An Introduction to Film Photography

Kicking off a series of videos taking you through everything you need to know about getting started shooting film. This introduction explains the fundamentals.
Starting Friday November 17th, I'll be sharing four videos:
17th November: Shooting
24th November: DIY Developing
1st December: Scanning (digitizing)
8th December: Processing in Photoshop to share / Print
I welcome your comments and look forward to getting involved. I'll also be sharing and linking to my website for notes and examples.

[@earledeblonville]

A masterclass in simplicity, clarity and scope.

[@jamesslick4790]

I am NOT that guy who tries to convince people that analog audio is "better" (or worse) than digital. Audio is pretty much a known thing, and I have made modern digital recordings that have convinced people that they heard a 78 rpm Shellac record. But as good a digital photography (and digital video) is...Different film stocks have different "personalities" that can AT BEST be only emulated in digital. This is true of movie film as well. With ALL options open now, Go for it!!! I have a Pentax MX 35mm and A Pentax K3 digital. (I can use all of my old K-mount lenses manually on the K3) I will keep using both film and digital! This hobby has never been easier to get into than right now as the "best" part about digital photography is: It's made high quality 35mm (and some MF) cameras "cheap" enough for a new shooter to acquire! Film will also teach patience and discipline, Like revolver shooting does in handgun shooting. (There is much in common with Shooting and Shooting,LOL!).

[@rickv4609]

Finally, a decent guide. Much love from Vancouver! ~_~

[@michael-anthonypagliuca5715]

Great content. I realised about a month ago that I needed to step out of my comfort zone and decided to shoot film. Bought myself a Minolta x700 and I love it. I'll make sure to follow your serie

[@4udience0f0ne]

Really excited that I found your channel, James. Great stuff, and so clearly explained.

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Thank you Andre! I'm happy to hear that, I love sharing this and am really pleased to hear you enjoyed it!

[@mikeclark3013]

“...the joy of being able to mix things up and enjoy photography in different ways.” I totally agree. I shot film for many years and just got into digital a couple years ago. But I just can’t escape the fun of shooting film. I just subscribed. Glad I found your channel.

[@RetroPixel_analog]

i started using film again a few years ago. It just excites me everytime i press the shutter. Let´s keep film alive.

[@nandhathiyagarajan6129]

Great content, enjoyed all the videos on film photography..looking forward to more videos from you 😀😊

[@lolo_hapa4234]

I like how you explain the film is out and everything.

[@anatoliebaldabac2969]

Interesting and concise information. Subscribed! Keep up the good work!

[@poedjarin8895]

I'm saving money to buy film cameras and It's really great to see your channel. Thanks!!

[@raesavage1892]

I'm, I'm very new to this, I started of with a phone then realized I wanted the authentic touch... The aesthetic. I have an old Nikon F - 301

[@tomtafola4518]

Very inspiring video, love the information Thank for sharing looking forward to more video regarding film.

[@SpencerPullenPhotography]

I'm a large format photographer (8x10) glad I found your channel. Looking forward to your videos. Thanks!

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Spencer Pullen Thanks Spencer! Been a little quiet on the film front whilst awaiting a lens for my intrepid 4x5, I collected yesterday so I’m happy to say I’ll be out soon!

[@scotthays294]

Absolutely great intro to film James. To the point, precise. ANyone looking for the basics shouldn't have any trouble at least getting a handle.

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Scott Hays Thank you Scott, that’s what. I’d hoped so it’s great to hear! I hope I’m conjunction with the more detailed breakdown over the coming weeks this will make for a good 101!

[@EduardoMendozaPhoto]

One of the best videos talking about film photography, really well done and to the point in in a very nice way.

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

edmendoza photography thanks so much! I’ve been flat out busy on other things for a while but have more to add soon!

[@GothicWiccan61]

Wow i absolutely love this video i just so happened to stumble across your channel and im new to film photography. So helpful thank you.

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Thanks so much Sadie! I'm really enjoying the interaction this has generated with people shooting film, especially those like yourself who are new to it! There will be lots more coming.

[@andym8581]

Nice job, great video, just getting to that starting point soon myself!

[@Coco-je3oc]

What an awesome video for beginners. Thank you for sharing this helpful guide with us!

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Coco thanks very much! I’m happy you enjoyed it! I’m actually away in Canada’s north filming a new video right now, more to share soon. Shooting some 4x5 film and digital!

[@dmitry_vancouver]

Awesome video! Explains pretty much everything you got to know about film photography.

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Thank you Dmitry, I'm glad everything was explained clearly! I know that getting into film can seem daunting and I wanted to make this series to encourage people to dive in and have a go if they're curious!

[@iamwildebras]

Thank you James for teaching me stuff that I wanted to learn for a long time.

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Rina Kirindongo my pleasure and I’m glad you found this useful!

[@887Rabbit]

Happened upon this channel by pure chance. Very glad I did as so well explained and relevant for me having just inherited two Olympus film 35mm cameras. An OM10 and an OM20 . Really looking forward to viewing all the episodes. Cheers

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Hi Rab and thanks! Nice cameras! I just got one myself, an OM1n. See that one on the table at the start. I dropped and broke that one! It took me this long to find a good one at the right price. It took me a while to get used to the Olympus layout but I love the small form factor and the huge viewfinder. When you get to scanning, it'd be great to see some of your photos!

[@alexbaeza5631]

Such a good video! Explained so well

[@eleoxora83]

I was waiting for you. Thank you.

[@ToufiqueAli]

I am very excited by this video; I've just got a pentax P30 and am new to shooting 35mm film; and I want to learn how to do it proficiently and potentially professionally as I'm used to my DSLR and video cameras (as I'm a filmmaker) but as a hobbyist really want to learn how to shoot film - so yeah... thanks! I'll be watching more

[@johnstephenson1533]

I just wanted to let you know that this video is very informative. I bought my first camera in 1957, so why I checked this video out was to see if it and the rest of your videos would be good to help some friends that do not live close to me learn about film photography. I have to say that I will recommend your you tube channel to them. Keep up the great work.

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Thanks so much John, that's lovely to hear! I have more content planned for the near future and have lots of ideas, appreciate the comment and you passing this on. What makes it worthwhile is hearing from people like yourself who either find these videos useful or know others who will!

[@acidsnow5915]

Thanks for this great video. Even after shooting film for a year i still found this insightfull :)

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Thank you!

[@simonparkinson-jones2092]

Very good video James!

[@usadarylwilson]

Thanks for posting this video as an intro to shooting film, which is experiencing a revival of late. I am very pleased to see film making a comeback. I believe that with digital being so available in multiple devices (digital SLR cameras, smartphones, laptops and tablets, body cams and "spy" cam devices, etc.), it has become too easy to "spray and pray" (take multiple shots without sufficient regard and care for setting up the shots, framing and composing the shots, etc. before rapidly clicking the shutter in hopes that there is a usable shot in the mix). With film, you need to sloooooow down and consider many factors, besides camera settings and such because film is expensive nowadays, so is development and time can easily be lost in changing film when there may only be 24 or 36, 37 or 38 max shots per roll. You also mention that a film shooter can go down to their local pharmacy or film dev lab to drop off their film and have them back in an hour. Those days have long past, at least in my area. If I don't want to develop my own negatives, then I must send them to a distant film dev lab somewhere else in the country. Yes, there are two labs nearer to me, but they are considerably more expensive and they, primarily, cater to bigger clients -- not independent film shooters, such as myself. Again, thank you for your video. I hope that it inspires others to jump back into film again or, at least, if they plan to continue shooting digital, they will consider their shots more carefully in the future. Cheers! By the way, I own a few film cameras, my favorite being a Nikon F5 professional 35mm camera. I want to purchase and use a medium format camera eventually, too, maybe a Hasselblad. And, of course, I also own a few digital cameras, both a Canon APS-C T5i and a Nikon FX (full frame) D810 camera, but I will be getting rid of my Canon gear soon so I can stick with a single primary line (Nikon) and interchange lenses among various bodies -- both traditional film and digital.

