Why Is Film Photography Popular?

[@matt-lang]

IMO, as someone who has recently gotten into vinyl, film photography, watchmaking, and a lot of other physical media/making; it's the physical connection to the hobby and tools in that hobby that brings me enjoyment. When I wear a watch I made/customized/repaired, I feel more connected to it. When I am grabbing a record and committing to listening to the whole thing through, I feel more connected to the music. When I take a film photograph and have to spend the time to consider the framing, exposure, composition, and "value" of that shot, I am more connected to that photo. I think digital media and the ease-of-access through our phones has made people realize we don't feel that same emotion about our phones as other tools/products we use. My favorite products are ones that have limitations I have to work around. They have quirks that give them personality. Like a record player that runs at a slightly slow speed, or a camera that has a sticky shutter at lower speeds, so I know I have to shoot higher ISO on that particular body. These "faults" in a product may seem to detract from its overall usefulness, but they also give those products "personality" and allow us to form a personal bond with that tool when we use it.

[@blvkeinnes]

This is very well put! I agree 100% with all of this! Today I’m going to replacing the light seals in one of my film cameras thus giving me a deeper connection with the camera!

[@alexxedge]

Watching this while anxiously awaiting delivery of negatives for me to scan to see how bad I screwed up. So pumped!

[@blvkeinnes]

Waiting for your scans is one of the best parts! Will they he good or will they stink! Haha but usually they are good and I’m sure yours are non exception!

[@RoccoBlast]

I personally got into film because I grew up in a household that always took pictures and had hundreds of memories in a tangible format. Digital is good too but I over the years I realized a lot of the digital photos just end up getting lost or look degraded over time. I like the format and feeling of shooting film and the entire process more than digital. It’s nostalgic and a test to my own ability as a photographer. Both have their positives and negatives but I’m glad there’s a large community of both coming back now.

[@blvkeinnes]

That sounds like a wonderful household to have grown up in! I have to agree with you there! Film is my priority for a lot of the reasons I speak about! I’m glad the community is going so well!

[@vin424242]

In my mid 60s and got back into film 2 years ago when i dug the first slr i bought and kept all these years and wondered if it still works, loved developing film again which is a big part for me and now have a small collection of film cameras that i couldn't afford back then, sadly no room for a darkroom again but loving the process

[@blvkeinnes]

That is incredible to hear! So I take it the slr still worked??

[@vin424242]

@blakeinnesfilmphotography yes it still works fine, it just had a little light leak on the back hinge which has been sorted with a new seal

[@blvkeinnes]

@@vin424242 that’s brilliant to hear! My Minolta actually needs new seals. I’ve got everything to fix it I just need the time now 😅

[@SeanJorgensen]

great watch my man!

[@blvkeinnes]

Thank you so much for taking the time to have a look see!

[@camerafusion]

Well said! Cool couch too!

[@blvkeinnes]

Thanks heaps!! I actually got an incredible deal on this chesterfield. I think I paid $250 for it at a vintage sale! I love it, best couch for these styles of videos! Thanks for watching as well, very stocked you took the time to have a look see!

[@ano1962]

Me and my friends never stopped shooting film once you learn to develop or own negatives and get a scanner you’ll be unstoppable

[@blvkeinnes]

@@ano1962 heck yeah!! That would definitely be a game changer for me!

[@eatthetoast]

LOVED THIS DUDE! It was cool to put a voice to the face 😍haha

[@blvkeinnes]

Thanks for checking it out brother!! Glad you dig!

[@skyking95]

While I still shoot digital I have four film cameras ranging from the 70’s to the early 90’s loaded with film. I no longer develop as I got rid of all my chemicals, enlarger, etc. many years ago. I love shooting film and digital.

[@blvkeinnes]

Sounds like you are enjoying the best of both worlds!! That’s a fine balance!

[@JasonLorette]

Just bought a Nikon FG from the 80's...just experimenting a bit, should be fun.

[@blvkeinnes]

That sounds brilliant! I love to hear how you go with it!

[@JasonLorette]

@@blvkeinnes Sure thing! Just threw some Fuji 400 in it so we’ll see! 📸😎

[@blvkeinnes]

@@JasonLorette great choice!!

[@rejectfalseicons1920]

Have it, love it and the internal meter (if it works) is very easy use I’ve gotten some good shots with it

[@JasonLorette]

@@rejectfalseicons1920 the meter does appear to work, on my first roll of film so we’ll see!

