FILM PHOTOGRAPHY in THAILAND - getting started…

[@joeallam]

So glad I finally got around to shooting film again. I wish I’d remembered about the little pin on the bottom of the camera when rewinding the film, ha! Who else has had a dabble?

[@raymorgan4337]

I've been using an Olympus OM10 and Pentax ESPIO 145 with Ilford HP5 for about a year. Having a lot of fun and slowing down when I return to digital. Quality is variable! But returning to film has been really worthwhile - and a reminder of what taking photos was like for 40+ years!

[@stevenchivers5787]

I have to admit that every now and then I go to the dark side and go analogue. Such fun and I tend to shoot a roll over say a month and have been quite pleased with results. Shooting with a digital Leica M10P in full manual meant that the cross-over to using a film Leica MP was relatively easy. Just an expensive medium in this digital world.

[@stevenchivers5787]

Forgot to mention I also have done all the usual things: loaded film incorrectly, opened back and exposed film, snapped film when rewinding, the list goes on….😂

[@stevenchivers5787]

Forgot to mention I also have done all the usual things: loaded film incorrectly, opened back and exposed film, snapped film when rewinding, the list goes on….😂

[@ohxpleasexdropxdead]

It’s happened to me the other way around… I forced the advanced lever thinking I had another shot left… Advance lever broke.

[@MatthijsUivel]

When you went to spool the film back you could already hear the film snapping! Next time, press the little button (pin head like thingy) on the bottom of the camera first, and hold it while you rewind. That will release the lock mechanism so the film won’t tear.

[@lensman5762]

That is probably how the rewind lever got snapped off.

[@olgadekell]

Great video! I just started shooting film too and documenting my journey here on KZbin. I’m using the Canon AE-1 Program and before I rewind I need to press a button at the bottom of the camera to engage the camera into rewind mode … pretty sure the Canon A1 has the same button … curious to know if you pressed it before rewinding (if not that’s probably why the film snapped).

[@joeallam]

Yeeaahhh, learnt about that little pin the hard way haha! The guy in the shop showed us and Elly remembered immediately - whoops!

[@olgadekell]

@@joeallam Oh happy to hear that you solved the mystery 🙏. Looking forward to seeing the next roll 😃🎞.

[@Chuckvphoto]

I was gonna tell him this. When I heard that noise when he started trying to wind the film, I knew something was wrong.

[@tankerbruja]

I was going to say I had the same thing happen on my AE-1! :D I am so glad you were able to get the photos though. They are wonderful. 💙 Also kind of interesting how everyone assumes an AE-1 Canon was a hand-me-down from mums, mine certainly was though! c:

[@shotbydmitry]

Film photography is a hell of a fun. Once got used to it, You can find a lot of joy from it. One advice I’d like to share is don’t hesitate to overexpose color negative film, as it will improve contrast and sharpness, as well as shadow details. Highlights are pretty much in a safe zone with this type of film, so don’t worry about them.

[@joeallam]

Cheers for the tips! I’ve always known about film having very safe highlight areas, but it’s only recently that I’ve discovered that shadow detail doesn’t share the same flexibility. In many ways, it’s the complete opposite development path of digital sensors. I’ll see how it goes with the next few rolls!

[@russellvk]

Welcome to the wonderful world of film photography! I'm always down for more film content.

[@VictorWyatt]

It's cool seeing you learn film photography. It takes a little adjustment but shooting film is more forgiving than many people think at first. Can't wait to see more photos.

[@areepahmad]

Omgeeee...finallyyy. Been wanting to see u try film for ages!

[@RYANPARKPHOTOGRAPHY]

here we go! finally film photography!! Welcome to film fam and thanks for the video 😀

[@Pomdownunder]

great viewing, hopefully a few more of such in the pipe line. Thanks.

[@_lowcountry]

Sooo happy to see more people shooting film. Hell yeah I can’t believe you managed to save some of those shots. I died inside when I heard the pop as you were were trying to rewind but we all made similar mistakes when we were learning lol

[@KK_21]

Thank you both for this amazing and inspiring video! You sent me back 25years, and I took out of the box an old analogue Nikon with film.. thank you both and enjoy the time in this fantastic place!

[@gewfhrefnjkr3724]

By far the best photography channel. Love how you include the photos and incorporate them into the video.

[@sebastianrau5780]

FINALLY ❤️ Btw Acros is my favorite BW Filmstock

[@sreyescrozier]

Did you press the button on the bottom of the camera before you rewound the film? That may be why it broke. Love your videos, thank you!

[@philhasacamera]

Exactly my thoughts!

[@joeallam]

Yeah, forgot about that on the first roll. We got it for the next one though!

[@edwin816]

Yes finally! More film content please!

[@ByteReview]

Great video, I think some film photography will be an awesome addition to the channel. Personally I have a love hate relationship with film, I love the process and the end results, but there's so much that can go wrong in the middle that sometimes it puts me off for months on end!

[@joeallam]

Haha, I am expecting all of that completely!

[@user-vh5lx2eb4f]

Gosh, it’s like people who missed out on vinyl and began with CDs or mp3s. I travelled around Rajasthan with a twin lens reflex and two Pentax ME Supers in the 90s. Far fewer pictures taken than with a digital (backpacker’s budget), but quite rewarding with the additional craft involved in developing and printing by hand after the trip, and less disposable. I became a photoshop pro but the infinite adjustments make the results less authentic somehow.

[@joeallam]

Yeah, I’m always grateful for being born at a time when I’ve experienced both analogue and digital realms. It’s allowed me to progress with the development of tech with appreciation for the journey that got us there. In the same way of knowing life both before _and_ after the internet.

[@rymack5715]

This was a great vlog, Joe! What a wild ride with the film at the end!! I’m loving the filmic look…

[@benoitbob]

Hi, I’m Pun, the guy at the developing store. I’ve been following your contents since you came by! Great content by the way. Enjoy the rest of the trip 😃.

[@jonglass]

Listening to you trying to rewind the film without pushing the film release button was... painful--no, excruciating--to watch! I'm glad, though, that you got the whole film developed in the end, though. Like you said, that is kind of rare. I don't know what it is about film photography. I think it might be that when you look at a film photo, you know it is a photograph, especially on computer screens, where everything is high-def these days. A film photograph is obviously a photograph of a moment in time, and not just a frozen moment. I'm not really sure how to describe it, but that is how I think of it. I won't say film photography is better--it's just different, and I like the difference. :-)

[@joeallam]

Haha, yeah we forgot about the locking pin until the next roll - whoops! I get what you mean about it feeling like a photograph in time. They just feel so much more physical when held and trigger more emotive feelings, especially portraits.

[@adammatthews2129]

Love this series of travel vlogs. So glad you managed to retrieve the remaining shots from the camera. After watching your videos for years i've just brought myself a Fujifilm X-T4 although i've been shooting film on an old 120mm camera for the last few years. Finally I've got a digital camera. Have been watching your videos as inspiration as we are about to fly out the Greece for a much needed holiday. Keep up the great work!

[@uncarsten]

What an amazing city walk! I‘m just wondering…. do you pressed the release button on the lower side of the cam? Every of my 35mm has one. As I heard this cracking noise at rewind, I was sure that the gets broken. The button releases the little gear for the perforation of the film

[@hfiguiere]

Got a few Canon FD. One of them is the one I started with, the other were "recent" acquisitions, including macro lens that works amazingly on the Fuji.

[@nelsonm.5044]

I think you forgot to press the release button underneath the camera before rewinding the film, you can hear the sound made by the film on the sprockets and after no sound, this is probably when the film snapped

[@Puckhead086]

Was just about to say this, there should be a release button somewhere on the A1 that needs to be pressed before rewinding.

[@RhysAngulatta]

I've really enjoyed shooting analogue the last couple of years but as you say, it has risks! I took a bunch of shots with my A-1 when my Son was recently born, took the film to develop and it was totally blank! I had loaded it incorrectly for the first time! Thankfully I had also been shooting with my iPhone and DSLR but still that element of risk is always there. I hope you enjoy the process of re-learning film, it's a vibe 😁

[@joeallam]

Oof, that’s a tough reality to experience. Glad you still had “backup” shots. If anything, the risk makes the reward that much more valuable when it works!

[@gregurias1150]

I’m so glad you are trying Analog photography again. I too have just recently picked up my film cameras also. I do love digital but there is just something about film, magical. Plus it’s a slower process like a relaxing feel. Thanks for the video you guys keep up the amazing work and I’m excited to see some more film photos. Cheers…

[@joeallam]

Cheers - it’s gonna be a slower process for sure, but I’m excited to try something “new” again.

[@jeetts59]

Please keep preserving with film, it will add a whole new interest to your channel

[@IqbalKurniawan]

I picked a Kodak M35, a film point-and-shoot camera, last year (impulsive buying, could not resist massive discount at my local marketplace). It was a really nice change of pace after using digital cameras for so long. Most of the pictures I took were underexposed (using Kodak Gold 200 on a cloudy morning), but I really love the old-school vibe from its color and how gritty the pictures are.

[@joeallam]

Nice! We’ve been using a couple of point and shoot film cameras over the last few years and I really enjoy them! It’s gonna take a lot of trial and error to find the film stock we like, but I’m keen to experiment.

[@volkerjansen3901]

The train shot at around 6:30 was amazing, true Joe Allam :) Personally I do not care much about analog photography, still remember how amazing it was to get my first digital camera and have never looked back since ;)

[@joeallam]

The timing of that shot was pure fluke, but I’m always filming out of train windows, so I guess it was calculated fluke haha! Glad you spotted it!

[@JoshuaJung]

I really love this video, and I'm glad you documented even what went wrong with this foray back into film; it had a bit of suspense and had me on the edge of my seat wanting to figure out what happened to the film haha. Hope to see more analog photography coming from you in the future!

[@paulmoss4199]

Nostagia came flooding back from my old film days, developing and printing my own B&W film in a converted kitchen. I used to buy outdated film stock from Ilford Films because it was cheaper. It was fun but not sure I would want to return to it now?

[@WaterShowsProd]

Now you know why we were more than happy to switch to digital shooting when the technology arrived. As soon as I saw you rewinding the film and heard the click-click-click, I knew what you'd done. I guess by know you know there's a release button to take the tension off the sprockets so you can wind the film backwards. Anyway, I especially love that shot of The Sky Train heading toward National Stadium taken from a train turning North toward Rachathewi. Lucky timing on that. It's a gorgeous shot. I also couldn't believe how much of the city you covered in one day.

[@joeallam]

Haha, definitely pros and cons to both sides of the coin! We remembered about the locking pin underneath for the next roll, so it’s all good. At least we still managed to get photos from the first roll. These clips are from multiple days by the way, not just a single day - although that would have been impressive!

[@DavidWilliams7037A]

Great to see you shooting film again. I now shoot film exclusively, mainly B&W which I develop myself. My 35mm camera is a Minolta a7 and medium format is a Bronica SQA. I still make the occasional mistake when shooting. Part of the fun of analogue! :)

[@Itchban]

Hi Joe & Elly!! A hard film lesson I learnt with these types of film cameras - when you take a shot and pull the right lever to wind it to the next shot - the knob on the left should also turn. If it doesn't turn with the lever it means you haven't loaded it properly 😅 blank rolls are the worst haha

[@elwick_photo]

I've been using a canon ae-1 recently, that sticking when you started winding it, there's a lock on the bottom of the winder, front right bottom of the camera. You hand the winder locked so the film split. I did the same thing, though mine didn't split, kinda left the pin off so the film didn't roll at all, and the developer rang me to say, nothing on this film mate. Was gutted.

[@integra407]

Thailand is a fantastic place to get started with film; besides japan obviously. The film camera market here is great, so many teenagers are picking up film photography, theres also big facebook communities of film shooters in thailand, not to mention the amount of solid film development labs that give a decent price for what they offer, and really fast processing speeds. The price of film is not too far off from what is normally paid too, if you buy at the right place. Glad to see you trying it out, I'm a major fan of thomas heaton and he does quite abit of film as you may already know, its just nice.

[@joeallam]

Yeah, the price and service from the film labs has been very refreshing to see, compared to what we’ve experienced in London previously. Looking forward to shooting film in Japan for sure!

[@chrisvomradio]

I am glad you started shooting film and also that you showed us your mistakes. Nice video and I hope for some more analog content in the future :-)

[@RobertFalconer1967]

When you're finished your roll of film, ALWAYS push in the rewind button on the bottom plate of the camera first (95% of 35mm cameras have them on the bottom)-which disengages the sprocket teeth-and then begin turning the rewind crank. If you don't, you'll feel too much resistance (as you did), the film will rip, and you'll end up with exactly the result you experienced. Once you push the rewind button in, it will stay in. No need to hold it. The next time you trip the shutter and wind the advance lever, the button will pop out again automatically. Pro tip: Rewind the film slowly. Rewinding rapidly in a humid environment can create some static discharge inside the film chamber, which is obviously not good for exposed film.

[@shanecaut1063]

Great to see you shooting some film!! Just a head's up: there is a release button on the bottom of the camera when you are ready to rewind the roll. So just press that and then should be able to rewind with no resistance. Good luck with the analogue endeavours!! :)

[@paulfournierphoto]

250k subscribers!!!! 🎉🎉 congrats you deserve it all! This vlog was very good Joe. Like how you edited to the music here and there with click sounds and all! Premium quality vlog 😄

[@carlosvanvegas]

Looking at those film photos for me had a real nostalgic feel about them, gives them more personality than some modern day shots, the detail has so moved on compared to todays cameras but the feel for film is there.

[@joeallam]

Definitely love the emotive feel of film, for sure!

[@peterdavies9166]

I shot with Canon SLRs for many years. I don't have an A-1 camera but I do have the 35-70mm zoom lens that you were using (it came with a nice used Canon T70 camera that I picked up while living in Tokyo). That lens isn't bad but some don't rate it very highly. I would recommend looking for an FD 50/1.8 prime........ they are very reasonably priced and do a great job.

[@joeallam]

Yeah I’m keen to try some different lenses. This one definitely felt like a kit lens of its time. The zoom range was definitely quite useful to experiment with though!

[@rosvw3517]

When you were inserting and rewinding the film, I was back decades ago swearing at the camera. Thanks for the memories… I think. Lol. Really enjoyed this video though.

[@AManWhoWasntThere]

What an adventure! I hope you left a good review for the camera store that saved your film

[@joeallam]

Absolutely! This may have actually been the fastest review I've ever written about a place, haha!

[@TheIppoippo]

Well done to the film developing place. Great service from them. And have fun with film. I’m a bit older than you, so I shot from university (1995-98) until 2003. I did own a Nikon F2 last year. Beautiful camera, 18 months older than me, and in much better physical condition. Unfortunately, I sold it earlier this year. Film is getting some damn expensive, and it’s difficult to get some film stocks in a consistent manner. I did enjoy shooting B&W with it, but my spare time for film was too limited. Can’t wait to see your future shots.

[@Jd10401]

There is a button below the camera that you should push before rewinding the film. Otherwise you might damage the rewind knob.

[@jeremyfielding2333]

That's interesting, those analogue night shots look as if they could have been taken 30 years ago. Well done. And that Unit shop looks like it is well worth visiting.

[@joeallam]

I thought the same! Especially around Chinatown with the overhanging signage. There’s just such a character to the area that’s emphasised even more by the film.

[@rick-deckard]

I imagine many of us had our ear out for some shutter squeal

[@JasonMichaelsPhotography]

Hello Joe, Do you think The Fuji X-T2 & X-Pro2, plus the X-H1 are all good enough for just starting out doing some semi professional work in many different areas of Photography? I love that 3rd sensor @ 24.3 megapixels... Plus I want all my Fuji Camera bodies made in JAPAN!!! Thanks for your time and energies, Great work as always...

[@linusfotograf]

On the bottom of the camera there is a tiny knob you have to push before you start rewinding the film!

[@adambailey8205]

Sorry if you did this, but when rewinding the film make sure to press the small button on the base of the camera prior to rewinding. This releases the tension and enables rewind on the reel.

[@paulbirchley8863]

I absolutely love Roast at the common! One of my all time favourite places in Bangkok. I was so excited to see it again after a few years of being there. (Having just read what I typed I think that I need to get out more 😂).

[@joeallam]

It’s such a great place to hangout. If I lived in Bangkok, I think I’d be around that area, as I love all the cafes and neighbourhoods in the area

[@Havenotats]

Well this is a nice surprise :O Best of luck with the next roll! That's happened to basically every film shooter so don't worry 🤣

[@CarlsLim]

Welcome to the gang!

[@Michael_Robinson]

I had a film SLR many years ago, and you had to press a small button on the bottom to release the gear before you rewound the film. If you didn't do that, the film wouldn't rewind unless it broke. Is it possible you forgot to release the gear before starting to rewind?

[@linusfotograf]

He must’ve!

[@DestructivePixels]

Last time I shot film was art college 14 years ago too, but we didn't have a darkroom like yours. Might have to look at having a play with it again soon... Also, I'm all about that wide angle view! ⬅️➡️

[@joeallam]

It’s been fun returning to film after so long! I’ll keep playing and experimenting slowly with it and hopefully share some things on the channel as I do it. Wide angle definitely gave a different feel, but I really did miss the extra length for those outward shots.

[@JoseOchoita]

This confirms that it's not the camera, but the photographer who gets great images. Well done! And nice challenge. Perhaps the next one could be to adapt vintage lenses to the Fuji. I've been considering it seems it looks like it can slow you down. Sometimes it's exhausting to get home and import 200+ images, and only some are great. Oh well, but that might be on me.

[@LucKerklaan]

The A1 was my first "real" camera not a point and shoot.

[@joeallam]

Good stuff! Do you still have it/use it?

[@LucKerklaan]

@@joeallam No I traded it in for an other camera. But with this camera I learned everything about settings that I still use today.

[@albertopaz84]

Did you free the film prior to start rewinding it? Don’t give up, film photography can be really funny

[@joeallam]

Yeaaaahh, that was the big mistake I learnt the hard way haha. When I took it to the shop, the guy showed me the pin and Elly said “oh yeah! You have to press that 🙄”

[@jackofblades6736]

Excited to see your work with film in japan. I usually over expose the shot by one stop or so depending on film.. think I just got used to using 400h. Good thing I hoarded them lol. You should hit up cinestill to see if they can toss you guys some rolls with 400 and 800 before you go to japan.

[@JanneRanta]

Looks to me like you started to rewind the film without releasing the take up spool. There is usually a tiny button on the bottom or some place to release it.

[@russellrabanal]

I haven't traveled internaitonally for two years. Seeing this reminds me the first year I dived into film and Thailand was the last country I visited 🥲

[@antonio_a87]

there is a button under the camera you need to press as your winding the film back, I am pretty sure your going to end up cutting that film off the canister

[@RandyPollock]

When he was reeling the film up and it was dragging, I gasped saying nooo....

[@H2o3G2a]

Yo, I've been following you since I started photography and I made the move to film photography lately. I'd highly highly recommend the Nikon Fm3a with the 40mm Ultron lens. That combo made photography fun again. Check out some reviews about that camera

[@joeallam]

Cheers! Will check out the camera and see what it’s like!

[@philhasacamera]

Don't forget to release the clutch on the bottom when you rewind to avoid the clunk clunk lol

[@kiwipics]

@Joe Allam ... With maybe 14 stops of latitude, what can go wrong ? I don't really shoot film much at all due to the cost of shooting analogue, but I have recently bought a Ricoh FF1 for a bit of analogue fun. I was cringing at the sound of that poor film as you forgot to press the release pin on the camera.

