurgence with certain demographics that solely rely on the "film aesthetic".
Thanks for watching! There’s just something about the entire film process that makes me feel more invested in the photos I take. For me, it’s COMPLETELY different from digital. I have different goals and expectations, and I tend to pay much more attention to my subjects. And, like you, it’s a terrific opportunity to use those cameras that I could’ve never afforded back when. And the lack of immediate feedback adds layers of suspense, excitement, and a bit of the unknown. And the results tend to be even more meaningful - to me, at least, if not to anyone else. Enjoying the entire process is a wonderful reason to shoot film! Thanks for watching and the sub! Hope you enjoy the channel! Cheers!
On a rainy day in April of 2020 my wife and I took a drive into NYC. What we witnessed was incredible. In a city of 12 million people there wasn’t a soul on the sidewalks, cars driving on the streets. I took my Nikon F3 with me to take pictures but I didn’t really think before we went I was shooting history. As we walked through Central Park we saw maybe ten people walking their dog when in fact there should have been thousands. You could walk down Madison Ave and not get hit by a car. Few cars were driving. I sent the pictures out for development and loaded on an USB thumb drive along with my negatives. Five months later the USB drive stopped working. If not for my negatives the pictures would be lost.
That is the horror story that I dread to hear. But it certainly happens more often than I’d like. So glad you do have those negatives. No doubt they’re historically significant. Glad you were able to capture that!
Beyond its tangible value, the manual process of chemical photography offers a unique and artisanal experience. Using a fully mechanical camera allows photographers to have complete control over every aspect of the image-making process. This hands-on approach fosters a deeper connection with the craft, where every step, from loading the film to developing the final print, becomes a deliberate and thoughtful act. The tactile nature of working with film, along with the anticipation and unpredictability of the results, provides a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that is often unmatched in the digital realm. Excellent video, very nice vintage pictures, thanks for sharing. 👍👍
I'm not sure why I still shoot film. As you enunciated so well the reasons that digital photography is way better than film, I can only offer a few reasons why I still prefer film over digital. It is what I started with as a boy using my Dad's Brownie box 616. A very cheap camera but it produced outstanding contact prints of the many trips we went on during my growing years as well as documenting the progression of Easter day family portraits we always made. Then when I joined the military as a young man, and was able to buy my own camera, it was a Nikon F that I purchased from the BX in Okinawa. I used that camera and an assortment of lenses to document everywhere I was stationed throughout the 30 years I was in the service. Those negatives and slides are a history of all my travels and the things that were important to me at each location. While I have stacks of CF and SD cards as well as an on line library of all the pictures I have taken with my digital cameras, I use my film cameras to make prints I hang on the walls of my home. These are tangible evidence of what I like most about the art of photography.
The people with the row boats at 9:17 is really lovely. Thanks for standing up for the craft of film photography and the beautiful images it can create in such a rich, tangible way.
That shot has a “Great Gatsby” sort of vibe, I think. It came from a 5x7 glass negative. Incredible detail. Perfectly exposed. My guess is they paid handsomely for that moment. Glad I can help preserve it. Thanks for watching!
I can relate. I started shooting with Canon FD cameras as a kid in the '90s. Back then these cameras were only seen as obsolete, and people would just give me gear they had in the closet. I went on to work as a newspaper photographer for over 12 years. I don't regret that career move one bit, but I ended up burned out with no desire to do photography for myself anymore. After a career change a few years ago, my inspiration has come back. I've been rediscovering photography as a hobby again, and a big part of that has been picking up my old film cameras.
Very well said my friend. Physical pictures seem to be a tangible legacy that outlives us all. My mother passed last year and I’ve got a box of negatives she had spanning all the way back to the late 1800s. There are only one or two people remaining that can potentially identify who they were before they will simply be lost to unnamed history like all of us at some point.
You know, my grandmother had a boxful of old prints (and some negatives, surprisingly), and we sat down with her one day to try and identify who some of the people were. We only got through about half the box and never finished. She’s gone now, so any possibility of identifying them has passed. I regret not following up on that. But at least we have them and not all will be lost. Thanks so much for watching!
I think what really draws me to film is that it reignited my love for photography as a hobby. I love my A7iv and my autofocusing lenses for professional work but all those bells and whistles take away some of the fun from the process of photography. There's an excitement to finding out a week later that you NAILED the focus with the shallow depth of field. I love how tactile shooting film is. I like the slower pace that film warrants and I like the little imperfections that can give a photo a more unique character. Don't get me wrong, for paid work I'm always going to use digital as my main camera but I've been adding my Canon A1 as a secondary cam lately to give my clients something a little more special and unique.
I just now subscribed to your channel as I’m thinking that we are about the same age and probably have similar film photography backgrounds. My father taught me 8mm & 16mm filmmaking when I was 6 or 7. His best friend was one of the most popular still photographers in the region. So I’ve been around film for over 60 years now. I’ve been collecting and repairing old, vintage film cameras for several decades now and am thrilled about this analog film resurgence. I’m sure I’ll enjoy your content! Thanks for this one!
Thank you for the sub! I hope you’ll enjoy these as much as I do. Be sure to check out the other episodes, and I’m always up for suggestions for new ones!
I met with my wife's family recently for the first time. Out came the photo albums. My son's early childhood also lives in albums. After I went digital it's all in folders on a hard drive somewhere. I know we can print them too, but it hits different, and we generally don't. I bought a photo album as an anniversary gift, so we can fill it with memories and drag it out when our grandkids come to visit.
As I am now 58 I grew up with film. Digital started for me in the early 2000's. since retiring from social photography I now find my self yearning to shoot film again and also digital. I still don't know why but this video does ring true. I do make a point of printing my digital work ( only the stuff I like) in the hope it will stand the test of time. People simply don't print enough IMHO
I think prints are a big part of it. And I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t print enough. Maybe it can be a New Year’s resolution for me - more printing! Thanks so much for tuning in!
From the digital age but my father had a dark room and I remember spending time with him watching the pictures develop . I bought a film point and shoot and a holga and I'm hooked. My digital cameras get me perfect images but I am not as happy with them. Getting a nice film image means more to me, I can't say why though.💁
Maybe it seems more of an accomplishment? I mean anything we can do that DOESN’T require a computer makes me feel more in touch with whatever that thing is? Possibly…
Amazing how many watchers your video inspired to share detailed comments, and most of the comments under this video are assets, too. I don't remember anyone explained so cleanly this value-making aspect of film photography. When I explained the value of a digitally taken photograph to my granddaughter, I told her that when a photograph is not printed it is just digital junk. Printing a photography even on a tiny ZINC printer gives value to that photograph, when printed on a 10 x 15cm with a SELPHY CP printer or 6.2 x 9.8cm on an Instax Wide printer gives the photo even bigger value. At the moment printing is the only way to give value to a digital photograph. The next level is to put these photos into your photo album, it is an enormous joy when we sit around with the family and page through the album photos. All of us have photo albums. When you take film photos, that is another level of value making, maintaining a film camera and lenses, buying film, taking the photos with extreme care, taking to the lab service, waiting for the development, then printing some into our photo albums. Exactly as you excellently explained, this process and real cost renders value to the moments of life. I am an urban sketcher and hobby painter, too, and that is another possibility for giving value to the moments of our everyday life. So, film photography is definitely an important part of this group of "artistic" (whatever it be) value-making of moments.
Thanks for the excellent comment. As you described, printing is one of the best (and perhaps the only) way to inject real value into digitally produced photos. And I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t do that as often as I should. But doing so would certainly strengthen the bond I feel for whatever the subject matter is. Thank you for these inspiring thoughts!
What an excellent video. Absolutely spot on. I grew up taking film, kept on it for years, moved to digital this century. Now mixing it up. btw, it's not just digital that can disappear : I had thousands of slides, prints and negatives destroyed by water whilst they were in the care of a storage company. I was not at all impressed.
Man, that sounds like a horror story to me. I know there are some crazy, unexpected things that can happen. But I would have had higher expectations from that company. That sucks outright.
I, with pleasure took on the roll of Family Archivist and have pictures that date back to the civil war. I'm lucky, because I know who most of these people are and in the last few years gotten to know them intimately, through family history. Having been entrusted with these printed photos and daguerreotypes, I feel like I've resurrected their memories and been given the opportunity to celebrate them and their existence as my ancestors. Thank you so much for this video and your inspiration to All of Us!
That is an excellent way of keeping those stories alive. And you have tangible media that you can share with the generations to come. I know it’s a lot of work, but I’m sure you’ve found it to be worthwhile. Cheers!
I'm 45 now I started out with film on a old Nikon f gifted to me from My Grandfather. He was a cold war military photographer that followed Elvis in 1958 , 1959 His assignment was Vietnam for most of the 60s .I seen all on film even the bad. I never moved away from that nikon f, it sets in my bag with a 7dmkii, 5dmkii and 5d4 also fe2 and fm2 . The life you gave to that random film you found is beyond words.
I am 52, I received my first (film) camera at 12 for a Boy Scout trip to Japan. I did not really pay attention to photography until I became a father and my son started playing soccer. Digital was just getting big and I went in…, I have been a sports photographer and middling portrait shooter since. My nephew wanted to learn photography from the roots the other year. I picked us up a couple of Olympus OM-1’s and I now have a Bronica S2. I’ve learned to develop my b&w photos with Cafenol and have a ton of fun going on Photo Days with my nephew. Film is tangible not only for the prints, but for the memories made while looking for subject matter valuable enough to commit to film, the joy is sharing the hobby with someone close and the personal growth in the crafting of the images. Great discussion and photos.
The OM-1 is a nice camera - and tiny! And I agree that looking for and finding suitable subject matter for film is rewarding in its own right. And I’m glad that you have your nephew to share this with. I’m sure it’s something he will remember fondly in the years to come. Thanks so much for watching!
I'll soon start my 74th year. The reason I shoot film is I like fooling around, with a purpose, with my old cameras. I like taking pictures with the film cameras because they are different from the digital. I agree, it really isn't logical looking at the cost. However.... we spend our money some where in some way. I choose photography... the film variety. I really enjoyed your views on the why of shooting film. The slide show of the old photos was really nice. In an hour I go to pick up prints from my first roll through the Nikon FT N given to me by my bro-in-law. I just counted... I have ten film cameras now.
You’re absolutely right - we’re going to spend our money someplace. And I can’t think of many more meaningful ways. Thanks so much for watching. Now, about those 10 cameras - which is your favorite of the moment?
@@vintagecameradigest Favorite? you've asked a tough question. My first 35mm from '71 is a Konica Autoreflex T was my only camera for 35 years. I really do love that one. I also like shooting the Nikon FM. So, I am not sure I have that slot filled in. Fun to think about. Enjoy your views on photography and the videos you share with us. Thank you!
Great discussion . At the old age of 77, I switched to digital at the turn of the century. Was shooting weddings. What a game changer, digital was..... Sold of all my 35mm and some medium format stuff, to purchase digital equipment. I did keep my 4x5 , one 6x6 and some rangefinders . Then about 4 years ago, I started seeing film videos on YT. I still had some developing equipment . Got the remaining cameras serviced, and started shooting film again. What a relaxing experience . I have to think, before I push the shutter button. Shot 10 sheets of 4x5, I decided that was too much , lugging gear around. My medium format is much better to hand hold, as is 35mm . However , I do scan all my film, as dark room processing is too much, and time consuming . But, I do not process the digital images, any further, than a lab would do . I still keep a digital camera on hand, for important work. Thanks. Take care. KB
Digital was absolutely a game-changer. I couldn’t agree more. Especially when you’re making a living through photography. It was amazing. But I always missed the process of film, developing, printing. And the overall challenge of it all. I’ve come to the realization that with digital, I just shoot and shoot and eventually get it distilled down to what I’m going for. But with film, I have to think about it all first. Which is something I used to do all the time. Funny how quickly we can become accustomed to something new and completely forget the old.
You have obviously struck a cord here with all of the comments coming so soon after posting! You have articulated quite well a lot of what I have been saying since I "converted" to digital back in 2002. I never really got rid of my film gear, quite the opposite, I started acquiring as much as I could handle because prices dropped so much (don't tell my wife!). I would add another point to your already rather complete rationale, and that is this - once you have captured an image worthy of note, the accomplishment is much greater having done it with film just because it is more difficult and challenging. As you have alluded, with digital technology all you have to do is frame the shot and push a button, the rest is so automated to have taken the photographer mostly out of the equation. I spent about 12 years photographing indoor action (competitions) and even though that is challenging enough, I have often thought about going back and trying to capture the same on fast B&W (3200 iso) film and my Nikon F5 with 2.8 glass. I might be able to tame some the grain in post production digitalization to get the end result a bit closer, but the main thing would be to both prove a point (that it can be done) and to record with some permanency. The other important point that you touch on (as well as others in the comments) has to do with being unofficial family historians. I have tried to collect as many images as practical from both my and my wife's family archive just to try to organize and preserve them in some form for our children and their children. At one of our family reunions back in 2013, I captured an image of all of my brothers and their families along with a large family portrait of my mom and her family when she was about 4 years old in about 1922 or 1923. Amongst others, it shows a picture of her oldest sister who passed away as a teenager, I think due to TB. I never would have known that fact except for the explanation my mom gave while sharing that photograph. Preserving family history is not something to be trusted to still-evolving technology, but instead to that which is known and tried and true. Sorry for the long post, but I guess you've struck a cord with me too. Had to subscribe and I look forward to more content.
I think every family should have an unofficial (or official, even) historian, just to keep all the stories alive and passed down. I’m not sure who is in my family, but it’s probably me. I know I at least have a big box of photos from my time as a kid growing up. So yeah, it’s probably me. Shooting indoor action is the worst/toughest shooting scenario. I used to shoot a lot of TMax 3200 at basketball games. And they still were bad. I don’t miss that at all. And I did fully embrace digital when it came to that situation. But I think that was more part of it being my job and not something I really enjoyed. That was not a subject I’d choose for fun. But I agree - might be a worthwhile challenge now with some film! Thanks for subscribing and watching!
What a great video, I discovered a passion for photography in my late 50's as a hobby. I entered the digital photography world not knowing one bit about the genre. There was a lot to learn, cameras, lenses, photo editors etc. I struggled with the technical side of digital photography and still do. Taking photos is a creative and therapeutic hobby which helps my mental well being. What I love about digital photography is the ability and ease to manipulate an image and create something totally different. Blending a photo using painting software is something I enjoy. Now @ the age of 66 I have decided to try film photography with some trepidation. Why? Over the last several years I have picked up some film cameras here and there at yards sales etc. for my office decoration, never thinking I would use them. This past year, something started to change in me and the sense of being overwhelmed with technology, especially artificial intelligence. I found myself loosing my passion for digital photography with a sense of burnout and boredom. I remembered a photography class I had taken back in my high school days. Something just drew me to wanting to re-learn film photography. So here I am, shocked by how much everything costs, finding places to get filmed developed and (an introvert) even wanting to try making RUclips videos about my film photography journey. I want to slow down the process of my photography and really learn to get in touch with the creative moment. Film photography teaches me to own and take the responsibility for my mistakes. I have a lot to learn with film photography, but the journey is well worth the cost for me.
Brilliant comment! And a few of your points echo my own thoughts and feelings about why I shoot film. When digital became a viable replacement for film, I was quick to jump on the bandwagon. I thought I was wasting too much time and effort with film, processing and printing. Digital allowed me to go straight from start to finish without the tedious process in between. And after about 10 years, I was totally bored with it. And even though I still make a living with digital cameras, I’m rarely excited by the prospect. Turns out everything about film that I’d lost patience in, was really what made me love photography in the first place - the process. And there’s a definite dopamine rush when I pull the film off the reel for the first time to see the negatives. And I think this is one reason for my love of B&W photography. I can do the whole process myself. Again, thanks for your comment. I wish you a continued sense of wonder as you continue your journey into film!
The people in these photos certainly dressed in their finest fine for these moments. Worth every penny to them, and should be framed and displayed again. Have not been in a darkroom in 28 years and looking forward to getting back into the game. Having bulk loaded my film back then, I have serious sticker shock with the prices. Two rolls of Ilford Pan F and SFX for $30 two weeks ago and I still have not taken a shot yet. Don't want to waste it but I will shoot soon.
Definite sticker shock. The good news is that, in the UK at least, Kodak is dropping prices on some films. Ilford has always been a little more affordable, but still, the price of a 100’ roll of Delta 100 is not painless. But regardless, I’m gonna keep giving them my money.
Love this video, it brings back memories of looking at my parents and grandparents photo albums. Many of those shots remind me of the many family gatherings we used to have. Like you and many others, I grew up in the film age and have boxes and boxes of prints and shelves of albums that I have informed my children and grandchildren about their location.
There’s a lot to be said for having actual prints that you can pick up and look through at your leisure. I still have the boxes of photos from family and my grandparents’ photos, as well. I still enjoy sitting down and going through them. Obviously, we can do the same for our digital photos, but I’m guessing that more often than not, we don’t. Maybe the massive quantity of digital photos we create makes doing so un-economical. But I need to start printing favorites, at least.
I always felt like was a little bit of a wizard or something when I would be able to develop my own film and print in the dark room. Making images appear on a piece of film or paper just felt like magic, especially when I used a fully manual camera. It always made me feel connected to the process and the image itself. I feel almost disconnected from my digital photos. I also loved the ability to try printing photos on things you just can’t with digital. I do love my digital camera and all the benefits that go with it but it will never replace film as long as film is still available.
I think the “disconnectedness” of digital really resonates with a lot of people. Digital takes you straight to the destination. Film requires a bit of a journey to get there. And that entire process is what I find fulfilling. Are my film shots technically superior to my digital photos? Not likely. But are they more valuable to me? Absolutely. Thanks for watching!
Yes, digital is so convenient, but film is so tactile! There is just a special something about an analog image and print, much like the sound from a good vinyl recording! Okay, I'm an old geezer and I love the feel and sound of a film camera. The sensual delight of hearing the 120 roll of film being loaded into a camera. All the grand mechanical moves of a 35mm film camera in full function. A digital camera is just a computer with a lens. A film camera has soul, yours and its!
Agreed! The sounds and mechanics of each model of camera can be wildly different and gives each on its own “voice” , if you will. That’s one of my reasons for “collecting” as many as I have. They’re more than just objects. They have their own personality and “soul”. Cheers!
Most of the old photos I have do suggest they had those moments of happiness. Although some do evoke a bit of melancholy here and there. Not unlike most of us, I suppose.
Magic, the answer is magic. When I started photographing as a young lad there was magic to be had shooting the mysterious camera, developing film to find these odd negative images then the ultimate magic when that subject you chose starts to materialize under the red light in the developer. Today I use a hybrid work flow but there is still a bit of magic and pixie dust that comes from shooting film. One person commented he could shoot a digital and film image and he could make them indistinguishable. I’m sorry for that photographer because he lost the magic. This was a wonderful piece and I throughly enjoyed those powerful images. They were magical!
Very well-stated. I remember the first time walking into the darkroom in college…the smells…the sounds…the safelights…all magical, and an experience seldom matched. Magic it is. It’s hard to think of life before everything was digital. How the heck did we even survive? It reminds me of the first time my son experienced a vinyl record. He was mesmerized at how this spinning disc could produce music. It was magic, too. Thanks for helping keep that magic alive!
Film photography is a hobby I enjoy. Hobbies do not require justification. I think the whole idea is that hobbies are pointless. Heck, 90 percent of what people enjoy doing is pointless. Yeah, not much to say about it really. I just like it.
I recently got into film photography after shooting digital for all my life (I’m 38). I do recall seeing my mom’s photo book and how those photos made me feel. You nailed it with explaining how film carries some sentimental value to it. I find the process of shooting, waiting for my film to be developed and physically holding my photos so pleasing. I can say on one hand how many digital photos i’ve actually printed (3) in the last 10 years. I also feel like film photos feel more like a memory compared to anything digital. With that being said digital has allowed me to catch some amazing memories that film will have never allowed me to catch.
Since the analog process doesn’t give you immediate feedback, it seems we have to work a bit harder at it. Pay more attention. Slow down. Anticipate. And it’s one thing, at least, that doesn’t rely on a computer do accomplish. But I certainly do agree that digital is much more flexible. There is a time and place for each. Thanks for watching!
I learned photography on film and switched to digital around the year 2000, and I came back to film 5 years ago. The 2 main reasons I still shoot film is the process of shooting film manual is mode complex, reading your light, which shutter speed to choose, the limitations of one ISO for differents situation, etc and the second factor is the feeling of the camera when you press the button to snap the shot. The feeling of my Nikon FE when you press the button is totally different of the one of my Nikon D750 or Nikon Z6, and if I shoot medium format with my Bronica ETR with the waist-level view finder, try copy that on a digital camera, IMPOSSIBLE
Yes, I do appreciate the way it slows me down to be more deliberate with my shots. Again, each shot is not “free” - as it seems with digital. So I’m a bit more careful - or at least I try to be.
I shoot film in all formats to include 4X5. I really do not know why I do it , it just so enjoyable that the cost is justifiable ( at least to me it is). Not only does it slow you down but the entire process is great. I shoot, develop, scan and print at home. Once I am done I have a negative and a print that will out-live me. Love all your videos. They are very entertaining and very informative. Thank you for dedicating you valuable time to us and the art of Photography.
Thanks so much for the kind words! I’m glad there are others that enjoy the entire process as I do. It’s not always about getting to the results as fast as we can. I think that the journey is just as important as the destination. Cheers!
@@photofusionart No you do not need a dark room. My work flow with film, same for all formats. Shoot, Take the roll or film holder place in a dark bag. There by feel you will load the film into the film canister. Now you can remove the canister and continue in the light ( the canisters are light proof}. I use my kitchen, as I have access to the water/ sink. There I will develop the film. Use the developer, wash, fixer, wash hang to dry. I will then scan the negatives into the computer and treat it as a digital file. Best of both worlds. I really love this process! Hope this helps.
I started phototography more than half a century ago, when film was all there was. For the last 20 or so years, I have collected mechanical 35mm cameras. I like to use these cameras, and the most economical way to do this is monochrome film, which I bulk load, and process myself.
I do love some good B&W. It’s my film of choice. Color tends to be too “literal” of an interpretation for me. Although, I do usually keep some color film around if the project calls for it. Thanks for watching!
Very nice Steve! I love finding old photos in antique stores. As you say, every single one was an image that meant something to someone, sometime. I think my main reasons for shooting film and 1) that it is, as you say, tangible, you can hold it in your hand and it will last a long time, and 2) I focus on older MF and LF because it's complex and difficult, which means every frame is taken with care and consideration. I think if I take a photo of you, the photo is a moment in your story, but the taking of the photo is a moment in my story. So the negative, or print, or whatever, is a unique moment where your story and my story intersected for an instant. I guess that concept is there with digital, but without that instant being transferred onto a physical object, a digital moment remains just a concept. Maybe that's why Instax has become popular, and Polaroid has made a comeback!
Wow. The statement about “stories intersecting” is a perfect description of how I feel about film - I was just unable to articulate it so precisely. It’s a commemoration of a shared moment. And that digital remains “conceptual” - I can’t think of a better descriptor. When I returned to film a decade ago, my motivation was slowing down and taking time. And while I’ve done that, the connection with the subject became a bit more important (and accidental). It was surprising how it matured my reasoning for photography in general. Many, many thanks for the comment, my friend. You absolutely nailed it.
@@vintagecameradigest so much easier coming up with clever words when I'm sitting in front of a keyboard! Point a camera at me and I become a monosyllabic buffoon!!!
Thanks for posting this video. The old photos and plates are fascinating! What a treasure! It's also great to see how many younger photographers pick up analog photography even though they started with digital, as analog already wasn't a thing anymore when they first picked up a camera or smartphone.
I think part of this is the younger people are getting many film cameras from grand parents estates and see the potential of a good piece of photo gear.... everything old becomes new again!
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, I assume a Gen Z’er will have very different reasons than I do for choosing film. And it’s something I really want to understand as a fresh perspective.
I was shooting fiom as a kid in the 80's and 90's as evevyone were at the time, but had a very cheap camera. In the early 2000's till a few years ago, i was mainly taking pictures with my cell phone. I was mostly interested in music and music gear at that time. And my step mom (my girlfriend's mom) passed away in 2017. While going through her stuff with my girlfriend, we found a old praktica mtl5b, and it clicked. I looked at my girlfriend and said I'm keeping this. And stating experimenting with it. Read many tutorial, watched countless videos on RUclips. Bought a few more cameras, mostly Minoltas, got a bunches of lenses. Tried so many different films. Spent cash on get them developed, waiting to see how what i captured turned out. Sometimes it was really bad, sometimes, it was great. I love the feeling when you get your pictures. I recently bought a nikon d750, got my first photography contract. I love the camera and i can recognize the practical aspect of shooting digital, but my love for film is still there and can't wait to have a personal project to shoot.
Ah…Minoltas….I have a soft spot for Minolta cameras, since my first “real” camera (in ‘86) was an X-700. The memories…. Glad you were able to get a hold of that Praktica and put it to use. I’ve never had the pleasure of using one of those. Wishing you luck on your photographic endeavors!
Why shoot film? Why Not! I grewe up shooting film and treasure my negative collection. I have documented many things. Everyone should do sol. I loved your video!!!
Film offers me the ability to pay homage, to practice the medium, to document history forever--physically, to be more creative, to use cameras and glass my idols and family used, to spread joy, to slow down, to be more thoughtful, to make it count, delayed gratification, to photograph the way it was designed. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL images at the end. I myself have bought and scanned images from the flea market as well, I gathered a collection of about 90 images of a single family over the course of a few months digging in a box of a couple thousand photos from a weekly seller. Over the course of these weeks I restored and scanned them all and did a huge amount of research to find the house that was in most of the photos, to put a long story short I plan to reunite all the images digitized and restored to the original family which I have identified, I visited the mausoleum where they are cremated and took flowers with some custom prints I made of the restorations embedded in the bouquet. I also visited the location of these photos to find a restored home and a nice new owner that had spent half a million bucks restoring to keep it original. I still get goosebumps thinking about all of it. Let's just say when I visited this family, after working on their images for hundreds of hours and feeling like I knew them, it was a more emotional experience visiting them than it is for family members I have lost.
Such a cool story! I have a similar group of negatives that chronicles a large portion of life for a young girl. Difference here is I have absolutely no idea who she is. To be able to identify and locate the family as you did, though, DOES bring chills. Kudos to you for some very good work!
Such a compelling and beautiful montage making your case for film so elegantly. Thank you! I too was moved by individual images, but also by the totality of many lives caught in their living moments. In addition to all the reasons for shooting film often mentioned, we cannot forget the effect on our human subjects when they observe us deploying our ancient cameras. The more arcane, the better. Portrait subjects sense, as you argue, that this image will have more value than all the phone pics they typically endure. It can transform the resulting image.
You’re absolutely right. I had a nice conversation with a gentleman today while out with the Yashica Mat 124G. He had a lot of questions about the camera and process. But as he left, he encouraged me to “keep up the good work”. Obviously, he’s never seen any of my work, but I think the fact that it was film gave it some gravitas. It does have an effect on our subjects. They can sense it.
Being born in November of 1998 (currently 25 years old), my experience with film growing up was basically taking my moms point and shoot out on the farm or on a family trip and taking whatever random photos I felt like. At the end of the roll we would take it to our local drug store or Walmart to have developed for 5 bucks in an hour while we browsed around in the store. Now that I'm an adult, I take film alot more serious and put time and effort into every frame because as you mentioned it is not economically friendly. There is a certain value to each image you capture, and doing street photography, like I mostly do, you run into and have conversations with some amazing people that otherwise you would have avoided because they look "weird" or "dirty" or just simply because they are strangers. The whole process of film is delightful and the memories are more "permanent" in the sense that you remember taking the photo alot more than digital. I can easily burst 30 photos in a few seconds on my digital camera, or I can set up my camera and composition carefully and take one, maybe two frames of the same subject on film and be alot happier with the results. I love this channel and am very happy I found it. By chance, your metering video was in my recommended and I sat and watched the entire video and I am glad I did.
Many thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed that video. And I’m glad to hear from another about their film photography experience. It’s especially interesting due to the fact that you’ve grown up in the world where digital photography has been the norm. It’s also interesting that despite that, we have very similar feelings about the value of film photography and the overall experience. Street photography isn’t really a thing where I live since it’s such a small town. But I can understand it’s appeal and the opportunity to observe and perhaps have a few unexpected conversations and connections. I’m not too far from Atlanta, and have been toying with the idea of driving in one day and just walking around the city for a few hours with a camera. Many thanks for watching! Cheers!
Hi, I really hope you get this message as it's pretty mind blowing... My mate at the camera club in Bedford, UK is 80 years old. He moved to the UK from the States many years ago and he's a very good and keen photographer. I'm late 50's and I learn a lot from him as he is a very generous man with his time and talent. He's been there and done that regards film but he does like to 'suffer' my film passion and encourage my madness :). So, when I saw your video, I shared it with him last week. What happened next was just amazing. I got a message back from him saying this: "That video you sent, Why Shoot Film, about 8:46 in, a photo of six children..? No idea how, but my mother is the girl, 2nd from the right..! I know because I’ve seen that image before, and when I put together a photo book of my parents lives, that was one of the images I remember culling; had better images of my mum at that age..! All those small prints where in a box my sister had, and since she died several years ago, no idea what happened to that box…. They were all prints, no negatives…. Small world mate..!" And also: "I believe the photo was taken in the back garden of 16 Downing Road, Brookline, Massachusetts, USA…. My maternal grandparents home…!" Just how amazing as that given where you got them from and the fact I saw your video and thought to share it with him! Now to the favour... Could I buy that neg off you so I can print it for him as a gift in the darkroom? Or, would you be kind enough to send me a digital scan so I can print it on some nice paper for him? I think this is a truly amazing story and really touches me. I hope you enjoy it too and thank you so much for taking the time to share these timeless images. Cheers, Pete
What an absolutely amazing story! I mean, what an incredibly small world. You have no idea how happy I am to have found a home for one of these dear photos. I’m just dumbfounded. And on another continent, no less. Incredible. And the short answer to your question is that I’ll absolutely send it for you to give to him. Email me at vintagecameradigest(at)gmail(dot)com and we’ll work out the details. This is awesome!
