Now that digital has been a mature medium for quite some time there is an entire generation of DSLR owners who’ve never used an actual SLR. Feeling Negative has published their latest guide for film photographer wannabes “Film Cameras for Intermediates“. So what are you waiting for… go get your “film” on!
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5 Comments at "Never Used a “Film” Camera Before?"
So true. If you have never rolled and developed your own film, or stared endlessly at your contact sheet, or watch an image appear before your eyes in the dark room, then you are really missing out. As a photographer, you should know the history of photography and how images have been captured pre-digital. Plus film has been around a lot longer than digital, if you have never used film, you should.
This is great. I have recently returned to shooting film, while still shooting digitally. I absolutely love film. There’s something about it that just looks and feels different. Every shot I take on film is deliberate and that helps me to slow down and really think about what I’m making.
LOL! If you’re going to *go film*, why mess around with 35mm?
(Unless enhanced grain is wanted). Go BIG!
Of course film costs a whole lot more per exposure – especially when using Polaroid is (if available for your chosen format). Though many of the cameras, and lens have really dropped in price (not all), and they are MUCH longer lasting /stronger than the new gear. I prefer LF film to digital, when allowed the luxury – mostly personal work. Setting up a shot on ground glass is the closest deja vu I’ve found to watching a print come up in the developing tray.
It’s too bad some of the really great films, papers, and analog technologies are no longer available
Digital Imaging is not “photography”, anymore than cinema is photography. They came from the same beginnings, but have developed into their own genre’.
Shooting and (self) printing colour can help develop one’s eye to understanding colour better.
Here is another film friendly site: http://www.apug.org
Interesting. I remember posting the same thoughts several years ago on the DWF and got blasted by members who said film was dead and blabh blah blah….funny how the worm turns. My Hassy’s will never die. No updates, no software crashes, no firmware crashes…..just solid awesome images without all of the “graphic artist” enhancements popular today.
I started in the darkroom and am grateful for what I learned there, but actually shooting film holds zero appeal for me now. I can’t think of anything that I used to do in the darkroom that is not more easily achieved via digital, with no smell! My old cameras look great on the shelf, however (a Speed Graphic really is a work of art!).
In my world, film is a four letter word…
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