[@PaeTian]

i just got an over 50 year old pre owned film camera in nearly mind condition. An Agfa Optima 1035. Zone focusing is so totally not mine😅 But it's fun. special the excitement to see later if any of my pictures i took has become nearly as I wanted them ❤ But I wanted to say something about the point if people will get nostalgic for digital photography. I would say they are already. Just look at the hype about CCD digicams. The nostalgic for digital photography as already arrived.

[@blvkeinnes]

So cool to hear about your camera! And you are right they are starting to get excited about that!!

[@nicklopro]

Hey i used the same title in a recent short i uploaded. But yours actually answers the question. Mine was just a joke clickbait title to accompany a thumbnail that read "film is for losers"😂 subbed! Very nice breakdown. I shoot film and obviously don't actually think its for losers. My self esteem is fine😅

[@blvkeinnes]

I use clickbait as well over on other platforms! Haha it’s whatever works! Film is a real beauty so glad to have another fellow film shooter 🤝

[@AFluffyMobius]

one thing that i worry about film going forward is the slow banning of more and more chemicals for the average user to handle OR making it harder or more expensive for companies to get these certain chemicals to make film in the first place e.g. Velvia 100 being banned in the US recently but still sold elsewhere.

[@blvkeinnes]

That’s a very good point! I don’t know much about the process of making film but I wonder if the companies producing it are trying to reinvent the process to something more cost effective and safer on the environment etc.

[@janci1992]

Two years ago digicams had a big return so their prices skyrocketed, this year it's film photography so film is very expensive. I love the fact that digicams came back in such a big way because I could finally buy a bunch of cool cameras that I could never afford as a kid but personally I wouldn't like to get into film photography because of the process of developing the pictures. Cool ikea lamp by the way

[@blvkeinnes]

Those digicams would be nostalgic also! They are very cool! And thank you IKEA rocks!

[@darronpinnell3544]

I must be missing the point , I never got into Digital always shoot film since 1982 in-fact still use my first 35MM camera I brought , granted as life as moved on I have gone into medium format film now as the medium format cameras and films are now cheaper to buy or should I say I can afford them now my family as left home . So I do find it funny watching young kids thinking loading a film roll is something special ! My fully manual camera collection will still be here and usable in another 50 yrs of coarse if there is still film to load and still will be a conversation starter when out using them , you do not get that when your using a digital camera nor will the electronics last !

[@blvkeinnes]

I’m glad you think I’m young haha my back would disagree! It’s great to hear that film has been in your life for so long! I still have to agree that film is special just because they got it so right the first try and everything after (digital) doesn’t quite match!

[@atomicpuppet]

I have a great digital camera. But the film camera slows my creative process down. When you put a dollar amount on each shot and a limit of 24/36 shots you gotta get it right. You gotta be careful, like you said. It is always a great way to learn from mistakes, they really hurt when you screw up film. High risk, high reward. Another reason is being around my loved ones with a digital camera I realized I was not in the moment with them, I could sense and see them becoming agitated with my face in the screen constantly. With film I take the shot or 2 and I move on, I am connected with my loved ones in the moments that really matter.

[@blvkeinnes]

That’s very well put! I think it’s a bit of a balancing act! There is definitely a place for both digital and film in our lives. The argument shouldn’t be ‘which is superior’ but ‘which format suits this situation’

[@quitethecontrary1846]

I chose film because I can get full frame detail for a low price first...plus film grain is smaller than pixels...so film produces finer detail when composed properly....images are only softer when using lenses that are NOT sharp....also when its exposed correctly...there is NO grain....same as with digital...

[@blvkeinnes]

Hmmm some interesting points here. I’ll have to up my exposure game I think!

[@WeekdayProductions]

Not sure why anyone bothers with colour c41.

[@blvkeinnes]

What have you been rolling with??

[@WeekdayProductions]

Black and white, it’s so easy to develop yourself and the alchemy of different results from varying your approach is a lifelong journey. Personally if I was shooting film in colour, always E6. Less latitude but more control. C41 isn’t substantially different enough from digital.

[@blvkeinnes]

@@WeekdayProductions that’s cool as! Black & White doesn’t suit my images but perhaps E6 could be worth trying. Any recommendations??

