The story of my return to using film again.
Why is film photography coming back again for photography?
It’s strange, but if you search for photography items on the net there’s lots on using film and film cameras, and not for oldies like myself, but youngsters as well!
There are lots of old film cameras for sale on eBay (some at inflated prices), new companies are being founded devoted to supplying film and film products and services, and even Pentax has just brought out the first totally new 35mm camera (with another rumoured to follow).
Film has some unique features that digital photography is lacking. The ‘look’ of the photographs is different, and the experience of taking the photograph takes longer when one knows that countless images can’t be captured like in a digital workflow. One doesn’t see the fruits of ones labour straight away as the film needs developing and there’s a certain charm in that. Finally the tactile nature of the old film cameras. As I’ve got lots of these I decided to embark on this route.
One advantage I’ve got over those youngsters trying film photography is that I’ve got lots of old film cameras I can use, and also I remember the basics of developing. I was going to say printing as well, but most of today’s film users scan the negatives into the computer and use Lightroom/Photoshop the same as with Digital. Printing and darkroom work is one aspect I’m happy to forgoe (although others will disagree). Striving to get the quality to do a 20 x 16 prints is also not as important as most images are kept in digital form or, in my case, used in photo books.
My Workflow
At the moment I am using Black & White or Colour Negative film. The B&W I am processing myself, and scanning using an ancient Nikon Coolscan 5000 scanner and the Colour I am se ding away to be processed and scanned – I can download the scans in around a week.
Ilford are still making 35mm films here in Cheshire. All the old favourites are still available: Pan-F, FP4, HP5, XP2 etc. The original Ilford company went into receivership in 2004 but were saved by a management buyout and are now known as Harman Technology based in Mobberley, Cheshire. They also own the old photographic paper ‘Kentmere’ brand which they use on a range of budget B&W films. According to their website “Harman technology Limited t/a ILFORD PHOTO is the only manufacturer in the world to provide a full range of black & white film and darkroom products.”