Are photographers "going film?"

elekm · Oct 14, 2009

A recent article in Amateur Photographer says that processing of black and white film rose 45% in a year, at least in the U.K.

I wonder if this is a temporary blip from younger photographers who are curious about film or perhaps the pendulum swinging the other way -- maybe, just a bit -- after nearly a decade of digital globalization.

keithwms · Oct 14, 2009

Well there are several of those cool throwaway / 'single use' b&w cameras; I know throwaways are still dong a brisk business in most parts of the world and I wonder if that is part of this. Besides that, hey, b&w is fun, it'd not surprise me at all to learn that young people are exploring it.

Andy K · Oct 14, 2009

I think there is a definite interest in young people in photography and its origins, stemming from the fact that nearly all young people these days have a 'camera' of some sort with them all the time. My 12 year old nephew asked me the other day to teach him photography. I replied he already had a camera that he took good photos with (digital 'bridge' camera). He said, 'Yeah but I want to learn proper photography like you do...' (not sure if thats how I'd describe what I do with cameras, but hey!)

So I'm going through my cameras to see which he can best learn with.

Tom Kershaw · Oct 14, 2009

I'd be interested to know whether Harman have any guesses or information on the composition of their market. I know they value the education sector but apart from that, how much material is consumed by home darkroom users v. commercial processing , v. the professional or fine art sector?

Tom

Andy K · Oct 14, 2009

Don't forget that Ilford now offer a process and print service. That may have an effect on the figures.

Christopher Walrath · Oct 14, 2009

Wirelessly posted (BBBold: BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.297 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

Not only the youngsters but the old dogs who have committed to seeing what the magic is all about.

AFlood · Oct 14, 2009

I can only speak from my experience. I'm 18, and started Photography as a hobby when i was 14 using a digital camera. I became hooked and took an A level in photography at my sixth form college. This is where I discovered the darkroom and B&W processing. Since using the darkroom for the first time I haven't looked back and haven't used a digital camera (for art purposes anyway) since. I now have a home bath/darkroom, and have just got the equipment to process film. I use film because I value craftmanship, enjoy doing things slowly and carefully, and love the hands on, technical process. I think the film comeback (with people my age at least) is being fueled by the whole arty retro/vintage fashion movement happening at the moment, especially with toy cameras like the Holga. I just hope its popularity continues!

Denis K · Oct 14, 2009

I'm afraid it means there are a bunch of photographers out there who used to use color film but can no longer get it processed to their satisfaction and have started using B&W film which they have to process themselves.

Denis K

SchwinnParamount · Oct 14, 2009

My 21 year old son wants to learn b&w film processing to "impress girls". If that works then I guess film is cool again.

Tom Kershaw · Oct 14, 2009

AFlood said:
I think the film comeback (with people my age at least) is being fueled by the whole arty retro/vintage fashion movement happening at the moment, especially with toy cameras like the Holga.

I'm not very familiar with fashion; how important a factor do you think fashion is in this context? Does fashion in broad terms encourage certain activities?

Tom

Colin Corneau · Oct 14, 2009

My personal take is that photography (of the film/analog variety) is coming full circle.

When it first was pioneered, it was the domain of artists and craftspersons. Then along came the Brownie and it became widespread...everyone did it.

Now digital has taken over that role, and it seems to me that film and related processes have returned to their roots -- something that fine artists and dedicated craftspeople pursue.

Cheryl Jacobs · Oct 14, 2009

When I teach workshops, there are ALWAYS at least a few attendees who begin shooting film afterward.

- CJ

AFlood · Oct 14, 2009

Tom Kershaw said:
I'm not very familiar with fashion; how important a factor do you think fashion is in this context? Does fashion in broad terms encourage certain activities?

Tom

I mean fashion in a broad sense, not just clothes. Of course it does! Any dedicated follower of fashion loves 'retro' things at the moment, be it 'vintage' clothes, bicycles, music or even photography. In fact film photography benefits from fashion in many ways- Firstly its cool to be arty anyway- photography is a very popular subject. Secondly its always been a bit cool to go against the grain (Ie. taking up film when digital is the norm). And now it even fits in with the current retro trend. If someone picks up an old film camera because its a cool thing to be seen using, and then finds out its actually a great way of producing images, it can only be a good thing.

I'm only speaking from observations of people in my age group, and cannot comment on 'older' film rediscoverers, but I do think it is an important factor in rising sales.