[@larsgibbon3327]

Great video James. I'm not a newcomer to film but really enjoyed this video. Loved the photos you showed. Can we see more of your work in future!

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Lars Gibbon Thanks very much for the kind words Lars, for sure I’ll be sharing more videos soon specifically looking at different types of film and days out shooting on location. Stay tuned in 2018 and thanks again!

[@bryantshaungriggs5426]

Thank you! I would like to learn photography and I like digital because of the amount of photographs that can be taken without the cost of buying/developing film but; I feel nothing beats the specialty of film. I certainly want to learn film and digital photography. I have subscribed and I will be watching and, hopefully, learning. Again, Thank You for your video on film photography! It has inspired me to move forward.

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Great to hear Bryant and thank you for tuning in! Lots more to come very soon so stay tuned!

[@sailinghooponopono2457]

Great videos, may specially for beginners. I have most of my life shot film, and the last 15 years or so, shot digital. First fullframe Canon, but for the last five years Fujifilm. What I like in your videos is the enthusiasm you show for film, and recently I have found my old medium format Bronica, and old Canon Ftb, to do some shooting. The difficulty I find, as opposed to your statement of developing at your local chemist or drugstore... May bee so in Brittain, but not in Spain where I live, nor in my native Norway. In Barcelona I only found one store that develop 120, and 135 not more easy. For this teaching self development is fun, easy and economic.

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Happy to hear you enjoyed this and I now appreciate that I'm lucky to have development at local drug stores - I should use it more and keep them in business! Thanks for watching!

[@mrlowblow]

Thank you so much ,this is so great ,please keep up the good work

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Vũ Hoàng Bách thanks for the kind words! More will be uploaded very soon 😊

[@NativeAgroNg]

I’m about to start my journey; The intro was all I needed to hear

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Nice! Hope the other videos are helpful too! Thanks for the kind words

[@jamesonsahariah4393]

Beautiful introduction made. Thank You

[@dominiclucero7221]

Really interesting. No plans to try film since it's very unlikely to be available here but it's a good way to strengthen my photography foundation. Just started a year ago with mirrorless.

[@edsullivan4247]

Nicely presented and very clear information. Followed here from Flickr and will look forward to the remaining installments.

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Thank you Ed! Glad you enjoyed it. Part 1: Shooting went up yesterday and the rest will follow!

[@ayenoppa4717]

Well explain, looking forward to see more!

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

SC Sydney Thank you!

[@wickedbiskuit5988]

1 minute in... had to subscribe! This is fantastic!!!

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Thanks for the support and I'm really glad you're enjoying this! More film stuff comin' in the next fortnight, working on new content right now.

[@gabequezada2066]

Awesome vid my man...Thank you

[@sputumtube]

Although I've got a DSLR system, I much prefer the old school magic of film. Since I was first gifted a Zorki4 in 1978 I've had many film cameras from the (then) high end Nikon F4s to a simple Ricoh KR5 (which I still own). The Olympus OM2n and a few (Olympus) lenses I have produce infinately better results than anything but the very best digital cameras. It's also worth remembering that many older film cameras can still operate without batteries, the OM1 in your video being an excellent example. Subscribed - thanks for posting.

[@easyelectronics4470]

I think the reason behind the "different".. or "more natural".... or "deeper" look of film has to do with the fact that the human eye, the "reciever", is not digital. It is therefore more "aligned" with the slightly unperfect look of analog images. Film comunicates with our non-digital "eye-sensors" talking the same language

[@GarethDanks]

Such a good channel. Enjoyed a few of your vids now! Very well done 😊👍🏻

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Gareth Danks Man this is high praise indeed as I’ve been enjoying your channel since watching your early videos shooting Fuji on the Welsh coastline! It’s been great watching your channel grow. I’m in the process of getting back into making content this week and look forward to sharing more soon. If you’re ever in Vancouver, drop me a line and I’ll happily show you some great local spots - even make an episode out shooting!

