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Jun 10observations after experimenting with film…
For the past month I have been experimenting with film cameras in different combinations. I’ve been able to try out borrowed Minolta, Canon, and Nikon cameras with an assortment of different lenses, and have used a range of film types from “professional” grade to drugstore generic. I’ve sent my film to be developed at a few different labs, and also taken it to the 1-hour counter in the pharmacy.
I’ve learned that having the film developed and scanned by a professional lab yields a much better result, but the price adds up quickly. Taking film to the 1 hour place near me has yielded passable results, but the machines are not calibrated nor equipment maintained or staffed by people who understand the photographic process. So there’s no guarantee on the quality of the work.
The most surprising thing to me has been this: I love the look of generic CVS store brand film! I’ve been shooting 200 and 400 ISO in bright natural light situations, and I am really digging the deep saturated shadows and the colors that result.
Logistically, the cost of film is about the same for any kind – if you buy in bricks of 5 rolls or more at a time. If you buy single rolls at a camera store, you’ll be paying $5-8 per roll depending on the type, or if you buy a single roll of film at a drugstore you’ll be paying $3-6 per roll of 24 exposures. I order my film from adorama.com and the $5 shipping fee is offset by the savings of buying many rolls at a time.
One issue to consider is the mandatory waiting period between finishing a photo shoot and receiving your negatives and scans back from the lab. I often have more than a few shots left on a roll before it’s finished, but since each frame you take costs between $0.50-$1.50 to develop you don’t want to just take a bunch of filler photos (although that’s what I’ve been doing on test rolls). SO, I have noticed that I tend not to finish a roll for awhile, and by the time I get film sent off to the lab, a week or so has gone by. The lab process takes about a week and then finally, 2-3 weeks later, I have the finished product in my hand.
Compared to the instant accessibility of digital photography, this waiting can be quite an adjustment to accommodate.
Here’s the best part about this analog process: it’s exciting! You don’t know quite what you have until you get the shots back. Your client doesn’t expect to be able to see the photos the next day. The time between creating and enjoying the results lets the excitement of the art sizzle in your brain. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of seeing your padded envelope containing finished film waiting in your mailbox!
I’ve heard film photographers say that one of the really cool things about shooting film is that it’s faster. When you get your scans you are done! I was skeptical about this assertion, however, now I understand what they’re talking about. The images that come off film already have that special something, without needing to color correct and adjust in photoshop. WHAT THEY SAY IS TRUE!! Also because you are forced to wait on the shot rather than machine-gun until you get something, there is a lot less editing down involved as well. I find editing down to be the most difficult part of the photographer’s job.
The most obvious downside to shooting film is cost. Although the equipment can cost less up front (old cameras still work great for those of us who understand exposure and manual settings) the ongoing payouts for film and developing can become a nuisance. Every time you click the shutter it costs $1.50. There are also some limitations to shooting in low light situations, such as a wedding reception. I haven’t experimented much with high-speed B&W film although that may be next.
Will I stick with analog film photography? Probably. I like the way it slows me down and makes me think about what I am trying to achieve. I enjoy having work to savor and enjoy rather than consume at high speeds. I like the way it looks and feels.
I’m curious to notice what happens when I start photographing client work on film. Have any of you used film lately? What was your experience?
July 1st, 2010 at 5:27 am
i still have several rolls of color and b&w sitting around that i said i would always experiment with. i, too, like the suspense involved in old school film.
August 18th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Hi
. I’m a bit late, bit was directed here by a friend of yours. I’ve used film a lot in the past year, but I benefit from living near my state’s top photo store and lab. Until recently, a trip to the best lab in the state and a nearby CVS took about the same amount of time. Now I just have to walk a bit more.
I love the imperfection and randomness of film, as well as the greater latitude in some of them. Slide film is also a particular favorite, although it’s well known for not having much latitude.
Film has an organic component to it that digital does not and by its nature can’t have.