By now, we probably all know someone who has hopped on the film photography train. Whether it’s a friend, sibling, someone you follow on Instagram or even yourself, more and more people are starting to dive into the world of film photography—and I think it’s great.
One of my favourite aspects of shooting with film is the imperfectness of it all. While it’s true that there’s a plethora of filters available at our fingertips from the touch of a button on our phones, nothing quite beats the slightly grainy, cinematic, and colour-popping look unique to film photography. What’s more, expired rolls and accidental under- or over-exposures can make for some really cool-looking images that simply cannot be replicated by digital mediums.
Aside from its aesthetic appeal, I’ve found that film photography really helps get our creative juices flowing. The fact that each roll comes with a limited number of exposures forces you to be more mindful and careful before capturing the desired image. And because there is no way to gauge how the photo turns out until the roll gets developed, you are pleasantly forced to pause and envision the image before you take it.
All this is not to say that DSLR’s or your iPhone’s camera lack in quality compared to their film counterparts; they simply just come with their own advantages. For instance, digital cameras allow photos to be viewed immediately; their storage space is pretty much infinite, and—if we’re being honest—they can be much more budget friendly (the cost of film can really add up after some time). But if you’ve ever pondered upon the idea of purchasing a film camera, I highly recommend going for it. Not only will you find that it’ll give your photos a different “feel”, it might also just spark some artistic creativity in you that you may not have known existed.