[@GarethDanks]

James Stevenson Photography hey man thanks so much. I’d love to take you up on that. Be amazing! Thanks for the kind feedback mate. Great to hear you enjoy the vids. Learned tons from you mate. Thanks again. 👍🏻😊📷

[@jamesslick4790]

Fun fact:The original name for the 35mm container we all know and love today was made by Kodak, is "cassette". LONG before that term was used for audio tape!

[@Nitschke-CAN]

Hey James, I finally got around to checking out your channel. Great intro to film and am looking forward to dusting off the old OM-1 and getting back into it. Oh, and my daughter stole the lens as her new favourite street lens :|

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Great to hear Ralph! Really happy you enjoyed the videos here. Sounds like you're looking for a new lens haha! Me too - I dropped that OM-1 actually on the day I made the video after this one on shooting! I've since replaced but need a nice 50mm as I bought body-only locally. Thankfully I didn't drop the hasselblad!! I've since sold as I'd like to try out a Rolleiflex, and can't keep them all :)

[@PolygonTreehouse]

Very cool James 😍

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Polygon Treehouse Thanks! Looking forward to getting the rest out now!

[@deltadave44]

love your channel...keep it up!

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

deltadave44 thanks very much! I plan to, lots more coming in 2018!

[@simonki2807]

Very informative video!!

[@TheOn3LeftBehind]

Great video!

[@roelandjan5154]

this is exactly what i was looking for. gonna watch all your episodes now :)! im currently shooting with an Nikon f301(or Nikon 2000) and just inserted my second film (a 400 b/w kodak) still really unsure en inexperienced what aperture and shutterspeed to use. Do you have any tips on that. Keep it up. cheers from the netherlands

[@francisbombus3949]

great content mate. Thumbs up!

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Thank you Francis.

[@McDonaldPhotography]

I've shot film for 8 years now with an RB67, Canon A1 and Oly 35rd... good series keep them coming.

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Nice! Thanks for the support and I'll have more videos up soon after a bit of a summer break! Lots of new stuff to share, appreciate the comment and it's great to hear from others shooting film. :)

[@McDonaldPhotography]

BTW just realised you’re in Canada, I visit Toronto every few months. Amazing country

[@michaelgriswold1809]

I went back to film (35mm) using Canon's EOS cameras and EF lenses do to the high cost of going to a DSLR full frame camera. All used equipment from Ebay of course in excellent to mint condition.

[@KitBetts-Masters]

Great video bud. Can't wait to get back into film photography. Just waiting on a canon A-1 in the mail! 😀

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Nice! That's a great camera right there. Be great to see some of your photos with it once you get through a roll! Post a link here :) Thanks for the kind comment.

[@KitBetts-Masters]

James Stevenson Photography thanks will do. Can't wait to get started. I think it's going to help me get to the next level with photography. I'm a bit of a wide open, spray and pray photographer! 😀 Looking forward to watching your other videos.

[@camilamilk4654]

Thank you so much for this!

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Thanks Camila, I'm glad you liked it!

[@clicyu]

Nice!

[@YAYOSKVM]

Great video man 👍🏼

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Thanks! :)

[@Ktheodoss]

Very cool

[@TJMarinelli_808]

Great video 👍

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

MRTJ 808 thank you - hope you enjoy the rest!

[@longearbunny]

thank you!

[@ethanp1086]

Under-fucking-rated.

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Hahaha thanks!

[@cheryl5667]

Thumbnail screenshot is Stanley Park, Vancouver :) Nice choice.

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Shosh yes indeed! Good eye, very close to my home and a favourite place to hang out for me.

[@neilpiper9889]

To get the real look on paper in black and white you need a darkroom imo. I would get a Ricoh 500 over an Olympus. Rangefinder is better than zone focus. I use a Petri gx1 slr k mount lens. I do use a scanner for colour negatives the excellent Epson V5 scanner, scans up to 6x9.