[@WeekdayProductions]

@@blvkeinnes I’m not up to date with the latest. I have a stash of fujichrome in the fridge that I have been working through. It’s really good for tuning in to the image. Just a bit of over and under exposure makes quite a difference to the saturation of the colours. I think Kodak re released ektachrome. I used to absolutely love kodakchrome, sadly no longer available.

[@blvkeinnes]

@@WeekdayProductions I’ve seen some of the old kodakchrome it did look beautiful!

[@mike747436]

I shoot film because I love to print in a darkroom. If not, it would be digital all the way for the convenience.

[@blvkeinnes]

Very nice! I haven’t had the opportunity to print in a darkroom yet! That would be a wonderful experience.

[@mike747436]

@@blvkeinnes Watch out, it can be addictive!😁

[@sword-and-shield]

Simple, because it is actually "taking" a photo vs just creating one.

[@blvkeinnes]

Very well put 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@sword-and-shield]

@@blvkeinnes Thank you sir.

[@jazzyman9959]

chinese are buying film camera in asian region such as south korea ,taiwan and japan. that cause inclination of 2nd-hand camera price. If you wanna enjoy film, buy ASAP !!!

[@blvkeinnes]

I would if I could afford it 😅😅😅

[@driftfits]

I think it’s a bit of an issue. Love film, but the influx of influencers is just making the prices skyrocket.

[@blvkeinnes]

It’s a bit of a catch 22. We want film photography to be popular but with that comes higher prices. That’s with the cameras anyway. It’s a bit more complicated with the film stock prices. That’s another video on its own!

[@PepitoMegaChocolato]

Regarding cameras, it's true that all it takes is for an influencer with a large audience to present a model for its prices to increase by double or triple in the space of a few weeks. But I think you can always find very good cameras that aren't very popular or well-known at a good price.

[@kool_thing]

True. But on the other hand, increased interest in film urges film makers to keep investing in production so that there's a supply of film stocks. We don't want film production to die due to low demand.

[@blvkeinnes]

@@kool_thing you are exactly right here!!

[@PepitoMegaChocolato]

@@kool_thing Yes absolutely, I cannot deny this argument. It's a good thing to maintain the hype around these analog cameras and keep the market alive. Personally I like to recover old defective models for two or three cents and give them a second life. The second-hand market is very well stocked with old models, and I think that film still has a lot of good years ahead . I will be worried the day my local supermarket stop selling film

[@Door_dash11]

At the end it’s all about stimulation. The serotonins & dopamine’s that our bastard little gelly blop brain releases. Hedonistic tendencies 😂 Deep down every film photographer knows We’re here for the pleasure like addicts, we get analog ticks in our hands when we don’t shoot for a while. When we’re out of film rolls and see some the inner demon wakes up, calls our names and we eventually give in to the lust 😂 We like being miserable the light leaks, the wait, the spendings These are not a good sign in the book of clinical psychology but we accept it because it’s worth it 😅😂

[@blvkeinnes]

Hahaha now this is in an in depth look at what’s going on inside my brain! I love it!

[@RevynStrider]

Is the script written by chat GPT? :D Nice video anyways

[@milanholler]

now that you mention it I also smell gpt

[@bonnzaiishootz]

its popular because hipsters got bored during covid lol

[@blvkeinnes]

Hahaha you could be right!! Eastman Kodak said it was during Covid the factories required more workers and extra shifts and trying to get the film to stores required more trucks ect and this drove the price way up. Plus sprinkle some inflation on top of all that as well!

[@mrgnktevetias]

I've been doing it from past 10 years when I was 21. Don't get me wrong, i knew how the camera worked before I got into it, but I never felt my pictures were any different or the feeling of holding my negatives in my hands. Also, learning film was hard, which i actually enjoyed.

[@WhoIsSerafin]

It was popular before covid. I was seeing a lot of the younger generation using film starting around 2018. At least here in central Florida.

[@filiplipkowski4963]

It became popular around 2017-18 from my experience, but you're also right to some degree

[@blvkeinnes]

@@filiplipkowski4963 that seems about right!

[@tallaganda83]

It’s more fun in my opinion but the results at least on 35mm is nowhere near as good as digital well edited.

[@blvkeinnes]

It comes down to personal preference as well. You should always ask yourself “what do I want to get out of my photography?” And choose a format that suits you!