Thank you - this means a LOT to me and will mean more to him. I'm going to do a presentation around this whole thing at the camera club and then present him the print and neg at the end. As an example of his generosity, I met him in the pub for a pint last night where he GAVE me 2 tintypes, a daguerreotype and an actual 'calling card' from one of his relations going way back - a man called Samuel Alds Way - a noted Bostonian (Who has streets named after him!). - well worth googling that guy - he was a billionaire in todays money and he started selling watches at 15) I'm happy this came together - moments like this just make life worth the effort! :D @@vintagecameradigest
You talked about the cost of film, but the cost of equipment is another factor that may be just as important. I have a nice collection of Canon manual focus cameras and FD lenses that I purchased over the the last 40 years. Some of these lenses cost 5%-10% of the price of an equivalent modern autofocus lens. It's a similar situation with the camera bodies - $200 vs. $2500 and up. In most cases, the modern digital cameras have capabilities I simply don't need. I did buy my first "real" digital camera for an upcoming project, but I'm using an old manual focus lens with it because the modern equivalent is simply unaffordable for me. While learning the digital camera and the accompanying workflow, my feeling is that there is too much choice. When I shoot with film, I can take a picture and say that's what the scene looked like, even if it may be lacking in some ways. With digital, there are a thousand ways to manipulate the image to change the look. Which one, if any, is "real"? This is a purely emotional reaction on my part, but this aspect of digital repels me. Ultimately, there is a place for both. For me, I'm going to take my old film cameras and go out and learn the things I should have learned 40 years ago instead of setting the camera on Auto and just firing away. I've always just documented. Now I want to learn how to see.
“Learning how to see…” that perfectly sums it up, I think. I find that I’m still learning that. And this film camera project of mine has contributed much to this. As to the cost of equipment - yes, now film cameras and manual lenses are often much less expensive than contemporary lenses and cameras (otherwise I certainly wouldn’t be doing this channel). But if you go back to when these cameras were new (and you adjust for inflation), they were more or less equivalent to what cameras are selling for now. But I think this is a perfect time to be experimenting with vintage cameras and lenses - especially since you can use those lenses on a lot of modern cameras.
I so appreciate the succinct description of the value of film photography (no pun intended). Very thought-provoking and deepens my reflection on re-entering black-and-white film photography. A big part of it for me is the process: developing the work from beginning to the end. It slows me down. Causes me to really think about the value of what I’m seeing and trying to communicate.
I think love of the process is a big part of it for me, as well. I don’t currently have a dark room setup to make traditional prints, but I still love being able to develop film and get my hands wet. The anticipation of pulling film out of the wash to see results is also a bit of a rush. But again, there’s more “at stake”. I think the more opportunity I have to completely screw something up correlates directly to my perceived value of it when it comes out right.
The reason I enjoy film became apparent this year when my mother gave me an envelope of negatives. The colour and quality is impressive. Most of the photos where taken on my fathers Canon AE-1 which I shoot with today. I now have images that I thought were lost to time. With a bit of research, I have even figured out the dates and these photos are now in chronological order. I can see the importance of documenting family and community with film moving forward. I like to think that “nostalgia is the patina of the mind”. Thanks for sharing such a great video.
I've gotten really into shooting film over the last year, my dad who is a professional photographer who came up during film and switched to digital is baffled that I'm sticking to analog. But for me who's only doing it as a hobby I find it much more satisfying. You're involved at every step of the process, from picking the right film for the situation, working with a camera that's a mechanical device that you manipulate to get the most out of that particular film, carefully considering the composition to not waste your precious few frames, then taking time to properly develop and scan the negatives. It takes work and planning and there's risk involved, at any step you could screw it up. But when you get those few perfect shots from a roll it really feels like you earned it and that you actually created something beautiful. I don't get that feeling from pointing a sensor at something and pushing a button.
I absolutely agree that it just feels like a different process altogether. The risk/reward cycle is quite satisfying. And the anticipation of the results is also a big part of it for me. Pulling the film out of the was and actually seeing images on the negatives is a moment of celebration. Glad you’re enjoying film!
There's a lot to be said about shooting film. My old Nikon can place 9 images on one negative which can be useful under the right conditions. At Uni I started in electrical engineering, but didn't get a long with my advisor, so I changed to Film & TV production where it was mandatory to take B/W photography to include developing, enlarging and printing our assignments. We used the old Rolleiflex camera. Additionally, our film class assignment was to tell a story with 100 ft. roll of 16mm film without editing. Later classes with cutting, splicing A and B rolls. When I went to Europe for the first time spending three weeks behind the Iron Curtain in Hungary, I shot in excess of 600 photos. What I enjoyed was seeing the results later and at times to be surprised at the results. It's just too easy to delete things and move on today. A very useful course for me, still analoge, was at UCLA, a two weekend course led by a former foto editor for Nat'l Geographic for 12 years wherein we needed to shoot fotos during the interim week for evaluation the following weekend. I'm pretty much a purist when it comes to my photos, preferring not to manipulate them, other than to perhaps enlarge some of them, trimming them. I also went with Fuji film seine a number of productions I worked on had switched from Kodak to Fuji. Good choice. With digital one cannot do any flashing if one desire to. Only possible with analoge.
Well said. And one thing you said in particular really resonates with me: seeing the results later and sometimes being surprised. I think I enjoy the anticipation of the results as much as shooting the film in the first place. And it breaks the overall enjoyment into two instances. Thanks for watching!
What a solid presentation. You have a great sounding voice - perfect for nostalgic memories. I just bought three cameras: Konica autoreflex TC (the camera I had to shoot my high school yearbook in 1981-83. I miss the darkroom) Holga 120 N (just because of its wackiness - will be sending a test roll along with the above Ilford HP5 400j Fujifilm X-T1 with the manual Samyang 8mm fisheye II that just arrived today - loving this, I miss velvia e6 so bad I love my digital - hate the post processing. This is why I chose fujifilm - film simulation. Love this. BUT there is something about film…I can touch it…I love velvia large format…like word processing vs writing with my fountain pens and typewriters…drawing and hammering letters. Thanks for a great memory…now I’m going to buy some old negatives and e6 from eBay. I’ve got my eye on Chroma cameras there six 17 and 8x10 just because YOLO!
Many thanks for your kind words! Looks like we were in high school about the same time (I graduated in ‘85). I often wonder how my teenage years would have been different if I had been into photography at that point. I didn’t get serious about it until college. Anyway, you’ll need to let me know how you like the TC now that you’ve revisited it. The most “modern” Konica I have currently is an FS-1. But I do like the AutoReflex series a lot and I like the lenses even better. Quite underrated, I think. I’ve never used a Holga…but I do have several old “Brownie” style cameras that would seem to be similar. I mean, like you say….there’s a whackiness factor. I will warn you, however….those Chroma super-wide and large format cameras will only lead you to purchase a nice old Wista or Toyo….or (gasp) a Linhof! :-)) Have fun! Because yes, YOLO!
I'm coming to this video unusually late for me, but I thought that I would add my own reasons for shooting film. Initially, it was simply because I can. I had learned how to develop it for myself and thought that I would enjoy diving down this particular rabbit hole. At this point, your value comment is one that I agree with. I often shoot film when I especially value my subject. This has become so strong that I am hoping in the next year to build a small dark room and take it all a step further, producing prints as well. The other aspect as an everlasting student is the education value that I get from shooting film. I have learned so much more that it improves all aspects of my photography. So whilst I am not a pure film photographer, I value the craft immensely.
Film does allow for that further “exploration” of photography. And a real connection with the subjects. I hope you’ll pursue the darkroom. It’s been many years since I’ve been in one, but it’s a world unto its own.
Thanks, I really enjoyed your thoughtful and thought-provoking video. The photo sequence was very moving, all those lives. I recorded many family shots in the 1980s and 1990s on film and am rediscovering them recently by digitising the negatives, so a crossover of sorts. I also have come back to shooting film in the last few months and the process is a reward in itself, though costly :0
Thanks for tuning in! Film photography is certainly a bit costly. But as you said, the process can be rewarding in itself. And I guess that’s what keeps me going, also. I’m sure it’s fun for you looking back over all those old negatives - recalling the stories behind each one!
I started with film at about the age you did, and like you, moved to digital but I've been drawn back to film again and especially black and white. I've been struggling to articulate why. The reasons you have so beautifully described - yes. Despite its promise, digital photographs do not last. They are short lived and their longevity in some ways reflects the effort that goes into making them - very little. But there's something else. Taking photographs on a phone is just too easy and there is so little opportunity for creativity. It's like paining by numbers. Film is simply more creative.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, many of which I have shared with others re: digital vs. film over the past few years. And many thanks for sharing the images. The stories behind each one of them could make an interesting short story or even a book! Several images spoke to me so directly that they provoked an emotional response from within. And some,seem to be more; to be art. I starting shooting film when I was 8 years old and like you remember my first camera and photograph. I starting shooting film again three years ago for all the reasons you mentioned plus the joy (and frustration) of using the cameras themselves, which you lovingly share with us each week. Thanks for this video.
Thanks so much, Joe! Looking at these old images again and putting that slideshow together gave me a similar feeling. It’s real history through the eyes of real people. And I absolutely love being able to use those old cameras to create new stories. It’s a great age for photography now, since we can use both methods - digital and film - to different ends. Long live film!
I grew up with digital cameras, and with the start of the age of smartphones that we have now. The main things that drew me to film were being able to use older cameras, as I've always had an interest in vintage stuff and technology, but also the fact that as a medium film is far more tangible than digital. You said it well in the video, you at least have the negatives, instead of just files on some hard drive. The process of taking each picture and then developing each roll is something that is just nothing like digital, and I find it more fun than digital.
There’s definitely something tangible about film. One commenter brought up a really interesting perspective that I’d not considered. They said that their way of thinking about it was that the film, or the single frame of film, “saw” the subject. It was there in the same space as the subject at the same time. That really hits home to me - especially considering these 100-yr-old plates. Those were there in the same room as the subjects who are in them. It’s just really cool to me to think about it like that.
When you shoot film on 35mm you get 36 shots. These shots are expensive so you take care to get the right exposure and composition. You have to think as a photographer. Then you process the photos and it’s like your birthday or Christmas as you never know what you are gonna get. Sometimes you are disappointed but most of the time you are grateful and surprised. These images you can treasure for ever.
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this excellent video. And the slide show is all the proof one needs, film is worth the extra cost. Oh boy, thank you very much for sharing this.
I've been shooting film since the 70s, but these days, for me shooting film is all about the process - from measuring the light through the tactile process of using a mechanical camera to the developing, printing (or scanning). On the financial front, you can get a very nice film camera plus lenses for less than the cost of even an entry level mirrorless camera and have money left over for some film. Of course the marginal cost of each film frame is higher, as you say, but the total outlay need not be prohibitive.
Well well, i´am one of the people, that got into Film after digital. Although my very first photos were taken on an old single use p&s that my grandma gave me from time to time. I´am born in the late 90´s so i did grow up in an more and more digital world. My first own Camera was my frist phone. i think i was in the 6th grade, but the pictures from that phone... ohu well. I really dont want to call that musch a picture. When i was about 12 or so i got a phone with a camera that you cud use for something at least. I started to take pictures with that more and more. I always got the old phone of my Sister. My frist Photos that i took that i was impress by the Quality was from the IPhone 6 that i got from my Sister. After school during my social work year i Safed all my money that i got for my first "real" camera. A Canon 80D. I loved that Camera! I never payed more for anything else in my life before that. Well well. I had some good years with that Camera. And than around 6 Years ago i steppt into Film photography. I wanted to have a stronger connection with the pictures. I was board of all the Files on my Laptop. That at least 85% of the Pictures were Stuff that i don´t ever looked at again or deleted directly. Very very funny by the way was the Moment when i got my Canon 80D. The Camera arrived and i opend the Box. I did not have the money for a lens, so it was just the Body. My Dad started to smile and sad i shut wait a Sek. And that he got back with an old Camera case. Inside was his own Camera… It was a Canon T80... Well and there were these two, side by side. It was a spacial Moment for me. May by i had this story in my head with the pictures that my dad had taken. I started to look for a nice film camera. i got a Canon AE-1 (what else...) with a 50mm1.4. But Sadly the Camera had some problem. So a started to get into the repair side. And so the story went on and on. For about 2 Months now i a have a Darkroom and i develop all my film myself. A lot of Cameras gotten through my Hands since. I sold most of my little collection and just have some very nice once left. Film photography has gotten so important to me, especially in the corona years, that i´am now thinking about may by looking for a job in that world. Lets see what will come. But for me, its one of the biggest joys to work on a camera that may by is broken or something, bring it back to life and that go out and shoot with it. Now that i just stuck my thoes into the Darkroom world, i can hear alice calling from far once again.
Thanks so very much! That is a great story, and I’m so glad you shared it. And it does give me some perspective on the “younger” generation’s use of film photography. It appears, in the end, that your reasons aren’t really much different than mine. And that does make me smile. So thank you for that. I also think it’s wonderful that you’ve gotten in to the repair side of things. These cameras aren’t getting any younger and a lot of them need some help. But I hope you’ll be able to help keep some of them alive. You know, what little bit I’ve played with camera repair has shown me one thing - that these cameras are superb examples of craftsmanship and engineering. Like a fine watch. Thanks so much for watching and for the great comment! And I meant to say earlier that your dad’s T80 is a definite collector’s item in some sense. Nice.
I would dearly love to own and drive a1969 Plymouth Roadrunner. I also love shooting film. Shooting film is pretty darn cheap compared to having a fun old muscle car. I know, probably a poor analogy. But it works for me. Have a Merry Christmas.
No, that is a perfect analogy. And one that I think of all the time. When I’m using one of these old cameras, they usually have their own unique experience. And that’s what I enjoy - the experience. Just like a classic auto, these cameras all take you from point A to point B. But each is a bit unique in the journey - just like a classic car. But a lot less expensive for sure. Thanks for watching!
I enjoyed hearing some of your personal work history. When the series of antique photos began, I stopped and cleaned my glasses for a better look. The clarity and evocative nature of those old photos is wonderful. Thanks a lot. I really enjoyed this one. I’m using a Rolleicord and a C220 w/ 55mm lens. Good luck to you too! (from Victoria, BC)
Thanks so much for watching. So glad you enjoyed the trip to the past. One of the reasons I collected the negatives and plates instead of the actual prints is that when scanned, these negatives look like they could’ve been taken yesterday. Most are very clear and the larger ones like the 5x7 and 4x5 plates are simply incredible. How do you like the C220? I’ve never touched one, but I hear they’re much bigger than your standard TLR.
I technically grew up in the digital era but I started with film, just got my first digital camera, and quickly am back to film. It just feels better. It’s more tangible, feels more like art, and you have to take more time with it. You have to be intentional. That’s why I love it personally. And nothing compares to printing in the darkroom
Thank you for this lovely video! I am an amateur photographer and archivist, and I completely agree with you. I particularly like the slide film, because when I look at the slide, whether through a projector or a magnifying glass, I also marvel at the fact that this artifact was in the camera, right where the photo was taken. A while ago I was looking at some slides that a friend had taken on a trip to Afghanistan a long time ago and, to me, they had this "witnessing" quality that is hard to describe and no digital medium could ever produce this.
Great observation regarding slide film, and another one I hadn’t considered. But, yes, that shot was actually in the camera at the time of exposure. Very, very cool to think about! Cheers!
As you mentioned, with digital photography, I can easily fire off hundreds of shots in a day, adopting the mindset that it won’t cost me anything extra. Later, I spend hours selecting the best ones, which might honestly be just a few. Digital photography’s speed allows me not to worry about what to capture; I can take everything and sort out the issues later. Conversely, film photography requires more thought and evaluation (which can be a good or bad thing). And as for memory, I believe digital ultimately captures more memories. This is because I might skip certain scenes on film, knowing they might not result in a good photo, whereas with digital, I might still take the shot, regardless of how it might turn out. I just made the switch from digital to film last year and am still trying to balance between the two. I can certainly see the value in shooting film, but on the other hand, I feel like I’m losing a lot of ‘bad’ shots with potentially good memories when shooting digitally.
You make a very good point there. With digital, we’re more likely to shoot more and capture more of the “real” moments of life. I can certainly see that, and it makes sense. Thanks for sharing that perspective. It’s a valid point. Cheers!
I shoot mostly digital but love loading up one of my various film cameras and enjoying it old school like I did in the 80s and 90s. I love buying vintage cameras and trying them out. It’s an absolute joy 👍📸
my first real camera was a sony cybershot point and shoot. Now I shoot digital (fuji) only for photos of my little son and family. Everything else 95% on film. I just like the process more with my all mechanical cameras (at the moment mostl 50s rangefinders). Buying film, loading the camera, measuring the light, developing, scanning, I like all of it actually. and having just 36 shots also slows you down and makes you think more of the image. Plus the "surprise" effect since you never know exactly what come out, does the camera work, did you expose correctly and so on.
Well, I’ve gotta admit I’m a bit older then the digital age. My father used to do photography. And won prizes with it in the late 70’s early 80’s before I even was born. He took me a few times into the darkroom and showed me the magic of light and chemistry. Sadly he passed away early in my life. However my teenage years where all on film. Mostly on trow away cameras I shot everything I thought was pretty to shoot. Vacations, little trips. Time spend with girlfriend. (Whom I later married.) Then we got kids in the early 00’s film was there still. But digital was more convenient. A few clicks a print and there was a picture. Now… 20 years later. I look back on there lives. And think sometimes. I made pictures. And a lot of my kids. And A Lot of pictures. But like you said. I have lost so manier pictures to failing harddrives. That I now wish I shot it all on film. My brother in law I had a connection with photography also. We used to compare and contrast with each other. He passed half a decade ago and photography took a backseat. Fast forward to today. I bought an AE-1 something that looked like what my dad had. But he was a Nikon man. And you know kids like to go against their parents in some way or another. I still have the negatives from my childhood. Sadly I don’t have the harddrives of my kids pictures anymore.
Kids DO like to contradict their parents in a lot of ways, but you did well with Canon, lol! Digital is certainly more convenient, and I couldn’t do my day job without it. But film is fun. Your father sounds like he was quite the accomplished photographer, and it must’ve been nice to have that sort of influence. You may or may not recognize it right off, though. I’ll also add how lucky you were to have a camera “partner” with your brother in law. One of my very best friends got a camera the same year I did - we were about 21 yrs old at the time. We photographed everything together, and I still cherish all those crazy and weird photos we made - along with the great memories. Thanks so much for your comment! Cheers!
Excellent! I couldn’t agree more! I remember when I got a Mamiya ZE back in 1983 and like you I shot the first roll of film during a trip thought the Alps with my school class. Taking a photo was something special so the subject had to be worth capturing. I spent the last 20 years shooting digital, until I started to shoot film again about one year ago and since then I use my Z6ii only for the semi-professional jobs I occasionally doing. I don’t own the Mamiya anymore, but I still have my trusty Olympus OM-2n. Loading a roll of film into it is incredibly rewarding.
I think it’s kind of like “magic” as someone else pointed out on here. The analogue process is just something that I think is worth preserving - just like the moments captured by it! Cheers!
Wonderful content and lovely old photos. I am an old film shooter. I shoot both film & digital now, but with film I get so much more satisfaction. Thanks so much for this video!
such a good video. I've never stopped shooting film, I'm 68 years old and still document the streets with film. I do use digital mainly with weather conditions cause I'm not always loaded with high ISO film. Digital has it's place but film is first choice. thanks again for a great video.
Thanks so much for tuning in. I agree - digital does have its place. I make most of my living from digital work. But I don’t love it like I love film. But film is what I choose to work with when I want to enjoy the process.
Nice, well done. Like you, I remember the film era. I used the RB67 in my studio for the year I had it open, I am not a people photographer but gave it a whirl. I have been a wildlife photographer for many years now but just got an RB67 again for landscapes and such. Thanks for a great video.
It isn't just shooting film vs digital. It is using cameras made of brass and gears that have a weight to them. It is setting your shutter speed and aperture using your meter and your own intuition about the lighting and waiting until you get your pictures back to see if you made the right decision. I'm in my mid sixties and love shooting digital, but there is a visceral joy to using old Leica's and Nikons, Canons and Exaktas that you will never get using a plastic digital camera.
@@vintagecameradigest I think another factor is that while film is more expensive, it is also so much better than what was available fifty years ago. Back then you had Kodachrome 64 and Kodacolor was ISO 80, so you needed expensive, fast lenses to get the hard shots.. Now you can use film with 200 and 400 ISO with a tight grain. This opens up a lot more photographic possibilities using film, and you get a lot more bang for the buck.
I shoot film and have mostly been brought up in the era of digital, though as a young child we did sometimes get given disposable cameras to take on a family holiday. Why do I shoot film? I guess in part because it feels like a reprieve from screens, which surround me the rest of the time whether its work or play. I like not having any temptation to immediately review shots seconds after they were taken; I like the excitement of waiting for a roll to be developed. I also like old things, and its fun to use old cameras from various eras and create good images with them.
I think the excitement of waiting plays a big part with me. The anticipation of pulling the film out of the wash and seeing that (hopefully) there are images there.
I had this desensitized feeling recently with my photography as well, until I got my hands on a Zeiss macro lens and found an adapter for my mothers old Canon FD lenses (I'm using a 90D)... The manual focus forced me to slow down and become more in touch with what I was shooting...Those lenses came with my moms old AV-1 that I'm anxious to try out, though I find it a bit intimidating.
Anything that gets you back in touch with a love for the craft is a good thing. Apparently that macro lens was just what you needed for new inspiration. It does open up a new way of seeing all the normal things. As for that AV-1, I encourage you to pick a roll or two of film, a battery, and approach it as another “new’ way to look at all the normal things. I think you’ll be surprised! Cheers!
A great video as always👍, I started my photography path on film 7 years ago at the age of 33, I then turned to digital not long after but I find myself reaching for the film camera more and more, and as you say film has more feeling and emotion than digital, and that one thing digital will never beat.
These photos could be the only evidence that these people ever existed. We owe it to these people to preserve their memory for future generations. Photos are so important, and I believe film is the only true archival format. Digital photos will not last beyond your lifetime. They are reliant on technology and people to back them up. For most people, that won’t happen
I think you’re right…most of the time backups won’t occur. I also agree with the notion of just documenting these individuals. When I see a box full of old photos at an antique shop, I have to tamp down the urge to get the whole lot.
@@vintagecameradigest yes it’s sad to think these people had lives with stories to tell and family that loved them, but over time the photos have got so old that no one cares about their lives anymore. Yet seeing them on screen again brings them back to life.
What a wonderful video musing on something inherently more interesting on the nuts & bolts of cameras and film stock (as interesting as those obviously are). Despite agonising over the cost and environmental footprint of film, I actually shoot film because it is an act of assigning value and import to people, places, moments... Something that digital, to my mind, due to its dematerialised, blasé, easy-come-easy go nature doesn't do. As somebody who sews her own clothes with linen and wool fabrics on a low-fi 1950s Singer sewing machine, I see a lot of parallels between photography and 'fashion', with digital photography - despite all its ease, technological potential, 'convenience' - being analogous to fast fashion: cheap, glitzy, synthetic abundance that loses its lustre within minutes... (And yes, of course, I clean and calibrate my secondhand sewing machine myself, just as I do my vintage cameras...)
What an excellent analogy! Many thanks for sharing that. And I agree - it all comes down to assigning/creating value for the subject. Thanks so much for watching!
Film looks like a memory in a way that digital never can.
Wonderfully stated! And so true. Thanks for watching!
@@phillipbanes5484 If you think you can get Sony's poop-tastic colors to look like 400H or Provia, call Fuji cause they'll probably want to buy your secret formula🤣
Yep. Film comes in a ‘can’. It’s real, you can hold it in your hand, and the results. I shoot digital mostly but love film too. Vintage cameras etc. It’s a true joy 👍📸
@@SloopJohnBee-vq6dw Absolutely! And I think each has its own unique way to look at the world. So glad we live in an age where both exist! Cheers!
@@vintagecameradigest yep man. Absolutely. Let’s pray for good light in 2024. Happy New Year 👍📸
How cool you still have your childhood camera 🤩🤩
I’m surprised I found it. Lately I’ve been thinking about taking it on a shoot. May make an episode?
@@vintagecameradigest go for it!
Just discovered your site.
In this particular episode, I found why I have used and collected film cameras since 1963.
I am now in my 70's and live in Devon (UK) but born and worked in London (and for a while in Japan).
Of all the websites on "youTube", this is the one site I can relate to.
Thankyou
Welcome! And thanks for the kind words. So glad you enjoyed this one. Definitely one of my favorites, so far. Cheers!
Yes and I forgot to mention very nice and personal videos and beautiful photos with these vintage cameras - new subscriber
@@robertoposa1120 Many thanks!
Born in '92, I didn't have much experience shooting film other than probably a few random frames on disposable film cameras that my parents bought throughout the years. I bought my first digital camera in college about 13 years ago and up until recently, I was shooting digital exclusively. I picked up a film camera about 2 years ago and was instantly hooked at the process. It felt like I was discovering photography again. What I thought I knew about making an exposure shifted. Knowing that each frame could be financially punishing forced me to slow down. Looking for better compositions, being careful with settings to get proper exposure, etc. It taught me patience among other things.
But I also have a knack with collecting tangible items. Something about cutting film and storing them in sleeves is very therapeutic to me. Even if the negatives are not even mine!
What I’ve come to understand - from your comment, as well as some from others - is that the “younger” generation’s reason for using film isn’t much different from mine. It teaches patience and method. And I need that as much as anyone! Thanks so much for watching and sharing your perspective. And keep picking up those random negatives!
@@vintagecameradigest That's it! Something about analog feels much more natural too in a sense. In terms of creating an image from the light-exposed emulsion and chemistry. No electronics needed. Similar to the process of vinyl record playback; it absolutely blows my mind that a needle can reproduce recorded sound just by tracking a groove (electronics needed to spin the record and amplify the tune of course, but you get the point)! Analog is just much more human than digital. The sheer curiosity of the method behind the madness is fascinating to me, which is perhaps another reason I was drawn into film.
Anyhow, great video and keep it up! Will be looking forward to your uploads in the future. Enjoy the holiday season. :)
Funny you brought up the vinyl LP analogy. I just mentioned that to someone else. How such a technology can produce beautifully music is basically magic!
Also interesting is the need for. Correct / no mistake, photographic process. Composition, lighting, depth of focus…. Many other factors that can change, moment to moment.
With the Rollei, you see the moment of ‘truth’, the experience is unlike any Hassleblad, Mamya, or SLRs.
Then there is the RUSH of the entire job experience. Wow.
Being sent out with 2 rolls (24 exposures) and expect to deliver 20 near perfect compositions. Wedding photography is another level.
This video left me breathless. From your excellent commentary on film to the spectacular images at the end. This video was superb, to say the least! In the picture section I had to pause with every image and simply gaze upon & study it a bit. For me @ 78 years old, I was skipping heart beats at many of them. And on a side note, you did such an excellent job of preserving them. If there are awards or accolades for You Tube videos, this one deserves a healthy nomination!!
Why shoot film today? My best analogy is with cars. I drive modern vehicles, but am also an old hot rodder. While my daily transportation is a newish Toyota Camry, the opportunity to sit behind the wheel of a Tri-5 Chevy or a C3 Corvette is nothing short of a thrill! In today's digital age, shooting film seems to provoke those same kinds of feelings. So, in essence, going out with a film camera today is the same for me as taking a '68 Corvette Stingray out for a joy ride.
I shot film from 1970 to 2002, and developed & printed my own b&w from day 1. Starting in the 1990's, I also took a photography course at a local Community College "every" semester for 10 years running, where I could print my own color negatives AND transparency film. Bought my first digital camera in 2002 (a 6 mpix Fuji), and from that point to recently, I put film photography in my rear view mirror.
It was your first video that renewed my interest in film, particularly b&w. So, you get the credit (or blame 🥰). I recently purchased a mint Yashica Mat 124G, and, already owning a couple of vintage Nikon F2's, I made my first investment in 35mm & 120 b&w film in over 20+ years, from B&H. Loaded up with T-Max 100 & my favorite, Tri-X, I am now going to further mimic you by going to a variety of places nearby, find interesting subjects & compositions, take meter readings with my hand meters, and fully enjoy and engulf myself!
I’ll happily take the “blame” for that :-) By the way, I was out with the Yashica-Mat 124G today and enjoyed it thoroughly. That’ll be coming up next!
I like your car/camera analogy. It’s been made by a few others on here, as well. The user experience is different for just about every one you pick up. However, I’ve not shot with one yet that gives me the same feeling as a ‘68 Vette. I’m still searching for that one!
Thanks for watching, my friend!
This is a bit of a late reply, but as someone who is a lot younger (20s), digital has been around for my whole life, but I get that same feeling you describe from using a film camera. I'd always had an interest in the history of technology which eventually led me to get my parents' old film cameras out of storage and try them out, and I've been primarily using film ever since. For me, it's the fact that it's something far more tangible than digital photos and just feels more "real" to me.
I will be 95 in a few days! Took my first photos by the end of WW II in France before serving in the US Army in 51-53. I was really in love with photography and movies later on. When I touch a negative I know it really «saw » the subject, the event, before it became an image ! Took my first professional wedding shots at age 21 ! only stopped a few years ago. My favorite BW camera has always been the Rollei SLR and SLX not the Leica even though I I own an M6 and love its construction. I miss developing and printing BW. Thank you for the video.