Ektagraphic · Oct 14, 2009

I just introduced two highly digital photographers both to film. One of them just ordered some film and one I already have had shoot and process there own. I am thrilled! I hope others area able to do the same!

thenikonknight · Oct 14, 2009

I grew up in this hobby shooting mostly color slide film. I've shot, processed and printed both color slide and B&W photography. When the digital era hit I struggled against it because it could not deliver the results I achieved with 35mm slide or B&W. When digital imaging quality improved and as I mostly shot color, I did finally give in and crossed over to shooting digital color. It was easier to produce images. I was never afraid to run out of frames with my digital. The darkroom was replaced with the digital darkroom (although the time I spent finishing my images was about the same for either process). However, I feel like I lost a little something along the way. I know I used to be more careful with my composition when shooting film. It seems that one of the unfortunate side of effects of the masses going digital is seeing good films being discontinued (Kodak Tech Pan, Kodachrome).
I am glad that my digital camera is currently being serviced so that I got back to my photographic roots. I did not pursue B&W photography enough when I started out - I felt mainly because I saw the world in color, that's what I wanted in my photographs. I am going to work on 35mm B&W photography and always keep my film camera in my bag even when my digital is returned. One day when I have the opportunity, I plan to pursue the larger formats. Hopefully our craft will not loose out on the availablility of quality products along the way.

Q.G. · Oct 14, 2009

Ektagraphic said:
I just introduced two highly digital photographers both to film. One of them just ordered some film [...]

I hope your introduction included telling them they need not just film, but a camera too.

Tom Kershaw · Oct 14, 2009

thenikonknight said:
(Kodak Tech Pan, Kodachrome).

The more recent 'E' series Ektachrome films have not been discontinued on mass. I'm not sure about the older Ektachrome products.

Tom

Cliffy13 · Oct 14, 2009

I dont think its just younger photographers I am 55 and have just returned to film (In addition to digital) after about 7 years,I think one of the reasons is the fact that with even flatbed scanners giving quality results and the need only to process rather than print film is once again an affordable option.I also find that a scanned film shot has a different feel to a straight digital shot and I like these contrasts

dwdmguy · Oct 14, 2009

Yes, it's coming around again. I think two things are driving it, one, photographers are finding digital to be just too digital. A raw digital file is, IMO, nasty, but there are so many people running actions on them they look worse. It's becoming easy to date a picture, guess what action or plug-in has been used etc... it's becoming boring.

I do think it's becoming a "fad" as well. But it seems to be catching on. We just need guys like Scott Kelby NEVER to shoot film because once he blogs about it, everyone will do it and following his lead, thru a bunch of PS actions on it and we will be back to square one.

Jeff Kubach · Oct 14, 2009

It's good to hear that film is making a comeback, but I don't think its going to be as big as it was at one time.

Jeff

Nicholas Lindan · Oct 14, 2009

SchwinnParamount said:
My 21 year old son wants to learn b&w film processing to "impress girls".

Oh to be young again. In my youth disappearing into the darkroom to process film was a sign of irredeemable geekdom - unless, of course, one had a girl in tow and then processing film wasn't really what the agenda was about.

Prest_400 · Oct 14, 2009

I'm 14, and introduced myself into film photography last year.
It was my only viable option for serious photography, because of my budget and other facts. I don't regret it by a bit. I need a durable camera investment (no obsolescense), less stuff, taking out post processing if possible (I hate post processing, boring). And heck, my OM1 with it's chromed metal finish, is nicer than plasticky DSLRs.
It was crazy to let that nice "pro" level camera pass at 120 with kit lens and CLA'd.

thenikonknight said:
It seems that one of the unfortunate side of effects of the masses going digital is seeing good films being discontinued (Kodak Tech Pan, Kodachrome).

Well, slide film has been farther from the consumer since the 80s. Because of color negative. Until the 80s, people played with slideshows, after that, prints were nicer than slides for them. My father, did follow this. It's more of a pain to have to send the film to a lab 500km away, than processing in a local lab.
I'd blame the pros and lots of amateurs, rather than the "masses" (snapshooters) for the discontinuance of films like Tech Pan. Because they preferred an ISO 100-400 color negative film. As far I know, Tech pan was a low (around ASA 10-25), black and white, and kind of specialised film.
Most, if not all snappers went color when they could (70s-80s here), black & white is a forgotten world (they call it retro, vintage). 95% of photos of me are film, 100% is color.
My father and uncle don't understand the fact of me liking B&W. I believe because of this.

R Shaffer · