Why YOU Shouldn’t Start Film Photography

Рет қаралды 8,163

Күн бұрын

Before You Start Film Photography WATCH THIS
It's really easy to watch these videos and jump headfirst into film photography. In today's video, I'm going to talk some about the challenges film photography presents. As someone who's had the privilege of exploring both realms, digital and film, I'm here to share my personal experiences and shed some light on the unique challenges and rewards each medium offers.
Shooting with film isn't just about clicking a button; it's an art that requires patience, intentionality, and a true understanding of light and composition. From loading the film carefully to the anticipation of getting the developed prints, every step is a deliberate process that keeps you engaged and connected to your craft.
Now, let's fast-forward to the digital age, where instant gratification and endless possibilities are at your fingertips. Digital photography certainly offers convenience, allowing you to shoot hundreds of photos in a matter of minutes. But does that mean it's easier? Not necessarily. With great power comes great responsibility, as editing, post-processing, and managing countless digital files can be overwhelming, demanding a whole new set of skills.
I'll be honest - film photography is no walk in the park. It requires meticulous planning, a deep understanding of your camera's settings, and an awareness of lighting conditions that can't be easily fixed in post-production. Let's not forget the limited number of shots per roll, which forces you to slow down and really think before you press that shutter button.
Here's my Patreon if you'd like to donate!
/ overexposedfilm
Get your film here, and support my channel!
Velvia 50 in 35mm - amzn.to/44gnBS5
Velvia 50 in 120 - amzn.to/3D6cEXi
Velvia 100 in 35mm - amzn.to/3JRa9fg
Velvia 100 in 120 - amzn.to/3pNxZS6
Fuji 200 - amzn.to/3zlDKHF
HP5 - amzn.to/3OJXSc3
Cinestill 800T - amzn.to/3qcwY2Q
Portra 160 - amzn.to/3Q92Xfh
Portra 400 - amzn.to/3RkDJvi
Thanks for watching!

Пікірлер: 59

Жыл бұрын

Film photography became super frustrating to me so I went back to digital. The moment I picked up my digital camera back I noticed how my abilities had improved from the time using film. Since then I started seeing film as a fun learning device and I've been enjoying it so much!

@lonniepaulson7031 Жыл бұрын

Film photography is expensive. However, I really don't see film as a problem, I started photography in 1969. I was always used to shooting film. I shot all formats including 4x5 and 8x10 cameras. I was late in coming to digital. My first digital camera I bought in 2009. It was quite a change. I think the greatest shock to me with digital photography was I didn't have to worry about color temperature. It was all done through the camera by white balance. My film cameras were all older and some without meters so it was quite a learning curve with digital. It took me a while to get used to all this automation that digital shared with some of the newer cameras from the 1990s. Since I never had a film camera from the 1990s it took me a while to learn all those added extra automatic features. Old film cameras without meters are the easiest for me to use, because that is all I ever knew. It was such a simple camera. The only control you had to worry about is shutter speed and aperture. which I very quickly handled with a handheld incident light meter, and then you focus the camera take an exposure and I always developed my own film. If you shoot film you should also develop it. You can save money by doing it yourself and then you have the control over contrast. You can also process your own color film. I would not like the choice of ISO 400 speed film for portraiture unless you needed the speed. In photography school we were always taught to use the slowest film for the job. They were training us to be professionals. So I would disagree of your choice of film.

@vincemincevince Жыл бұрын

i thought iso 400 was for more low light environment's or have i got that wrong

@lonniepaulson7031 Жыл бұрын

@@vincemincevince Yes, you are correct. However, The faster films for portrait photography came out later, and I'm sure many wedding photographers jumped at the chance to start using a 400 speed film. If you can it is always better to use a slower film for better resolving power of the film. You get less grain. Back in the days of film wedding photographers would use ISO 100 films. A wedding photographer I knew used to use a 200 w/s Norman portable flash and for special natural window light that he would take in churches he would use a tripod possibly at a 1/15sec exposure. Many portrait photographers had a studio which had powerful studio flash, so speed was not a problem. They were after the highest quality image which meant a slower film. Many photojournalists would use fast films, because they were in very low light situations without flash.

@vincemincevince Жыл бұрын

@@lonniepaulson7031 thank you ever so much thats interesting to know.

@marioarias9942 5 ай бұрын

Street photography requires faster film speed like 400 or even 800 to freeze people moving.

@jwzerbe Жыл бұрын

As someone old enough to come to digital from the film era, I really recommend to people to learn to shoot your digital camera as if it were film first. ie make all your mistakes in learning exposure, composition, lighting, etc with a platform that doesn't cost you $$ per shutter click. Go out with your camera in a similar mode that you would have with your film camera of choice. eg Aperture Preferred for a Minolta x-700, or full manual mode. Set your ISO to 100, 400, 800 etc. limit yourself to 24 shutter clicks at that iso. Turn off the rear display so you can't see what you just took. Take your digital camera home and pop out the memory card. If you want the full experience, don't touch it for a few days. Finally, again for full experience, take some software that can immediately print your images on 5x7 paper to look at them for the first time. 🙂

@Nickporter17 11 ай бұрын

Suggesting waiting and printing is hilarious but maybe pretty smart 😅 I just checked the shutter count on my first and only interchangeable lens camera. I'm at 25k. In that time I made tons of mistakes. Now, I'm a much more technically proficient photographer. But, I still may not have much of an eye. Anyway, I bought a film camera this weekend and I'm excited to use it. I think slowing down to shoot film may help me develop that eye.

@charlesk323 Жыл бұрын

I shoot both digital (Leica, Hasseblad, Fuji, Nikon) and lots of film-Hasselblad, Rollei, Mamiya, Kodak Retina, Wista 4x5. I am an old timer, so I have facility in both. For anything commercial where you have to nail it first time, digital is the way to go. But, there is something magical and tangible and very authentic about film. The texture, the rendering of detail or not, and the color and tonal palettes are inspiring. I love the feel, the loading of the film, the development, picking out the good ones for scanning or indeed, putting into the enlarger. It's wonderful. And yes, you have to work at it. But, when it comes out right, it's SO amazing and rewarding. You can stand tall and be proud of the results. Almost enough to let you forget the disappointments and expense!

@tomislavmiletic_ Жыл бұрын

1) You are 1000 % correct. 2) Recently I got back into film photography a bit. But than agin, I was working for about 15 years on film professionally until digital took over. For me, It's like riding a bicycle after prolonged time. But novices are not so lucky. Yeah, you'll have to learn. A lot...

@mrca2004 7 ай бұрын

I shot film for 40 years and digital was mind boggling how much there was to learn but it was easy and cheap to practice alot so the learning curve was quickly mastered. After a dozen years of digital and it progressed to become super sharp and clean, think sterile, I came back to film and now shoot it 80% of the time, nearly100% for personal work. My first camera a medium format kodak was simple, a shutter button and rewind knob. Developing meant removing the backing paper and developing and printing in the dark room. When I came back to the dark room, you can probably identify immediately recognizing the smell of fixer bringing back memories.

@CanonChuckAZ Ай бұрын

@@mrca2004 Discovering digital photography as a hobby in my late 50's was quite a challenge. That was about ten years ago, I loved the fact that with digital photography there was so much you could do and experiment with. Learning about digital cameras, photo editors, file types was a challenge in itself. You nailed it about digital photography becoming sterile and clean etc. Digital photography is now influenced heavily with A.I At 66 years old I long for the days when I took a simple photography course in my high school years. I am excited to re-learn film photography and see were it takes me on my creative journey as a hobbyist photographer.

@PokhrajRoy. Жыл бұрын

People think photographers impress people with cameras but only I’m impressed lol

@TheMeccio Жыл бұрын

I agree about every difficulty that film has that you point out, however, to me it's all worth it. Not for the pictures, but for the things doing this hobby teaches you (and spanks you with). Idc if people don"t understand: a good picture on film, to me, feels so much better than that same picture on digital. It's all I need! If you're trying to improve as a photographer, film is one way to do it.

@TheNewBruno69 Жыл бұрын

man, i started my film photography journey a bit more than a year ago, as someone that didn't knew anything, and i didn't research exactly everything for proper exposure and all, i can say. i had to learn the hard way, i shot in 2 weeks 9 rolls of film, 4 of those were COMPLETELY underexposed, and a good portion of those 4 rolls totally unusable, i didn't got myself down tho and i managed to learn exposure and proper exposing the shots, and slowly learnt a ton of stuff for both just general photography, and specific bits for film. i'm nowhere ready to define myself expert, there is always stuff to learn and the most correct bit is that you have to stick with it, and also, learn the film stocks you enjoy the most, it doesn't have to be the standard portra 400, you may enjoy a lot more using slow films like a Cinestill 50D, keep shooting the films you enjoy the most of your results and get the best out of them, that's one thing i learnt myself about film photography aswell

@JasonFisk Жыл бұрын

This video makes me wonder how photographers made a living before digital. Been shooting both for years, never had a problem.

@tobinsphotovideo 3 ай бұрын

When I first got back into it, I had a malfunctioning Konica FS-1. I got the photos back and the were frames "meshed" together, double exposed on the sides. At least I could blame the camera for that one. However, my dumbest mistake.....Was when I first shot Ektachrome 100D. This was before I understood what daylight and tungsten balance film was exactly. Shot Ektacrome 100D indoors on automatic setting and half the roll never even exposed! I failed to do my research. Another dumb mistake was thinking that I could shoot Kodak P3200 in complete darkness.....and the only thing I got back was.....complete darkness. Bottom line....For those starting to shoot film for the first time....DO YOUR RESEARCH ON CAMERA AND STOCK BEFORE SHOOTING. Do not make my mistakes.

@JimIBobIJones 11 ай бұрын

As someone who has experience of the full gamut of "proper" film photography, the continuing appeal of it perplexes me. I grew up with film photography: my dad used them professionally so spent quite a bit of my childhood playing with Zenits, Minoltas, Nikons etc, and I went to a Sixth form (equivalent of Highschool here in the UK) that offered photography courses that included hands on experience with the entire "lifecycle" of film photography including developing and printing film in the darkroom. The process aspect of it is entertaining to a degree but I really don't get the obsession with film. Anything you can/want to do creatively with film you can achieve with a digital interchangeable lens camera. The principles of exposure are no different for film or digital - adjusting your exposure is identical whilst shooting regardless of whether you have a state of the art mirrorless or an old fully manual SLR. Post-processing/editing isn't that far off either. You can fine tune your exposure either in the darkroom or lightroom/capture one/photoshop. The big difference is that I am not limited to 24 or 36 shots in a roll with a digital camera. My SD card can hold 1000s of raw images at even 61mp. I can afford to make mistakes, which is how you learn and creative experimentation doesn't carry a cost. I also live in London where space is a premium. A "prosumer" A3+ photo printer can fit easily in a nook - a darkroom setup can't fit into my life right now. As a film photographer, you NEED a darkroom to fully appreciate the full process of photography. Film photographers - who don't have the space, time and money for a darkroom setup (so 99% of them) - are surrendering the development and printing aspect of the photographic process to external labs, at which point you are ending up with a more "automated" process than going digital.

@elk3407 5 ай бұрын

I have to greatly disagree. I'm more of a digital photographer over a film photographer because of obvious reasons, but I shoot film occasionally on photo walks with other people. Because we all get our film developed at the same time there's this thing that happens where at the start I'm picky about what I shoot and spend alot of time trying to get everything right, but at the very end I'm trying to force myself to get the last 7 or so frames finished because everyone else is done or on their last shot. It's this weird end of roll rush where I've taken my favorite photos of all time, and I just can't ever replicate that headspace with a digital camera.

@inkey2 3 ай бұрын

I shot film for the first 40 years of my life. Started with a 1930s Box Camera using large rolls. Yeah, I actually had to learn how to take pictures.

@GirdHerd 6 ай бұрын

I'm glad you recommended the Nikon F100. The F100 is my latest film camera purchase. I love it. I love the fact that I can use my modern G series lenses for auto focus and auto exposure shots.

@PokhrajRoy. Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this! I have been contemplating to start film photography so I’m taking notes 📝

@claudius8002 3 ай бұрын

When I got into photography I had the extra time to read, learn and practice. These days I barely get out to practice, but one thing puzzles me about film photography (maybe I'm narrow sighted). You get a film camera and go through the whole analog process and then what do you do? Scan it, edit it in Lr/PS, Capture One etc. and post it online. What's the point in doing all of this? By the way, I shoot digital.