Well, let me wish you a VERY HAPPY 95th! I really like the idea of the film “seeing” the actual subject. I’ve not thought of that before, but that’s a great way to describe film. And one of my bucket list cameras is the SLX - such an amazing work of art! Thanks so much for watching!
Those old photographs are a treasure found.
The stories they could tell….
I shoot digital for work and film ( 35mm, 120 in 6x9 form ) for fun.
"Fun" is the key word that keeps me coming back.
I agree 100% with that statement
wow, this is the first of your videos i've watched and i wasn't looking for this, but, your explanation of this, well, it somehow re-kindled why i decided to start shooting film again. and at best, i'm a hobbyist photographer.
i'll never make money taking pictures, and i'm okay with that, and i'll never have a popular YT or INSTA showcasing what i shot, and yes, digital makes the most sense for someone like me, but at the same time, i'm like, you know what, i wanna commit to this shot, even if doesn't come out.
i love my digital camera and will basically always use it, but, i still like loading a roll of whatever, even expired film, in a film camera that i could have never afforded when it was relevant, and, well, just experiencing the process.
i've shot a few rolls of film where i didn't even know what i was going to get back because i waited so long to either pay to get them developed or i took the time to develop them myself, and you know what, i was still happy with results, even if those results sucked.
i'm subscribing after this one. not that it matters, but, it's nice to hear a fresh, and or, a real take on film photography and why people do it. i mean, beyond its resurgence with certain demographics that solely rely on the "film aesthetic".
Thanks for watching! There’s just something about the entire film process that makes me feel more invested in the photos I take. For me, it’s COMPLETELY different from digital. I have different goals and expectations, and I tend to pay much more attention to my subjects. And, like you, it’s a terrific opportunity to use those cameras that I could’ve never afforded back when. And the lack of immediate feedback adds layers of suspense, excitement, and a bit of the unknown. And the results tend to be even more meaningful - to me, at least, if not to anyone else. Enjoying the entire process is a wonderful reason to shoot film! Thanks for watching and the sub! Hope you enjoy the channel! Cheers!
Appreciate your comment and sharing your thoughts. I can relate to committing to a shot when shooting with film.
On a rainy day in April of 2020 my wife and I took a drive into NYC. What we witnessed was incredible. In a city of 12 million people there wasn’t a soul on the sidewalks, cars driving on the streets. I took my Nikon F3 with me to take pictures but I didn’t really think before we went I was shooting history. As we walked through Central Park we saw maybe ten people walking their dog when in fact there should have been thousands. You could walk down Madison Ave and not get hit by a car. Few cars were driving. I sent the pictures out for development and loaded on an USB thumb drive along with my negatives. Five months later the USB drive stopped working. If not for my negatives the pictures would be lost.
That is the horror story that I dread to hear. But it certainly happens more often than I’d like. So glad you do have those negatives. No doubt they’re historically significant. Glad you were able to capture that!
Beyond its tangible value, the manual process of chemical photography offers a unique and artisanal experience. Using a fully mechanical camera allows photographers to have complete control over every aspect of the image-making process. This hands-on approach fosters a deeper connection with the craft, where every step, from loading the film to developing the final print, becomes a deliberate and thoughtful act. The tactile nature of working with film, along with the anticipation and unpredictability of the results, provides a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that is often unmatched in the digital realm. Excellent video, very nice vintage pictures, thanks for sharing. 👍👍
Many thanks! You summed up my feelings spot on. Cheers!
I'm not sure why I still shoot film. As you enunciated so well the reasons that digital photography is way better than film, I can only offer a few reasons why I still prefer film over digital. It is what I started with as a boy using my Dad's Brownie box 616. A very cheap camera but it produced outstanding contact prints of the many trips we went on during my growing years as well as documenting the progression of Easter day family portraits we always made. Then when I joined the military as a young man, and was able to buy my own camera, it was a Nikon F that I purchased from the BX in Okinawa. I used that camera and an assortment of lenses to document everywhere I was stationed throughout the 30 years I was in the service. Those negatives and slides are a history of all my travels and the things that were important to me at each location. While I have stacks of CF and SD cards as well as an on line library of all the pictures I have taken with my digital cameras, I use my film cameras to make prints I hang on the walls of my home. These are tangible evidence of what I like most about the art of photography.
And it’s a perfect way to tell YOUR story. I imagine that what you were able to capture during those 30 years is no less than amazing.
The people with the row boats at 9:17 is really lovely. Thanks for standing up for the craft of film photography and the beautiful images it can create in such a rich, tangible way.
That shot has a “Great Gatsby” sort of vibe, I think. It came from a 5x7 glass negative. Incredible detail. Perfectly exposed. My guess is they paid handsomely for that moment. Glad I can help preserve it. Thanks for watching!
I can relate. I started shooting with Canon FD cameras as a kid in the '90s. Back then these cameras were only seen as obsolete, and people would just give me gear they had in the closet. I went on to work as a newspaper photographer for over 12 years. I don't regret that career move one bit, but I ended up burned out with no desire to do photography for myself anymore. After a career change a few years ago, my inspiration has come back. I've been rediscovering photography as a hobby again, and a big part of that has been picking up my old film cameras.
So glad you’ve found a renewed inspiration with film photography. Hope you still have that awesome FD system to use!
Very well said my friend. Physical pictures seem to be a tangible legacy that outlives us all. My mother passed last year and I’ve got a box of negatives she had spanning all the way back to the late 1800s. There are only one or two people remaining that can potentially identify who they were before they will simply be lost to unnamed history like all of us at some point.
You know, my grandmother had a boxful of old prints (and some negatives, surprisingly), and we sat down with her one day to try and identify who some of the people were. We only got through about half the box and never finished. She’s gone now, so any possibility of identifying them has passed. I regret not following up on that. But at least we have them and not all will be lost. Thanks so much for watching!
I think what really draws me to film is that it reignited my love for photography as a hobby. I love my A7iv and my autofocusing lenses for professional work but all those bells and whistles take away some of the fun from the process of photography. There's an excitement to finding out a week later that you NAILED the focus with the shallow depth of field. I love how tactile shooting film is. I like the slower pace that film warrants and I like the little imperfections that can give a photo a more unique character. Don't get me wrong, for paid work I'm always going to use digital as my main camera but I've been adding my Canon A1 as a secondary cam lately to give my clients something a little more special and unique.
I agree 100%. And I’m glad you’re working film into your current work. Again, I think it adds value, and I imagine your clients do too.
I just now subscribed to your channel as I’m thinking that we are about the same age and probably have similar film photography backgrounds. My father taught me 8mm & 16mm filmmaking when I was 6 or 7. His best friend was one of the most popular still photographers in the region. So I’ve been around film for over 60 years now. I’ve been collecting and repairing old, vintage film cameras for several decades now and am thrilled about this analog film resurgence. I’m sure I’ll enjoy your content! Thanks for this one!
Thank you for the sub! I hope you’ll enjoy these as much as I do. Be sure to check out the other episodes, and I’m always up for suggestions for new ones!
I met with my wife's family recently for the first time. Out came the photo albums.
My son's early childhood also lives in albums. After I went digital it's all in folders on a hard drive somewhere.
I know we can print them too, but it hits different, and we generally don't.
I bought a photo album as an anniversary gift, so we can fill it with memories and drag it out when our grandkids come to visit.
Not enough can be said about the importance of prints. I don’t do it enough. I should do more. Make photo albums popular again.
I shoot film because I love and miss using my film gear. I love looking at vintage photos from long ago, it's like walking into a time machine.
I have to admit that I do love the old gear, as well. Something about using it is also sort of like going back in time - kinda like the old photos.
As I am now 58 I grew up with film. Digital started for me in the early 2000's. since retiring from social photography I now find my self yearning to shoot film again and also digital. I still don't know why but this video does ring true. I do make a point of printing my digital work ( only the stuff I like) in the hope it will stand the test of time. People simply don't print enough IMHO
I think prints are a big part of it. And I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t print enough. Maybe it can be a New Year’s resolution for me - more printing! Thanks so much for tuning in!
Have a great new year. I look forward to your future content :) @@vintagecameradigest
From the digital age but my father had a dark room and I remember spending time with him watching the pictures develop . I bought a film point and shoot and a holga and I'm hooked. My digital cameras get me perfect images but I am not as happy with them. Getting a nice film image means more to me, I can't say why though.💁
Maybe it seems more of an accomplishment? I mean anything we can do that DOESN’T require a computer makes me feel more in touch with whatever that thing is? Possibly…
Amazing how many watchers your video inspired to share detailed comments, and most of the comments under this video are assets, too. I don't remember anyone explained so cleanly this value-making aspect of film photography. When I explained the value of a digitally taken photograph to my granddaughter, I told her that when a photograph is not printed it is just digital junk. Printing a photography even on a tiny ZINC printer gives value to that photograph, when printed on a 10 x 15cm with a SELPHY CP printer or 6.2 x 9.8cm on an Instax Wide printer gives the photo even bigger value. At the moment printing is the only way to give value to a digital photograph. The next level is to put these photos into your photo album, it is an enormous joy when we sit around with the family and page through the album photos. All of us have photo albums. When you take film photos, that is another level of value making, maintaining a film camera and lenses, buying film, taking the photos with extreme care, taking to the lab service, waiting for the development, then printing some into our photo albums. Exactly as you excellently explained, this process and real cost renders value to the moments of life. I am an urban sketcher and hobby painter, too, and that is another possibility for giving value to the moments of our everyday life. So, film photography is definitely an important part of this group of "artistic" (whatever it be) value-making of moments.
Thanks for the excellent comment. As you described, printing is one of the best (and perhaps the only) way to inject real value into digitally produced photos. And I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t do that as often as I should. But doing so would certainly strengthen the bond I feel for whatever the subject matter is. Thank you for these inspiring thoughts!
What an excellent video. Absolutely spot on.
I grew up taking film, kept on it for years, moved to digital this century. Now mixing it up.
btw, it's not just digital that can disappear : I had thousands of slides, prints and negatives destroyed by water whilst they were in the care of a storage company. I was not at all impressed.
Man, that sounds like a horror story to me. I know there are some crazy, unexpected things that can happen. But I would have had higher expectations from that company. That sucks outright.
I, with pleasure took on the roll of Family Archivist and have pictures that date back to the civil war. I'm lucky, because I know who most of these people are and in the last few years gotten to know them intimately, through family history. Having been entrusted with these printed photos and daguerreotypes, I feel like I've resurrected their memories and been given the opportunity to celebrate them and their existence as my ancestors. Thank you so much for this video and your inspiration to All of Us!
That is an excellent way of keeping those stories alive. And you have tangible media that you can share with the generations to come. I know it’s a lot of work, but I’m sure you’ve found it to be worthwhile. Cheers!
I'm 45 now I started out with film on a old Nikon f gifted to me from My Grandfather. He was a cold war military photographer that followed Elvis in 1958 , 1959 His assignment was Vietnam for most of the 60s .I seen all on film even the bad. I never moved away from that nikon f, it sets in my bag with a 7dmkii, 5dmkii and 5d4 also fe2 and fm2 . The life you gave to that random film you found is beyond words.
Many, many thanks for the kind words! So cool that you keep a film camera(s) in your current bag.
I am 52, I received my first (film) camera at 12 for a Boy Scout trip to Japan. I did not really pay attention to photography until I became a father and my son started playing soccer. Digital was just getting big and I went in…, I have been a sports photographer and middling portrait shooter since. My nephew wanted to learn photography from the roots the other year. I picked us up a couple of Olympus OM-1’s and I now have a Bronica S2. I’ve learned to develop my b&w photos with Cafenol and have a ton of fun going on Photo Days with my nephew. Film is tangible not only for the prints, but for the memories made while looking for subject matter valuable enough to commit to film, the joy is sharing the hobby with someone close and the personal growth in the crafting of the images. Great discussion and photos.
The OM-1 is a nice camera - and tiny! And I agree that looking for and finding suitable subject matter for film is rewarding in its own right. And I’m glad that you have your nephew to share this with. I’m sure it’s something he will remember fondly in the years to come.
Thanks so much for watching!
I'll soon start my 74th year. The reason I shoot film is I like fooling around, with a purpose, with my old cameras. I like taking pictures with the film cameras because they are different from the digital. I agree, it really isn't logical looking at the cost. However.... we spend our money some where in some way. I choose photography... the film variety. I really enjoyed your views on the why of shooting film. The slide show of the old photos was really nice. In an hour I go to pick up prints from my first roll through the Nikon FT N given to me by my bro-in-law. I just counted... I have ten film cameras now.
You’re absolutely right - we’re going to spend our money someplace. And I can’t think of many more meaningful ways. Thanks so much for watching. Now, about those 10 cameras - which is your favorite of the moment?
@@vintagecameradigest Favorite? you've asked a tough question. My first 35mm from '71 is a Konica Autoreflex T was my only camera for 35 years. I really do love that one. I also like shooting the Nikon FM. So, I am not sure I have that slot filled in. Fun to think about. Enjoy your views on photography and the videos you share with us. Thank you!
Great discussion . At the old age of 77, I switched to digital at the turn of the century. Was shooting weddings. What a game changer, digital was..... Sold of all my 35mm and some medium format stuff, to purchase digital equipment. I did keep my 4x5 , one 6x6 and some rangefinders . Then about 4 years ago, I started seeing film videos on YT. I still had some developing equipment . Got the remaining cameras serviced, and started shooting film again. What a relaxing experience . I have to think, before I push the shutter button. Shot 10 sheets of 4x5, I decided that was too much , lugging gear around. My medium format is much better to hand hold, as is 35mm . However , I do scan all my film, as dark room processing is too much, and time consuming . But, I do not process the digital images, any further, than a lab would do . I still keep a digital camera on hand, for important work. Thanks. Take care. KB
Digital was absolutely a game-changer. I couldn’t agree more. Especially when you’re making a living through photography. It was amazing. But I always missed the process of film, developing, printing. And the overall challenge of it all. I’ve come to the realization that with digital, I just shoot and shoot and eventually get it distilled down to what I’m going for. But with film, I have to think about it all first. Which is something I used to do all the time. Funny how quickly we can become accustomed to something new and completely forget the old.
You have obviously struck a cord here with all of the comments coming so soon after posting! You have articulated quite well a lot of what I have been saying since I "converted" to digital back in 2002. I never really got rid of my film gear, quite the opposite, I started acquiring as much as I could handle because prices dropped so much (don't tell my wife!). I would add another point to your already rather complete rationale, and that is this - once you have captured an image worthy of note, the accomplishment is much greater having done it with film just because it is more difficult and challenging. As you have alluded, with digital technology all you have to do is frame the shot and push a button, the rest is so automated to have taken the photographer mostly out of the equation. I spent about 12 years photographing indoor action (competitions) and even though that is challenging enough, I have often thought about going back and trying to capture the same on fast B&W (3200 iso) film and my Nikon F5 with 2.8 glass. I might be able to tame some the grain in post production digitalization to get the end result a bit closer, but the main thing would be to both prove a point (that it can be done) and to record with some permanency. The other important point that you touch on (as well as others in the comments) has to do with being unofficial family historians. I have tried to collect as many images as practical from both my and my wife's family archive just to try to organize and preserve them in some form for our children and their children. At one of our family reunions back in 2013, I captured an image of all of my brothers and their families along with a large family portrait of my mom and her family when she was about 4 years old in about 1922 or 1923. Amongst others, it shows a picture of her oldest sister who passed away as a teenager, I think due to TB. I never would have known that fact except for the explanation my mom gave while sharing that photograph. Preserving family history is not something to be trusted to still-evolving technology, but instead to that which is known and tried and true. Sorry for the long post, but I guess you've struck a cord with me too. Had to subscribe and I look forward to more content.
