Why I’m excited about Film Photography in 2024

[@LeahWinfield]

Fingers crossed 2024 is a good year for us film photographers. Lovely video as always Andrew.

[@AndrewMclean]

Thanks so much Leah! And yeah fingers crossed for all of us!

[@garethjones5068]

Completely agree about the ramping up of AI as being a trigger for a swathe of photographers wanting to return to a much purer & authentic version of the artform, with film photography being the obvious destination for those that want to feel close to the images they produce

[@linjicakonikon7666]

I'm buying a ton of film this year, mostly black and white. I'm 70 and have spent. 30 years shooting Color Chromes, then 10 years shooting digital, then the last decade shooting both. I shoot 35mm and 120 color and black and white and in digital I shoot both full frame and crop sensor DSLR. I'm traveling less and working on exploring the world within walking distance. I've ditched the nylon camera bags and am converting over to leather messenger bags and small waxed canvas. No more backpacks for me. Messenger bags are so much easier and spontaneous. Alot of one camera, one lens shooting. Cheers everyone.( If they release another virus, I'm ignoring any lockdown mandates. I STRONGLY suggest you do the same.)

[@ulyssesnathanialowen3831]

wise words old timer ....

[@UncleDon226]

Never been a photographer, but always kinda interested in it. Figured I need a cheaper hobby, so I thought I would give it a try in 2024. Wish me luck!

[@AndrewMclean]

Amazing!!! Hope it goes well for you, I’m sure you’ll be hooked soon! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@marioarias9942]

Cheaper hobby isn’t film 🎞️

[@UncleDon226]

@@marioarias9942 Relative to my other hobbies I meant.

[@marioarias9942]

@@UncleDon226 hope you realize a large percentage of our homeless used to be film photographers 😅

[@tpitman]

Worked as a retoucher in a photo lab 50 years ago, had my own b/w darkroom for 25 (still have the equipment boxed away). Dug out my old Nikon SLR that I hadn't used in 20 years and thought I'd shoot a roll and have it developed by a lab. The results from the lab were, unfortunately, piss poor with exaggerated contrast. In addition, the mirror cushion has deteriorated and theres crap up in the viewfinder, but it isn't in the neg. Just shot another roll, had it developed at a different lab, and the results are very good. The thing about the SLR is how it feels vs my Canon mirrorless. Better feel in the hand, nice compact and easier to hold steady. I have to confess there have been a couple of times I pressed the shutter and hadn't advanced the film out of habit from using digital, but a pleasant experience overall. I'm taking the Nikon to a shop and having the cushion replaced and the junk cleaned out of the viewfinder. I made a light box that, with a set of macro tubes, allows me to "scan" negatives to my Canon and get prints from my inkjet printer that are as good as what I got from my old enlarger.

[@AndrewMclean]

Sounds fantastic, I love that you’ve found your way back 5 decades later! Unfortunately you’re absolutely right about the difference in quality of scans from different labs, I’ve found exactly the same in my experience. It’s a case of find a good one and stick with it! Thanks for watching and sharing!

[@LukeNewell123]

Just got a roll of Phoenix 200, looking forward to testing it!

[@AndrewMclean]

Nice! Yeah I can’t wait to see the scans from my first roll!

[@liveinaweorg]

Ha! I too am part way through shooting a roll of Harman Phoenix in my Canon A-1. It's actually a new to me camera so I'm running on full auto to see how it deals with exposure. I'm shooting the film at 125iso. What about you, Andrew?

[@AndrewMclean]

Haha I finished my roll today in the sunshine! I shot it also fully auto to try to ensure consistency across the roll but at ISO 200 as I had good light. Hope your roll turns out well and you enjoy the A1!

[@liveinaweorg]

@@AndrewMclean I'll be back to see your results 🙂

[@AndrewMclean]

@liveinaweorg thank you! Dropped at the lab today so hopefully next weekend should have the video done!

[@desperfilo]

I completely agree. Personally with AI reaching the perfection without skill it makes me look out more of the imperfections that may happen with film, which in a way are what real life is, full of imperfections. I think lots of photographers are worried about AI but the genuine human touch to an image cannot really be recreated with such impact.

[@AndrewMclean]

Couldn’t agree more! Thanks for watching ☺️

[@garethjones5068]

2023 was the least creatively satisfying photography year for me due to making it an actual business in a meaningful way. Going back to shooting more analogue is my reset button

[@AndrewMclean]

Couldn’t agree more! Here’s to creative film photography in 2024!

[@garethjones5068]

@@AndrewMclean my fridge isn’t going to know what has hit it 🤣

[@weirdoll_dawn]

Im hoping to give it a try as adult to try do film will see how it goes

[@AndrewMclean]

Definitely give it a try!

[@silverrfairie]

I recently bought batteries and film rolls hoping that I would explore film photography this year. 🎞️📷

[@AndrewMclean]

Amazing! I really hope you enjoy it! 🙌🏼

[@ivanmatveyev13]

"Ai" gives technical perfection? Uncle, you have to buy yourself some glasses.

[@AndrewMclean]

AI can give ‘technical’ perfection at times yeah, not always whatsoever but what I mean by that is it can feel quite clinical, a lot of the time you just know something is artificial and that’s what has driven me away from it for the most part.

[@ElmaTubo-r8q]

can you give meecamera?

[@ulyssesnathanialowen3831]

some goods , points , some dumb points ... film prices go up as well as down , AI might just be the best thing that could happen to film photography ...AI will move people back to film as a protest .. I have being paying 8£ a roll of film since the summer time for tri-x. see analog wonderland ... , there are cheaper prices out there High film prices isn't the reason you haven't shot alot of film, if you are dropping 2 grand on a digital camera .. 2 grand will buy 2/3 years worth of film .. and lastly photography and especially film photography is about the print , learn how to darkroom print .. remember this, humans are not made in a day .. neither is art !!!