Photographic traditions are meant to be broken. Without the continued strive for innovation, Louis Daguerre would never have fought for faster development times and more precise portraiture with the Daguerreotype, Edwin Land would not have developed the instant-printing Polaroid, and Steven Sasson would never have bothered with engineering the first digital camera with his Kodak associates. The camera itself is meant to be reinvented, rebuilt, and restructured with formats that fit the needs of ever-changing technologically advancing societies.
With that being said, it is evident that the modernization of photographic processes has, in turn, caused photographers to neglect previous formats. According to a 2024 research study by Market Reports World, digital photography accounts for around 87% of all photography being produced around the world, with film photography accounting for less than 3%. Both professional and hobby photography is almost entirely digitized now – with good reason. Digital photography allows you to ensure your images are crisp and clear before leaving your subject, provides seamless adjustments to your camera settings, and makes uploading your images a breeze. In a professional setting, digital photography offers precision, speed, and convenience.
When capturing images as a hobby, however, digital photography is not the first avenue a photographer should explore when aiming to develop their skills. Practicing film photography teaches patience, familiarizes the photographer with camera mechanics, and encourages them to be intentional and meticulous in their approach to photography. Film photography can be difficult, especially when using a vintage camera that provides no indication whether or not you are shooting with the correct settings. At the same time, film photography is exceptionally rewarding in ways that digital photography isn’t.
Preparing your film camera takes proper dedication and time. You will need to ensure your settings align with the type of film you are using, as well as with your subject and your surroundings. Unlike digital photography, the effort you attribute to learning about your camera and how it operates will directly impact the quality of your photos – without a digital screen to reflect the impact of your settings, careful research and planning beforehand ensures your photos will turn out properly.
While you won’t be able to see your results instantly, as film development takes time! This dedication pays off in extraordinary ways. Film photography often produces photos with more vibrant, aesthetically pleasing colors that cannot be replicated with a digital camera. In fact, a 2019 survey from Ilford Photo revealed that 76% of respondents prefer shooting film due to the “the aesthetics” the photos produced.
Finally, shooting film connects you with a rich, artistic tradition that has captured history for almost 200 years. It is an extremely meditative and beautiful process and one that there is still very much to learn from, despite its lack of mainstream popularity.
I encourage anyone with an interest in photography to give film photography a chance. All you need is patience, dedication to the learning process, and a passion for capturing unique, engaging images. Well, maybe a camera and some film, too.