I think every family should have an unofficial (or official, even) historian, just to keep all the stories alive and passed down. I’m not sure who is in my family, but it’s probably me. I know I at least have a big box of photos from my time as a kid growing up. So yeah, it’s probably me.
Shooting indoor action is the worst/toughest shooting scenario. I used to shoot a lot of TMax 3200 at basketball games. And they still were bad. I don’t miss that at all. And I did fully embrace digital when it came to that situation. But I think that was more part of it being my job and not something I really enjoyed. That was not a subject I’d choose for fun. But I agree - might be a worthwhile challenge now with some film!
Thanks for subscribing and watching!
What a great video, I discovered a passion for photography in my late 50's as a hobby. I entered the digital photography world not knowing one bit about the genre. There was a lot to learn, cameras, lenses, photo editors etc. I struggled with the technical side of digital photography and still do. Taking photos is a creative and therapeutic hobby which helps my mental well being.
What I love about digital photography is the ability and ease to manipulate an image and create something totally different. Blending a photo using painting software is something I enjoy.
Now @ the age of 66 I have decided to try film photography with some trepidation.
Why?
Over the last several years I have picked up some film cameras here and there at yards sales etc. for my office decoration, never thinking I would use them.
This past year, something started to change in me and the sense of being overwhelmed with technology, especially artificial intelligence.
I found myself loosing my passion for digital photography with a sense of burnout and boredom.
I remembered a photography class I had taken back in my high school days.
Something just drew me to wanting to re-learn film photography.
So here I am, shocked by how much everything costs, finding places to get filmed developed and (an introvert) even wanting to try making RUclips videos about my film photography journey.
I want to slow down the process of my photography and really learn to get in touch with the creative moment.
Film photography teaches me to own and take the responsibility for my mistakes.
I have a lot to learn with film photography, but the journey is well worth the cost for me.
Brilliant comment! And a few of your points echo my own thoughts and feelings about why I shoot film. When digital became a viable replacement for film, I was quick to jump on the bandwagon. I thought I was wasting too much time and effort with film, processing and printing. Digital allowed me to go straight from start to finish without the tedious process in between. And after about 10 years, I was totally bored with it. And even though I still make a living with digital cameras, I’m rarely excited by the prospect. Turns out everything about film that I’d lost patience in, was really what made me love photography in the first place - the process. And there’s a definite dopamine rush when I pull the film off the reel for the first time to see the negatives. And I think this is one reason for my love of B&W photography. I can do the whole process myself.
Again, thanks for your comment. I wish you a continued sense of wonder as you continue your journey into film!
The people in these photos certainly dressed in their finest fine for these moments. Worth every penny to them, and should be framed and displayed again. Have not been in a darkroom in 28 years and looking forward to getting back into the game. Having bulk loaded my film back then, I have serious sticker shock with the prices. Two rolls of Ilford Pan F and SFX for $30 two weeks ago and I still have not taken a shot yet. Don't want to waste it but I will shoot soon.
Definite sticker shock. The good news is that, in the UK at least, Kodak is dropping prices on some films. Ilford has always been a little more affordable, but still, the price of a 100’ roll of Delta 100 is not painless. But regardless, I’m gonna keep giving them my money.
Thanks for taking the time to scan all of these. This is one of the coolest videos I’ve watched in awhile. 🎉
It was such a fun project to see these old negatives come back to life. Thanks for tuning in!
Love this video, it brings back memories of looking at my parents and grandparents photo albums. Many of those shots remind me of the many family gatherings we used to have. Like you and many others, I grew up in the film age and have boxes and boxes of prints and shelves of albums that I have informed my children and grandchildren about their location.
There’s a lot to be said for having actual prints that you can pick up and look through at your leisure. I still have the boxes of photos from family and my grandparents’ photos, as well. I still enjoy sitting down and going through them. Obviously, we can do the same for our digital photos, but I’m guessing that more often than not, we don’t. Maybe the massive quantity of digital photos we create makes doing so un-economical. But I need to start printing favorites, at least.
Very thought provoking. I grew up in the film days and look forward to reading comments from those who didn't.
There are some interesting comments, for sure. Thanks for watching!
Very thoughtful and thought provoking. Love your slide show, showing negatives first. Thank you.
Thanks for the kind words. And thanks for watching!
I always felt like was a little bit of a wizard or something when I would be able to develop my own film and print in the dark room. Making images appear on a piece of film or paper just felt like magic, especially when I used a fully manual camera. It always made me feel connected to the process and the image itself. I feel almost disconnected from my digital photos. I also loved the ability to try printing photos on things you just can’t with digital. I do love my digital camera and all the benefits that go with it but it will never replace film as long as film is still available.
I think the “disconnectedness” of digital really resonates with a lot of people. Digital takes you straight to the destination. Film requires a bit of a journey to get there. And that entire process is what I find fulfilling. Are my film shots technically superior to my digital photos? Not likely. But are they more valuable to me? Absolutely. Thanks for watching!
This video touched deep inside me. I thank you a lot for it. Merry Christmas
So glad you enjoyed it. It was my pleasure! Merry Christmas, my friend!
Very well formulated. You hit the nail of my thoughts as well 👍
Thank you kindly!
Nice vintage pictures, thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching!
Yes, digital is so convenient, but film is so tactile! There is just a special something about an analog image and print, much like the sound from a good vinyl recording! Okay, I'm an old geezer and I love the feel and sound of a film camera. The sensual delight of hearing the 120 roll of film being loaded into a camera. All the grand mechanical moves of a 35mm film camera in full function. A digital camera is just a computer with a lens. A film camera has soul, yours and its!
Agreed! The sounds and mechanics of each model of camera can be wildly different and gives each on its own “voice” , if you will. That’s one of my reasons for “collecting” as many as I have. They’re more than just objects. They have their own personality and “soul”. Cheers!
I love looking at old photo's of people I dont even know. Always hoping that had happy and good lives.
Most of the old photos I have do suggest they had those moments of happiness. Although some do evoke a bit of melancholy here and there. Not unlike most of us, I suppose.
I am a 61 year old rough and tumble builder, your comment bought a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.
Magic, the answer is magic. When I started photographing as a young lad there was magic to be had shooting the mysterious camera, developing film to find these odd negative images then the ultimate magic when that subject you chose starts to materialize under the red light in the developer. Today I use a hybrid work flow but there is still a bit of magic and pixie dust that comes from shooting film. One person commented he could shoot a digital and film image and he could make them indistinguishable. I’m sorry for that photographer because he lost the magic. This was a wonderful piece and I throughly enjoyed those powerful images. They were magical!
Very well-stated. I remember the first time walking into the darkroom in college…the smells…the sounds…the safelights…all magical, and an experience seldom matched. Magic it is. It’s hard to think of life before everything was digital. How the heck did we even survive? It reminds me of the first time my son experienced a vinyl record. He was mesmerized at how this spinning disc could produce music. It was magic, too. Thanks for helping keep that magic alive!
Film photography is a hobby I enjoy. Hobbies do not require justification. I think the whole idea is that hobbies are pointless. Heck, 90 percent of what people enjoy doing is pointless. Yeah, not much to say about it really. I just like it.
Simply put. And relatable. Gotta respect that.
I recently got into film photography after shooting digital for all my life (I’m 38). I do recall seeing my mom’s photo book and how those photos made me feel. You nailed it with explaining how film carries some sentimental value to it. I find the process of shooting, waiting for my film to be developed and physically holding my photos so pleasing. I can say on one hand how many digital photos i’ve actually printed (3) in the last 10 years. I also feel like film photos feel more like a memory compared to anything digital. With that being said digital has allowed me to catch some amazing memories that film will have never allowed me to catch.
Since the analog process doesn’t give you immediate feedback, it seems we have to work a bit harder at it. Pay more attention. Slow down. Anticipate. And it’s one thing, at least, that doesn’t rely on a computer do accomplish. But I certainly do agree that digital is much more flexible. There is a time and place for each. Thanks for watching!
I learned photography on film and switched to digital around the year 2000, and I came back to film 5 years ago. The 2 main reasons I still shoot film is the process of shooting film manual is mode complex, reading your light, which shutter speed to choose, the limitations of one ISO for differents situation, etc and the second factor is the feeling of the camera when you press the button to snap the shot. The feeling of my Nikon FE when you press the button is totally different of the one of my Nikon D750 or Nikon Z6, and if I shoot medium format with my Bronica ETR with the waist-level view finder, try copy that on a digital camera, IMPOSSIBLE
Yes, I do appreciate the way it slows me down to be more deliberate with my shots. Again, each shot is not “free” - as it seems with digital. So I’m a bit more careful - or at least I try to be.
Excellent reasons to keep on going in film! Thank you for the video!
Thanks for watching!
I shoot film in all formats to include 4X5. I really do not know why I do it , it just so enjoyable that the cost is justifiable ( at least to me it is). Not only does it slow you down but the entire process is great. I shoot, develop, scan and print at home. Once I am done I have a negative and a print that will out-live me. Love all your videos. They are very entertaining and very informative. Thank you for dedicating you valuable time to us and the art of Photography.
Thanks so much for the kind words! I’m glad there are others that enjoy the entire process as I do. It’s not always about getting to the results as fast as we can. I think that the journey is just as important as the destination. Cheers!
Is developing at home practical?do you need a special room etc. any insight is appreciated. Am thinking to do the same.
@@photofusionart No you do not need a dark room. My work flow with film, same for all formats. Shoot, Take the roll or film holder place in a dark bag. There by feel you will load the film into the film canister. Now you can remove the canister and continue in the light ( the canisters are light proof}. I use my kitchen, as I have access to the water/ sink. There I will develop the film. Use the developer, wash, fixer, wash hang to dry. I will then scan the negatives into the computer and treat it as a digital file. Best of both worlds. I really love this process! Hope this helps.
@@jllanesphotook great. Also what do you think of the are-imago lab-box is it worth it? Thanks
I started phototography more than half a century ago, when film was all there was. For the last 20 or so years, I have collected mechanical 35mm cameras. I like to use these cameras, and the most economical way to do this is monochrome film, which I bulk load, and process myself.
I do love some good B&W. It’s my film of choice. Color tends to be too “literal” of an interpretation for me. Although, I do usually keep some color film around if the project calls for it. Thanks for watching!
Very nice Steve! I love finding old photos in antique stores. As you say, every single one was an image that meant something to someone, sometime.
I think my main reasons for shooting film and 1) that it is, as you say, tangible, you can hold it in your hand and it will last a long time, and 2) I focus on older MF and LF because it's complex and difficult, which means every frame is taken with care and consideration.
I think if I take a photo of you, the photo is a moment in your story, but the taking of the photo is a moment in my story. So the negative, or print, or whatever, is a unique moment where your story and my story intersected for an instant.
I guess that concept is there with digital, but without that instant being transferred onto a physical object, a digital moment remains just a concept. Maybe that's why Instax has become popular, and Polaroid has made a comeback!
Wow. The statement about “stories intersecting” is a perfect description of how I feel about film - I was just unable to articulate it so precisely. It’s a commemoration of a shared moment. And that digital remains “conceptual” - I can’t think of a better descriptor.
When I returned to film a decade ago, my motivation was slowing down and taking time. And while I’ve done that, the connection with the subject became a bit more important (and accidental). It was surprising how it matured my reasoning for photography in general.
Many, many thanks for the comment, my friend. You absolutely nailed it.
@@vintagecameradigest so much easier coming up with clever words when I'm sitting in front of a keyboard! Point a camera at me and I become a monosyllabic buffoon!!!
I know what you mean, lol.
Thanks for posting this video. The old photos and plates are fascinating! What a treasure! It's also great to see how many younger photographers pick up analog photography even though they started with digital, as analog already wasn't a thing anymore when they first picked up a camera or smartphone.
I think part of this is the younger people are getting many film cameras from grand parents estates and see the potential of a good piece of photo gear.... everything old becomes new again!
Glad you enjoyed it! Yes, I assume a Gen Z’er will have very different reasons than I do for choosing film. And it’s something I really want to understand as a fresh perspective.
Well said, Sir. I have nothing I can add to what you so eloquently stated.
Many thanks!
I was shooting fiom as a kid in the 80's and 90's as evevyone were at the time, but had a very cheap camera. In the early 2000's till a few years ago, i was mainly taking pictures with my cell phone. I was mostly interested in music and music gear at that time. And my step mom (my girlfriend's mom) passed away in 2017. While going through her stuff with my girlfriend, we found a old praktica mtl5b, and it clicked. I looked at my girlfriend and said I'm keeping this. And stating experimenting with it. Read many tutorial, watched countless videos on RUclips. Bought a few more cameras, mostly Minoltas, got a bunches of lenses. Tried so many different films. Spent cash on get them developed, waiting to see how what i captured turned out. Sometimes it was really bad, sometimes, it was great. I love the feeling when you get your pictures. I recently bought a nikon d750, got my first photography contract. I love the camera and i can recognize the practical aspect of shooting digital, but my love for film is still there and can't wait to have a personal project to shoot.
Ah…Minoltas….I have a soft spot for Minolta cameras, since my first “real” camera (in ‘86) was an X-700. The memories….
Glad you were able to get a hold of that Praktica and put it to use. I’ve never had the pleasure of using one of those. Wishing you luck on your photographic endeavors!
@@vintagecameradigest thank you. And wishing you happy holidays.
Why shoot film? Why Not! I grewe up shooting film and treasure my negative collection. I have documented many things. Everyone should do sol. I loved your video!!!
Thanks so much!
Film offers me the ability to pay homage, to practice the medium, to document history forever--physically, to be more creative, to use cameras and glass my idols and family used, to spread joy, to slow down, to be more thoughtful, to make it count, delayed gratification, to photograph the way it was designed.
Absolutely BEAUTIFUL images at the end. I myself have bought and scanned images from the flea market as well, I gathered a collection of about 90 images of a single family over the course of a few months digging in a box of a couple thousand photos from a weekly seller. Over the course of these weeks I restored and scanned them all and did a huge amount of research to find the house that was in most of the photos, to put a long story short I plan to reunite all the images digitized and restored to the original family which I have identified, I visited the mausoleum where they are cremated and took flowers with some custom prints I made of the restorations embedded in the bouquet. I also visited the location of these photos to find a restored home and a nice new owner that had spent half a million bucks restoring to keep it original. I still get goosebumps thinking about all of it. Let's just say when I visited this family, after working on their images for hundreds of hours and feeling like I knew them, it was a more emotional experience visiting them than it is for family members I have lost.