[@rick-deckard]

Did you push the bottom knob while rewinding the lever? Couldn't tell from the video. It felt like you weren't pushing it. And that sound at the beginning of the rewind sounded very wrong.

[@dayzpast]

Nice work Joe!! Beware of the rabbit hole of film photography 😂 Did you know that colour film can be developed at home with relative ease 🎉

[@OliverMay1]

"Just having a slow day" - I find film will do that to you, it encourages a slower pace and I find it makes a nice change and can allow me to enjoy my surroundings more. Shame about the film snapping, seems like it got stuck in the rewind process? Maybe try again with a test roll to see what caused it? (as well as making sure you did it properly and it wasn't user error 😉). Also, it would ne interesting to see you shoot some Fuji films and compare the results to your film simulation recipes in your Fuji cameras... 🙂

[@joeallam]

Yeah, the slower pace is great every now and then! It was absolutely user error with the film rewind haha. We later remembered about the little pin underneath that needed to be held in when winding it back. Whoops!

[@OliverMay1]

@@joeallam You not the first to forget that little pin and you want be the last :-)

[@Xer0.Visual5]

To bad people like that are not in Netherlands. Real Film Shops.! I use a Pentax ME with 28mm 50mm and 135mm just love it. Also got a p&s pentax pc35m and old Zeiss rangefinder. Love to see more Film video’s. 🤩🎞

[@joeallam]

This is a pure example of the “can-do attitude” that I’ve spoken about many times when travelling around Asia. There’s just such a noticeable effort to making something work, or at least trying it out, that resonates very hard with my own mentality. It’s actually one of the main characteristics that draws me to the region time and time again!

[@Xer0.Visual5]

@@joeallam 100% true. Still like to go there one day.

[@JasperBunschoten]

No, the A1 has a reflective meter taking average scene measurements.

[@davidb9547]

I think everyone needs to shoot film exclusively for awhile. It will make you a better photographer.

[@cubestrike]

Nooo, to roll back, you need to click buttons on the bottom of the camera.... not force it.

[@hassanscottodierno9284]

stupid question, but why use film? Less flexible than normal, no? Quality is better perhaps?

[@dre400]

The colors and dynamic range is definitely a pro. You’re less distracted by the camera and the opportunity to take as many photos as you’d like. Put it in this way, why use oil paint when you can use acrylic, or why not just go fully digital with a drawing tablet? All personal preferences.

[@MadredeAgua9]

They work because film has character. Digital is great, unsurpassed, but art is not about perfection. You need some "flaw" to make it work.

[@joeallam]

Yeah, I’ve always loved the character of film, in the same way certain lenses bring great character to a digital image.

[@jeetts59]

Film is way better than digital. I’ve got the xt4, but for serious photography I will always use film.

[@user-vh5lx2eb4f]

I had another think about this. Unless you’re printing luscious images by hand yourself in a darkroom the reason to shoot film is pretty pointless in terms of results. They’re digitised after being developed (presumably), so the scanner has flipped you back to digital. Having to think more about what you’re shooting because you have a limited number of shots per roll could be duplicated by using smaller memory cards. I read somewhere a 35mm negative is equivalent to 80 megapixels, so potentially there’s more detail, which could be a bonus. What’s my point? Go the whole hog and get some darkroom equipment. Durst enlargers cost peanuts on ebay these days. It’s just a pain blacking a room out. Hand printed images should(!) sell for a premium.

[@pasqualray1337]

The music on your videos though. Just bout it on iTunes.

[@NATIVEUS]

Sorry to see the film broke! Next time just press the button on the bottom of the camera. It looks like a little n*pple! Once you press that in, then you can start to wind the film. I made that mistake once and i was soooooooo sad lolol

[@joits]

But why.

[@chrisbrooks8086]

Buy a Nikon F3!

[@cliveeariss880]

Back in time a Guys, my first film.camera.was.a.kodak instermatic 125 of the back of a Rice Krispes packet, have fun, great video, you have to show some.of the shots when you can.