@SteSeed 8 ай бұрын

I totally agree. I get far better images off my phone after editing than I ever did with film, and I've recently got some printed and I'm amazed at the quality of them. I'll never try film again, so much hard work for very little return in my opinion.

@vampolascott36 Жыл бұрын

I found my way OUT of film photography by the 2000s. It's interesting how people that are too young to have ever used film when it was the current technology, are its biggest fans.

@MarksPhoto Жыл бұрын

Film photography is MUCH easier, because no 35mm camera has Sony's menu system.

@nogifunk Жыл бұрын

Lol real

@KTMrider696 Жыл бұрын

I disagree, if you understand how to properly use a digital camera in manual then film is easy personally I've shot digital for a long time and recently decided to try film, I simply guessed the exposure using digital photography as a reference and the pictures turned out perfectly the dynamic range on film is great. if you haven't got any experience then use a light meter app on your phone then all you need to do is compose and focus or you could simply get a camera with auto exposure built in. you are right about the prices though unfortunately

@charlesk323 Жыл бұрын

I rather agree. Digital experience (where you have any level of manual control) is a great training ground for making the transition. It you have the basics of exposure, composition, and subject focus, you are pretty much good to go. Also, home development is not that tricky and very cost effective.

@ComblessMan Жыл бұрын

I think all these negatives and warnings are the beauty of film. Often time in the past, I would shoot three or even five pics for one image bracketing just to get one image. That was the fun and often times the tragedy of film. Digital is nice but it seems to me to be too easy and maybe too often taken for granted. Ultimately the real beauty of film is grain. EDIT: I might disagree with your camera recommendation , respectfully. I think a fully manual even with a simple metering device is the best. Learn from jumping into the deep end. I would recommend a Pentax KM over a K1000 since the KM is a better camera and it can be had for less money. My favorite Nikon was the FM2 again a nice manual camera.

@romanglinnik8073 Жыл бұрын

Glad I'm watching this after I received my first scans:D. Well actually most photos turned out incredible but only because I did a lot of research before putting in the first roll (actually second, lmao). Nonetheless, I do accept the challenge film provides.

@stephenpaller7747 11 ай бұрын

Great video and I agree with pretty much everything you said, although my film photography journey was a bit different than yours. My first roll was actually quite good. However, I was very patient and deliberate when I shot my first roll with the 40 year old AE1 I started with. I made sure I was always exposing properly per the meter and took a lot of time making sure my focus was spot on. Of course, I was still worried the images would be garbage as I didn't really trust the camera yet, but every shot was about what I expected. Not to say I'm a phenomenal photographer or anything because I'm not, but my images were good, at least for me. The other thing that may have contributed to being comfortable shooting with the AE1 rather quickly is having used a Fujifilm X-T3 for the past 4 years. I was already used to analog controls, so I'm sure that helped a bit.

@film.fiasco Жыл бұрын

Nice one as always. Putting the good word out!

@daveleitz9107 Жыл бұрын

My first film photos came from a 126 cartridge camera back in the '70s. I was 11 or 12 when my Dad gave me a 1950s Kodak Signet 35 rangefinder which required me to learn to set shutter speed and aperture based on the rules of thumb lighting conditions, again in the 1970s. I processed my first roll of slide film using an E6 kit back in the late '80s. I had a B&W darkroom back in the early 2000s. It was always fun, and the costs were reasonable. Not anymore. I still have an Olympus OM-10 and XA2, having sold off various TLRs, SLRs, and classic rangefinders. But I shoot on a hefty Nikon D300 or my cell phone now. I do miss my Rolleicord sometimes. People found it fascinating. 📸

@JanneRanta Жыл бұрын

On that last point tbf, there are film cameras that do make all the decisions for you. Point & shoots for example. Also many cameras have that as option.

@pchen2024 5 ай бұрын

One thing funny is the argument it "limits you". Yeah it was very limiting back then blasting a roll with your motordrive. Load next one instantly with a bag full of film, sending it for like nothing to a lab. Or having multiple magazines loaded already with your rollfilm and just switch it. The limitation for most people is money - not film itself. Today? - Portra getting close to 20€ ? - Development costs 6€ per film - scanning ,printing? Of course that's limiting!

@Rusty1995_ 10 ай бұрын

I’m 28 Iv been taking photos on film since 2012 Iv been shooting Leica with a 35 and 28 for going on 10 years. For me I personally I do sunny 16 also shooting flash often. I feel bad for anyone getting into it with the current cost now… However I personally love the fact I have 36 exposures and take my time often times taking a week or more to finish a roll. And I like the limitations it provides.. I suggest anyone that has serious interest in film bulk roll black and white and self develop and scan at home. That alone is an art I think isn’t getting appreciated much due to cost. You’ll save in the long run however. I haven’t shot digital at all since 2012 and I don’t plan on it. Love the Leica m2 and mp4, I love my system of zone focus and sunny 16 it just works for what I like. The curve needs to be appreciated more I personally think we’d have much better photographers if we didn’t have the opportunity to spam the shutter on aperture priority. However if that’s how someone enjoys it who am I to judge? I also suggest anyone going to film now also learns manual in depth on digital before the switch it will only help their wallet and image. This was a very good video with great points. That Nikon FM10 was my first slr them the ae1 both awesome entry level slrs.

@Xin200O Жыл бұрын

idk if its good or not that I decided to start off on film in the modern era or not but i sure dont regret it a bit!

@gerarda9827 11 ай бұрын

For me, it is the opposite, I started with 35mm film fully manual cameras in 1985 with internal light meter, which I am very comfortable to use compare to my Sony A7II. However, what you are saying would be true for someone today that never use a film camera. Practice make perfect eventually. Don't get me wrong, shooting digital image is great too. A trick to get around the fix ISO on film SLR camera, I have 4 SLR cameras, and I would use different ISO film for each camera, just make sure you tag your ISO card to the camera, so you would know which ISO the camera is set. The other trick which is harder, notice the frame your camera reach and note, start slowly to rewind until you notice no more tension, hopefully you are at the leading edge of the film when you open the camera back, note the frame on the film canister you had before winding. When needed, load back the film in the camera, with the lens cover to avoid double exposure, advance your frame by taking photos until you reach your note frame plus one or two more frame in case of overlapping your last picture.

@mrca2004 7 ай бұрын

Even on 35mm you aren't locked into that iso til you finish the roll, you can note the number of frames taken, rewind it til it just pulls off the take up spool, mark it and reload another. Later can reload the roll, put on lens cap, close eye piece and click off shots to 1 past the number of already exposed. With removable backs it is seconds to go from one film stock to another. Expensive? If you are having your 120 developed on a 67 camera with 10 frames, you are paying well over $3 per shot. Lesson, develop your self and that drops to about a dollar a shot or with 35 mm, it can drop to 36 cents a shot. It's not difficult, i was doing it at age 12 in 1959. The problem is most folks want to "try" it so cheap out on their first camera. They need to realize they can probably turn around and sell it for what they paid so minimal cost to buy a decent camera. Yeah, vintage cameras are"cool" for the hipsters, but a nikon f100 has auto advance, auto focus and dead on matrix metering. It's easy to load. You won't be screwing up roll after roll as you get used to film. My favorite is the f6, it's over a grand but nikon sold it til 2020!!! It's fast to use in run and gun and metering and auto focus is dead on plus the focus confirmation is huge, bright and near the center of the viewfinder making manual focus lenses a breeze. I love it with my zeiss and voigtlander glass.

@PokhrajRoy. Жыл бұрын

I remember my mother telling me what a tedious process it was having portraits taken on film. It just had to be a sunny day.

@terryroth2855 Жыл бұрын

Yup! You nailed it.

@spacefanproductions6254 Жыл бұрын

This video might have been a bit late considering I'll get my first roll of film back in a few days 😅. Great tips though, and here's hoping that it'll turn out well enough.

@jazzyman9959 8 ай бұрын

I'm just collecting film camera...the more mechanical, the better, but not shooting. thanks to me, the price of your film camera is going up.

@mynameisnotcory 3 ай бұрын

Film isnt too expensive if you have some free gear to throw into the equation. I mean its a hobby that i can tack on to wedding packages and thats good enough for me

@kristoffergo6294 Жыл бұрын

Love the content and thank you for making these. One comment from me though. As a non native english speaker you speak really fast in some sentences. Which is really hard to understand sometimes.

@Overexposed1 Жыл бұрын

I will try to go a tad slower! Thanks!

@PokhrajRoy. Жыл бұрын

2:07 Haha great voice acting