Such a cool story! I have a similar group of negatives that chronicles a large portion of life for a young girl. Difference here is I have absolutely no idea who she is. To be able to identify and locate the family as you did, though, DOES bring chills. Kudos to you for some very good work!
Such a compelling and beautiful montage making your case for film so elegantly. Thank you! I too was moved by individual images, but also by the totality of many lives caught in their living moments.
In addition to all the reasons for shooting film often mentioned, we cannot forget the effect on our human subjects when they observe us deploying our ancient cameras. The more arcane, the better. Portrait subjects sense, as you argue, that this image will have more value than all the phone pics they typically endure. It can transform the resulting image.
You’re absolutely right. I had a nice conversation with a gentleman today while out with the Yashica Mat 124G. He had a lot of questions about the camera and process. But as he left, he encouraged me to “keep up the good work”. Obviously, he’s never seen any of my work, but I think the fact that it was film gave it some gravitas. It does have an effect on our subjects. They can sense it.
Being born in November of 1998 (currently 25 years old), my experience with film growing up was basically taking my moms point and shoot out on the farm or on a family trip and taking whatever random photos I felt like. At the end of the roll we would take it to our local drug store or Walmart to have developed for 5 bucks in an hour while we browsed around in the store. Now that I'm an adult, I take film alot more serious and put time and effort into every frame because as you mentioned it is not economically friendly. There is a certain value to each image you capture, and doing street photography, like I mostly do, you run into and have conversations with some amazing people that otherwise you would have avoided because they look "weird" or "dirty" or just simply because they are strangers. The whole process of film is delightful and the memories are more "permanent" in the sense that you remember taking the photo alot more than digital. I can easily burst 30 photos in a few seconds on my digital camera, or I can set up my camera and composition carefully and take one, maybe two frames of the same subject on film and be alot happier with the results. I love this channel and am very happy I found it. By chance, your metering video was in my recommended and I sat and watched the entire video and I am glad I did.
Many thanks for the kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed that video. And I’m glad to hear from another about their film photography experience. It’s especially interesting due to the fact that you’ve grown up in the world where digital photography has been the norm. It’s also interesting that despite that, we have very similar feelings about the value of film photography and the overall experience. Street photography isn’t really a thing where I live since it’s such a small town. But I can understand it’s appeal and the opportunity to observe and perhaps have a few unexpected conversations and connections. I’m not too far from Atlanta, and have been toying with the idea of driving in one day and just walking around the city for a few hours with a camera. Many thanks for watching! Cheers!
Hi, I really hope you get this message as it's pretty mind blowing... My mate at the camera club in Bedford, UK is 80 years old. He moved to the UK from the States many years ago and he's a very good and keen photographer. I'm late 50's and I learn a lot from him as he is a very generous man with his time and talent. He's been there and done that regards film but he does like to 'suffer' my film passion and encourage my madness :). So, when I saw your video, I shared it with him last week. What happened next was just amazing. I got a message back from him saying this:
"That video you sent, Why Shoot Film, about 8:46 in, a photo of six children..? No idea how, but my mother is the girl, 2nd from the right..! I know because I’ve seen that image before, and when I put together a photo book of my parents lives, that was one of the images I remember culling; had better images of my mum at that age..! All those small prints where in a box my sister had, and since she died several years ago, no idea what happened to that box…. They were all prints, no negatives…. Small world mate..!"
And also:
"I believe the photo was taken in the back garden of 16 Downing Road, Brookline, Massachusetts, USA…. My maternal grandparents home…!"
Just how amazing as that given where you got them from and the fact I saw your video and thought to share it with him!
Now to the favour...
Could I buy that neg off you so I can print it for him as a gift in the darkroom?
Or, would you be kind enough to send me a digital scan so I can print it on some nice paper for him?
I think this is a truly amazing story and really touches me. I hope you enjoy it too and thank you so much for taking the time to share these timeless images.
Cheers,
Pete
What an absolutely amazing story! I mean, what an incredibly small world. You have no idea how happy I am to have found a home for one of these dear photos. I’m just dumbfounded. And on another continent, no less. Incredible. And the short answer to your question is that I’ll absolutely send it for you to give to him. Email me at vintagecameradigest(at)gmail(dot)com and we’ll work out the details. This is awesome!
Thank you - this means a LOT to me and will mean more to him. I'm going to do a presentation around this whole thing at the camera club and then present him the print and neg at the end.
As an example of his generosity, I met him in the pub for a pint last night where he GAVE me 2 tintypes, a daguerreotype and an actual 'calling card' from one of his relations going way back - a man called Samuel Alds Way - a noted Bostonian (Who has streets named after him!). - well worth googling that guy - he was a billionaire in todays money and he started selling watches at 15)
I'm happy this came together - moments like this just make life worth the effort! :D @@vintagecameradigest
@@vintagecameradigest email sent - this will make for an amazing story at the camera club! - thank you!
@@PeteFord-m2i my pleasure. I sent the digital scan yesterday. Make sure it didn’t go to spam.
You talked about the cost of film, but the cost of equipment is another factor that may be just as important. I have a nice collection of Canon manual focus cameras and FD lenses that I purchased over the the last 40 years. Some of these lenses cost 5%-10% of the price of an equivalent modern autofocus lens. It's a similar situation with the camera bodies - $200 vs. $2500 and up. In most cases, the modern digital cameras have capabilities I simply don't need. I did buy my first "real" digital camera for an upcoming project, but I'm using an old manual focus lens with it because the modern equivalent is simply unaffordable for me.
While learning the digital camera and the accompanying workflow, my feeling is that there is too much choice. When I shoot with film, I can take a picture and say that's what the scene looked like, even if it may be lacking in some ways. With digital, there are a thousand ways to manipulate the image to change the look. Which one, if any, is "real"? This is a purely emotional reaction on my part, but this aspect of digital repels me.
Ultimately, there is a place for both. For me, I'm going to take my old film cameras and go out and learn the things I should have learned 40 years ago instead of setting the camera on Auto and just firing away. I've always just documented. Now I want to learn how to see.
“Learning how to see…” that perfectly sums it up, I think. I find that I’m still learning that. And this film camera project of mine has contributed much to this.
As to the cost of equipment - yes, now film cameras and manual lenses are often much less expensive than contemporary lenses and cameras (otherwise I certainly wouldn’t be doing this channel). But if you go back to when these cameras were new (and you adjust for inflation), they were more or less equivalent to what cameras are selling for now. But I think this is a perfect time to be experimenting with vintage cameras and lenses - especially since you can use those lenses on a lot of modern cameras.
I so appreciate the succinct description of the value of film photography (no pun intended). Very thought-provoking and deepens my reflection on re-entering black-and-white film photography. A big part of it for me is the process: developing the work from beginning to the end. It slows me down. Causes me to really think about the value of what I’m seeing and trying to communicate.
I think love of the process is a big part of it for me, as well. I don’t currently have a dark room setup to make traditional prints, but I still love being able to develop film and get my hands wet. The anticipation of pulling film out of the wash to see results is also a bit of a rush. But again, there’s more “at stake”. I think the more opportunity I have to completely screw something up correlates directly to my perceived value of it when it comes out right.
The reason I enjoy film became apparent this year when my mother gave me an envelope of negatives. The colour and quality is impressive. Most of the photos where taken on my fathers Canon AE-1 which I shoot with today. I now have images that I thought were lost to time. With a bit of research, I have even figured out the dates and these photos are now in chronological order. I can see the importance of documenting family and community with film moving forward. I like to think that “nostalgia is the patina of the mind”. Thanks for sharing such a great video.
What an excellent way to put it - “patina of the mind”. Thanks for watching!
I've gotten really into shooting film over the last year, my dad who is a professional photographer who came up during film and switched to digital is baffled that I'm sticking to analog. But for me who's only doing it as a hobby I find it much more satisfying. You're involved at every step of the process, from picking the right film for the situation, working with a camera that's a mechanical device that you manipulate to get the most out of that particular film, carefully considering the composition to not waste your precious few frames, then taking time to properly develop and scan the negatives. It takes work and planning and there's risk involved, at any step you could screw it up. But when you get those few perfect shots from a roll it really feels like you earned it and that you actually created something beautiful. I don't get that feeling from pointing a sensor at something and pushing a button.
I absolutely agree that it just feels like a different process altogether. The risk/reward cycle is quite satisfying. And the anticipation of the results is also a big part of it for me. Pulling the film out of the was and actually seeing images on the negatives is a moment of celebration. Glad you’re enjoying film!
There's a lot to be said about shooting film. My old Nikon can place 9 images on one negative which can be useful under the right conditions. At Uni I started in electrical engineering, but didn't get a long with my advisor, so I changed to Film & TV production where it was mandatory to take B/W photography to include developing, enlarging and printing our assignments. We used the old Rolleiflex camera. Additionally, our film class assignment was to tell a story with 100 ft. roll of 16mm film without editing. Later classes with cutting, splicing A and B rolls. When I went to Europe for the first time spending three weeks behind the Iron Curtain in Hungary, I shot in excess of 600 photos. What I enjoyed was seeing the results later and at times to be surprised at the results. It's just too easy to delete things and move on today. A very useful course for me, still analoge, was at UCLA, a two weekend course led by a former foto editor for Nat'l Geographic for 12 years wherein we needed to shoot fotos during the interim week for evaluation the following weekend. I'm pretty much a purist when it comes to my photos, preferring not to manipulate them, other than to perhaps enlarge some of them, trimming them. I also went with Fuji film seine a number of productions I worked on had switched from Kodak to Fuji. Good choice. With digital one cannot do any flashing if one desire to. Only possible with analoge.
Well said. And one thing you said in particular really resonates with me: seeing the results later and sometimes being surprised. I think I enjoy the anticipation of the results as much as shooting the film in the first place. And it breaks the overall enjoyment into two instances. Thanks for watching!
What a solid presentation. You have a great sounding voice - perfect for nostalgic memories.
I just bought three cameras:
Konica autoreflex TC (the camera I had to shoot my high school yearbook in 1981-83. I miss the darkroom)
Holga 120 N (just because of its wackiness - will be sending a test roll along with the above Ilford HP5 400j
Fujifilm X-T1 with the manual Samyang 8mm fisheye II that just arrived today - loving this, I miss velvia e6 so bad
I love my digital - hate the post processing. This is why I chose fujifilm - film simulation. Love this.
BUT
there is something about film…I can touch it…I love velvia large format…like word processing vs writing with my fountain pens and typewriters…drawing and hammering letters.
Thanks for a great memory…now I’m going to buy some old negatives and e6 from eBay.
I’ve got my eye on Chroma cameras there six 17 and 8x10 just because YOLO!
Many thanks for your kind words! Looks like we were in high school about the same time (I graduated in ‘85). I often wonder how my teenage years would have been different if I had been into photography at that point. I didn’t get serious about it until college. Anyway, you’ll need to let me know how you like the TC now that you’ve revisited it. The most “modern” Konica I have currently is an FS-1. But I do like the AutoReflex series a lot and I like the lenses even better. Quite underrated, I think. I’ve never used a Holga…but I do have several old “Brownie” style cameras that would seem to be similar. I mean, like you say….there’s a whackiness factor. I will warn you, however….those Chroma super-wide and large format cameras will only lead you to purchase a nice old Wista or Toyo….or (gasp) a Linhof! :-)) Have fun! Because yes, YOLO!
I'm coming to this video unusually late for me, but I thought that I would add my own reasons for shooting film.
Initially, it was simply because I can. I had learned how to develop it for myself and thought that I would enjoy diving down this particular rabbit hole.
At this point, your value comment is one that I agree with. I often shoot film when I especially value my subject. This has become so strong that I am hoping in the next year to build a small dark room and take it all a step further, producing prints as well.
The other aspect as an everlasting student is the education value that I get from shooting film. I have learned so much more that it improves all aspects of my photography. So whilst I am not a pure film photographer, I value the craft immensely.
Film does allow for that further “exploration” of photography. And a real connection with the subjects. I hope you’ll pursue the darkroom. It’s been many years since I’ve been in one, but it’s a world unto its own.
Thanks, I really enjoyed your thoughtful and thought-provoking video. The photo sequence was very moving, all those lives. I recorded many family shots in the 1980s and 1990s on film and am rediscovering them recently by digitising the negatives, so a crossover of sorts. I also have come back to shooting film in the last few months and the process is a reward in itself, though costly :0
Thanks for tuning in! Film photography is certainly a bit costly. But as you said, the process can be rewarding in itself. And I guess that’s what keeps me going, also. I’m sure it’s fun for you looking back over all those old negatives - recalling the stories behind each one!
I started with film at about the age you did, and like you, moved to digital but I've been drawn back to film again and especially black and white. I've been struggling to articulate why. The reasons you have so beautifully described - yes. Despite its promise, digital photographs do not last. They are short lived and their longevity in some ways reflects the effort that goes into making them - very little. But there's something else. Taking photographs on a phone is just too easy and there is so little opportunity for creativity. It's like paining by numbers. Film is simply more creative.
“Their longevity reflects the effort that goes into making them” - I 100% agree with that. Well said!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, many of which I have shared with others re: digital vs. film over the past few years. And many thanks for sharing the images. The stories behind each one of them could make an interesting short story or even a book! Several images spoke to me so directly that they provoked an emotional response from within. And some,seem to be more; to be art. I starting shooting film when I was 8 years old and like you remember my first camera and photograph. I starting shooting film again three years ago for all the reasons you mentioned plus the joy (and frustration) of using the cameras themselves, which you lovingly share with us each week. Thanks for this video.
Thanks so much, Joe! Looking at these old images again and putting that slideshow together gave me a similar feeling. It’s real history through the eyes of real people. And I absolutely love being able to use those old cameras to create new stories. It’s a great age for photography now, since we can use both methods - digital and film - to different ends. Long live film!
I grew up with digital cameras, and with the start of the age of smartphones that we have now. The main things that drew me to film were being able to use older cameras, as I've always had an interest in vintage stuff and technology, but also the fact that as a medium film is far more tangible than digital. You said it well in the video, you at least have the negatives, instead of just files on some hard drive. The process of taking each picture and then developing each roll is something that is just nothing like digital, and I find it more fun than digital.
There’s definitely something tangible about film. One commenter brought up a really interesting perspective that I’d not considered. They said that their way of thinking about it was that the film, or the single frame of film, “saw” the subject. It was there in the same space as the subject at the same time. That really hits home to me - especially considering these 100-yr-old plates. Those were there in the same room as the subjects who are in them. It’s just really cool to me to think about it like that.
When you shoot film on 35mm you get 36 shots. These shots are expensive so you take care to get the right exposure and composition. You have to think as a photographer. Then you process the photos and it’s like your birthday or Christmas as you never know what you are gonna get. Sometimes you are disappointed but most of the time you are grateful and surprised. These images you can treasure for ever.
Bingo! The thrill of pulling the film out of the final wash to see the results will never get old.
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this excellent video. And the slide show is all the proof one needs, film is worth the extra cost. Oh boy, thank you very much for sharing this.
