My first introduction to film photography was in high school. I was fortunate enough to attend a school that offered photography as an elective class. We were taught the fundamentals of how film cameras work and learned the step by step process for developing and printing photos in the darkroom.
I realize that not everyone interested in film photography was as fortunate as I was to have this instruction. That is why I would like to use this blog to share some of the knowledge that I have acquired over the years. If you are interested in film photography, but are intimidated to start, I hope that these blogs help you make the leap into an immensely fun and creative hobby!
Why shoot film? It is expensive, requires patience, and is an outdated technology. The answer to this will be a little bit different for everyone, but for me the limitations of film inspire my creativity. With only 24 or 36 frames on a roll of film, I am encouraged to make each shot count. Instead of firing off photos with my cell phone from every angle, I take my time, find the best light and take one or two photos that I really care about. It can be a few weeks before I take the film to get it developed. I get to enjoy the photos again with fresh eyes in a way that is not possible with a cell phone or digital camera.
If you are interested in trying out film photography, but do not know where to start, disposable 35mm film cameras are a great entry point. They are affordable and provide a way to experience film photography without committing to a more expensive camera. The drawback to using a disposable camera is that they are mass produced using inexpensive plastic parts including the lens. Make sure to use the flash when possible and shoot in a bright environment to get the sharpest, most in focus images possible.
The next step up from a disposable 35mm film camera is a reusable point and shoot film camera. These cameras are built to be used multiple times, so they are often constructed with higher quality materials and have more features than a disposable. Many feature high quality glass lenses for sharp photos. They also often offer the ability to zoom in and out to capture subjects from varying distances. Most point and shoot film cameras use automatic controls, so you get the same ease of use as a disposable, but with improved photo quality.
Once you feel comfortable shooting film, I highly recommend upgrading from a point and shoot camera to an SLR. SLR film cameras differ from point and shoots in that they offer detachable lenses and manual controls. You can try telephoto lenses to capture far away subjects or experiment with wide angle lenses to capture action up close! The manual controls of an SLR allow you to dial in your settings to capture exactly what you have in mind. It is much easier to capture sports such as skateboarding when you are able to manually set the camera to a fast shutter speed. It takes time to get to the point where you are confident with these settings, but it is fun to learn and worth the effort.