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Thanks for watching Neil! I agree, really nothing like finishing this whole process with darkroom prints. If I had the space / time at home, I'd have made a tutorial on that part too! Dark room spaces are popping up in cities as more people discover film photography, I'm reading, so hopefully there's a video for the future! I've come to enjoy this hybrid workflow, whilst it might not be for the purists. It's a way of being able to enjoy shooting and developing film, and having a convenient digital finish to that process to be able to share and archive scanned negatives. Until I can get back to a full darkroom, I'll have to settle for getting my film fix this way! Thanks for sharing your gear choices! I like the rangefinders too. I've never used the fixed lens compact ones but have had bessas, old leicas and such over time.

[@vincentangelo7529]

Im currently taking a class on this, and im so confused. Like why am i paying thousands on a class when i can just watch your amazingly informative classes on youtube? Lol

[@skymedic48]

Hey james, great videos, can you share your thoughts about using filters on 35mm cameras? Thanks!

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Hello! I do occasionally use red and yellow filters with black and white film, and regularly use ND filters with digital as well as more recently polarisers and occasionally grads, which I'm starting to learn more about on film. I'll be sharing findings in future videos!

[@jamesslick4790]

For the younger "newbies" to film "ISO" is called "ASA" on older cameras. For all practical purposes ASA=ISO.

[@allthingsoriginaldrama4511]

thanks!

[@judgegoodevening6231]

ooooh, photo of Stanley Park on 1:08 is astonishing!

[@nootpooty]

I was gonna skip this because I don’t like to wait but I’m one minute in and I am interested in the story.

[@muffemod]

Yea muff!

[@soonyatologan]

Great video! I just subscribed to your channel. I do have some questions though. First of all I'm totally new to film photography, though I'm in digital for some time. When you mentioned about the film's ISO. I thought it was the same as the ISO in digital camera. But then you talked about the SLR camera which also has the ISO control, I get a little confused. Does it mean that you have 2 ISO selections in film photography? One when we choose which film to use, and one on the camera's setting ?

[@JamesStevensonPhoto]

Hi Soonyato. Firstly thanks for watching and for the feedback! To your question; apologies if it wasn't clear! Both the Trip 35 compact, and the Olympus OM-1 that I used in this video have built-in light meters. For these to work correctly the camera need to know the ISO of the film your loading, which you set manually. On the Trip, the control for this is on the thread mount around the lens. On the OM-1, the control is on the top. Both are actually labelled ASA, which is exactly the same thing, just older terminology on vintage cameras. Once set, your cameras meter will work correctly! ISO refers to the same equivalent parameter on film to digital, you're right; on film it refers to the film speed that you've loaded. On digital it refers to how light-sensitive the sensor's setting is. Does that help? Or have I made it more confusing!!

[@soonyatologan]

I got it now. Thank you so much for your answer.

[@reldies5364]

I have a Pentax Spotmatic lying around, is it a good camera to start film photography?

[@ajb73]

I have two spotmatics. Beautiful cameras. They taught me everything I know about photography in the 90’s - I still use them now

[@buzzinboi3770]

Are film cameras delicate because my camera that I have now a basic fixed lense that goes in and out I drop lots and nohing happens but my Olympic om10 is quite heavy and when I dropped it I was really sacred that I would break it jut wondering if it's durable or If I should be extra careful with it

[@amsimun]

Hi James, thanks for the video. Im looking for exactly that prime lens of yours . Zuiko 50 1.4 ...(or is it the 1.8?) Do you still have it ? Is it for sale?

[@tonyhayes9827]

Hey James, some people think film photography is on the road to nowhere because all film cameras are old and there's less and less people who fix them. So what say you about a kick-starter campaign to make a new film camera?

[@xeretsu]

What do you think of a plustek scanner for scanning 35mm rolls?

[@Chloede_]

I recently bought an AE-1 program off eBay. One of the first things I noticed is the aperture ring, when turned, doesn’t move the blades inside the lens. Is my lens broken or am I doing something wrong?

[@mamiyapress]

Nice video but please stop expounding rubbish about cameras on the Moon. It never happened, Hasselblad themselves have stated that the images purporting to have been taken were not taken there because it was Impossible.

[@HoLeeChit11]

No NASA did not use the Hass on the moon, because they never went to the moon, and no, I'm definitely not a flat earther.