Many, many thanks! And I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I have to remind myself from time to time why film is, indeed, important - and ultimately worth it.
Most excellent video!
Liked and Subscribed!
Thank you very much!
I've been shooting film since the 70s, but these days, for me shooting film is all about the process - from measuring the light through the tactile process of using a mechanical camera to the developing, printing (or scanning).
On the financial front, you can get a very nice film camera plus lenses for less than the cost of even an entry level mirrorless camera and have money left over for some film. Of course the marginal cost of each film frame is higher, as you say, but the total outlay need not be prohibitive.
I agree. It’s about the process for me, as well, and the tangible result. It gives me the joy that digital just can not provide. Cheers!
Agree with every word of this. And smiled all the way through the old photographs you showed - thanks for posting.
My pleasure! Thanks for continuing to support the channel!
Well well, i´am one of the people, that got into Film after digital. Although my very first photos were taken on an old single use p&s that my grandma gave me from time to time. I´am born in the late 90´s so i did grow up in an more and more digital world. My first own Camera was my frist phone. i think i was in the 6th grade, but the pictures from that phone... ohu well. I really dont want to call that musch a picture. When i was about 12 or so i got a phone with a camera that you cud use for something at least. I started to take pictures with that more and more. I always got the old phone of my Sister. My frist Photos that i took that i was impress by the Quality was from the IPhone 6 that i got from my Sister. After school during my social work year i Safed all my money that i got for my first "real" camera. A Canon 80D. I loved that Camera! I never payed more for anything else in my life before that. Well well. I had some good years with that Camera. And than around 6 Years ago i steppt into Film photography. I wanted to have a stronger connection with the pictures. I was board of all the Files on my Laptop. That at least 85% of the Pictures were Stuff that i don´t ever looked at again or deleted directly. Very very funny by the way was the Moment when i got my Canon 80D. The Camera arrived and i opend the Box. I did not have the money for a lens, so it was just the Body. My Dad started to smile and sad i shut wait a Sek. And that he got back with an old Camera case. Inside was his own Camera… It was a Canon T80... Well and there were these two, side by side. It was a spacial Moment for me. May by i had this story in my head with the pictures that my dad had taken. I started to look for a nice film camera. i got a Canon AE-1 (what else...) with a 50mm1.4. But Sadly the Camera had some problem. So a started to get into the repair side. And so the story went on and on. For about 2 Months now i a have a Darkroom and i develop all my film myself. A lot of Cameras gotten through my Hands since. I sold most of my little collection and just have some very nice once left. Film photography has gotten so important to me, especially in the corona years, that i´am now thinking about may by looking for a job in that world. Lets see what will come. But for me, its one of the biggest joys to work on a camera that may by is broken or something, bring it back to life and that go out and shoot with it. Now that i just stuck my thoes into the Darkroom world, i can hear alice calling from far once again.
Thanks so very much! That is a great story, and I’m so glad you shared it. And it does give me some perspective on the “younger” generation’s use of film photography. It appears, in the end, that your reasons aren’t really much different than mine. And that does make me smile. So thank you for that.
I also think it’s wonderful that you’ve gotten in to the repair side of things. These cameras aren’t getting any younger and a lot of them need some help. But I hope you’ll be able to help keep some of them alive. You know, what little bit I’ve played with camera repair has shown me one thing - that these cameras are superb examples of craftsmanship and engineering. Like a fine watch.
Thanks so much for watching and for the great comment! And I meant to say earlier that your dad’s T80 is a definite collector’s item in some sense. Nice.
Great video. Like that you rescue and save old negatives. 👍
Thank you! It’s fun to give these a new life. But sad at the same time, like why are these even for sale??
I would dearly love to own and drive a1969 Plymouth Roadrunner. I also love shooting film. Shooting film is pretty darn cheap compared to having a fun old muscle car. I know, probably a poor analogy. But it works for me. Have a Merry Christmas.
No, that is a perfect analogy. And one that I think of all the time. When I’m using one of these old cameras, they usually have their own unique experience. And that’s what I enjoy - the experience. Just like a classic auto, these cameras all take you from point A to point B. But each is a bit unique in the journey - just like a classic car. But a lot less expensive for sure. Thanks for watching!
So well put. I feel the same and now understand why people appreciate the photos I take on film a little bit better.
I’m glad others know enough about it to appreciate the extra effort. Thanks so much!
I enjoyed hearing some of your personal work history.
When the series of antique photos began, I stopped and cleaned my glasses for a better look. The clarity and evocative nature of those old photos is wonderful.
Thanks a lot. I really enjoyed this one. I’m using a Rolleicord and a C220 w/ 55mm lens. Good luck to you too! (from Victoria, BC)
Thanks so much for watching. So glad you enjoyed the trip to the past. One of the reasons I collected the negatives and plates instead of the actual prints is that when scanned, these negatives look like they could’ve been taken yesterday. Most are very clear and the larger ones like the 5x7 and 4x5 plates are simply incredible.
How do you like the C220? I’ve never touched one, but I hear they’re much bigger than your standard TLR.
Great episode. Very much appreciated your take on film photography.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks so much!
I technically grew up in the digital era but I started with film, just got my first digital camera, and quickly am back to film. It just feels better. It’s more tangible, feels more like art, and you have to take more time with it. You have to be intentional. That’s why I love it personally. And nothing compares to printing in the darkroom
I will agree on all those points. And the process does make it feel more like an art. Those are the skills I’d really hate to see fade away. Cheers!
This video is also a good argument for printing your digital photos! Well one!
I can’t argue with that. Excellent point!
Thank you for this lovely video! I am an amateur photographer and archivist, and I completely agree with you. I particularly like the slide film, because when I look at the slide, whether through a projector or a magnifying glass, I also marvel at the fact that this artifact was in the camera, right where the photo was taken. A while ago I was looking at some slides that a friend had taken on a trip to Afghanistan a long time ago and, to me, they had this "witnessing" quality that is hard to describe and no digital medium could ever produce this.
Great observation regarding slide film, and another one I hadn’t considered. But, yes, that shot was actually in the camera at the time of exposure. Very, very cool to think about! Cheers!
Even I will have to sell a kidney, I will still shoot film.
Some things are worth it! Hope it doesn’t come to that, though. Thanks for tuning in!
As you mentioned, with digital photography, I can easily fire off hundreds of shots in a day, adopting the mindset that it won’t cost me anything extra. Later, I spend hours selecting the best ones, which might honestly be just a few. Digital photography’s speed allows me not to worry about what to capture; I can take everything and sort out the issues later. Conversely, film photography requires more thought and evaluation (which can be a good or bad thing). And as for memory, I believe digital ultimately captures more memories. This is because I might skip certain scenes on film, knowing they might not result in a good photo, whereas with digital, I might still take the shot, regardless of how it might turn out. I just made the switch from digital to film last year and am still trying to balance between the two. I can certainly see the value in shooting film, but on the other hand, I feel like I’m losing a lot of ‘bad’ shots with potentially good memories when shooting digitally.
You make a very good point there. With digital, we’re more likely to shoot more and capture more of the “real” moments of life. I can certainly see that, and it makes sense. Thanks for sharing that perspective. It’s a valid point. Cheers!
I shoot mostly digital but love loading up one of my various film cameras and enjoying it old school like I did in the 80s and 90s. I love buying vintage cameras and trying them out. It’s an absolute joy 👍📸
It’s a lot of fun. The old cameras are basically what brought me back to film. It’s a great diversion from digital.
my first real camera was a sony cybershot point and shoot.
Now I shoot digital (fuji) only for photos of my little son and family. Everything else 95% on film. I just like the process more with my all mechanical cameras (at the moment mostl 50s rangefinders). Buying film, loading the camera, measuring the light, developing, scanning, I like all of it actually. and having just 36 shots also slows you down and makes you think more of the image. Plus the "surprise" effect since you never know exactly what come out, does the camera work, did you expose correctly and so on.
I can relate to every reason you just presented. The process is something I really do love, myself.
Well, I’ve gotta admit I’m a bit older then the digital age.
My father used to do photography. And won prizes with it in the late 70’s early 80’s before I even was born. He took me a few times into the darkroom and showed me the magic of light and chemistry. Sadly he passed away early in my life. However my teenage years where all on film. Mostly on trow away cameras I shot everything I thought was pretty to shoot. Vacations, little trips. Time spend with girlfriend. (Whom I later married.)
Then we got kids in the early 00’s film was there still. But digital was more convenient. A few clicks a print and there was a picture.
Now… 20 years later.
I look back on there lives. And think sometimes. I made pictures. And a lot of my kids. And A Lot of pictures.
But like you said. I have lost so manier pictures to failing harddrives. That I now wish I shot it all on film.
My brother in law I had a connection with photography also. We used to compare and contrast with each other.
He passed half a decade ago and photography took a backseat.
Fast forward to today.
I bought an AE-1 something that looked like what my dad had. But he was a Nikon man. And you know kids like to go against their parents in some way or another.
I still have the negatives from my childhood. Sadly I don’t have the harddrives of my kids pictures anymore.
Kids DO like to contradict their parents in a lot of ways, but you did well with Canon, lol! Digital is certainly more convenient, and I couldn’t do my day job without it. But film is fun. Your father sounds like he was quite the accomplished photographer, and it must’ve been nice to have that sort of influence. You may or may not recognize it right off, though. I’ll also add how lucky you were to have a camera “partner” with your brother in law. One of my very best friends got a camera the same year I did - we were about 21 yrs old at the time. We photographed everything together, and I still cherish all those crazy and weird photos we made - along with the great memories. Thanks so much for your comment! Cheers!
Excellent! I couldn’t agree more! I remember when I got a Mamiya ZE back in 1983 and like you I shot the first roll of film during a trip thought the Alps with my school class. Taking a photo was something special so the subject had to be worth capturing. I spent the last 20 years shooting digital, until I started to shoot film again about one year ago and since then I use my Z6ii only for the semi-professional jobs I occasionally doing. I don’t own the Mamiya anymore, but I still have my trusty Olympus OM-2n. Loading a roll of film into it is incredibly rewarding.
I think it’s kind of like “magic” as someone else pointed out on here. The analogue process is just something that I think is worth preserving - just like the moments captured by it! Cheers!
Wonderful content and lovely old photos. I am an old film shooter. I shoot both film & digital now, but with film I get so much more satisfaction. Thanks so much for this video!
Thanks for stopping by and watching!
such a good video. I've never stopped shooting film, I'm 68 years old and still document the streets with film. I do use digital mainly with weather conditions cause I'm not always loaded with high ISO film. Digital has it's place but film is first choice. thanks again for a great video.
Thanks so much for tuning in. I agree - digital does have its place. I make most of my living from digital work. But I don’t love it like I love film. But film is what I choose to work with when I want to enjoy the process.
VERY well said. Great video, please keep it up
Thank you!
Nice, well done. Like you, I remember the film era. I used the RB67 in my studio for the year I had it open, I am not a people photographer but gave it a whirl. I have been a wildlife photographer for many years now but just got an RB67 again for landscapes and such. Thanks for a great video.
Thank you! Even though the RB is absolutely historically significant, I have yet to get my hands on one. It’s on my wish list.
@@vintagecameradigest you will love it
Wonderful thoughts
Thanks for tuning in!
It isn't just shooting film vs digital. It is using cameras made of brass and gears that have a weight to them. It is setting your shutter speed and aperture using your meter and your own intuition about the lighting and waiting until you get your pictures back to see if you made the right decision. I'm in my mid sixties and love shooting digital, but there is a visceral joy to using old Leica's and Nikons, Canons and Exaktas that you will never get using a plastic digital camera.
Agreed 100%. The whole process seems tangible, not just the results.
@@vintagecameradigest I think another factor is that while film is more expensive, it is also so much better than what was available fifty years ago. Back then you had Kodachrome 64 and Kodacolor was ISO 80, so you needed expensive, fast lenses to get the hard shots.. Now you can use film with 200 and 400 ISO with a tight grain. This opens up a lot more photographic possibilities using film, and you get a lot more bang for the buck.
I shoot film and have mostly been brought up in the era of digital, though as a young child we did sometimes get given disposable cameras to take on a family holiday. Why do I shoot film? I guess in part because it feels like a reprieve from screens, which surround me the rest of the time whether its work or play. I like not having any temptation to immediately review shots seconds after they were taken; I like the excitement of waiting for a roll to be developed. I also like old things, and its fun to use old cameras from various eras and create good images with them.
I think the excitement of waiting plays a big part with me. The anticipation of pulling the film out of the wash and seeing that (hopefully) there are images there.
I had this desensitized feeling recently with my photography as well, until I got my hands on a Zeiss macro lens and found an adapter for my mothers old Canon FD lenses (I'm using a 90D)... The manual focus forced me to slow down and become more in touch with what I was shooting...Those lenses came with my moms old AV-1 that I'm anxious to try out, though I find it a bit intimidating.
Anything that gets you back in touch with a love for the craft is a good thing. Apparently that macro lens was just what you needed for new inspiration. It does open up a new way of seeing all the normal things. As for that AV-1, I encourage you to pick a roll or two of film, a battery, and approach it as another “new’ way to look at all the normal things. I think you’ll be surprised! Cheers!
A great video as always👍, I started my photography path on film 7 years ago at the age of 33, I then turned to digital not long after but I find myself reaching for the film camera more and more, and as you say film has more feeling and emotion than digital, and that one thing digital will never beat.
Thanks so much! Yeah, there’s just something special about film - that tangible result of a stolen moment.
Nice video. Those vintage pictures really hit hard, man!
Thanks so much! All those unknown stories just fascinate me.
These photos could be the only evidence that these people ever existed. We owe it to these people to preserve their memory for future generations. Photos are so important, and I believe film is the only true archival format. Digital photos will not last beyond your lifetime. They are reliant on technology and people to back them up. For most people, that won’t happen
I think you’re right…most of the time backups won’t occur. I also agree with the notion of just documenting these individuals. When I see a box full of old photos at an antique shop, I have to tamp down the urge to get the whole lot.
@@vintagecameradigest yes it’s sad to think these people had lives with stories to tell and family that loved them, but over time the photos have got so old that no one cares about their lives anymore. Yet seeing them on screen again brings them back to life.
What a wonderful video musing on something inherently more interesting on the nuts & bolts of cameras and film stock (as interesting as those obviously are). Despite agonising over the cost and environmental footprint of film, I actually shoot film because it is an act of assigning value and import to people, places, moments... Something that digital, to my mind, due to its dematerialised, blasé, easy-come-easy go nature doesn't do. As somebody who sews her own clothes with linen and wool fabrics on a low-fi 1950s Singer sewing machine, I see a lot of parallels between photography and 'fashion', with digital photography - despite all its ease, technological potential, 'convenience' - being analogous to fast fashion: cheap, glitzy, synthetic abundance that loses its lustre within minutes... (And yes, of course, I clean and calibrate my secondhand sewing machine myself, just as I do my vintage cameras...)
What an excellent analogy! Many thanks for sharing that. And I agree - it all comes down to assigning/creating value for the subject. Thanks so much for watching!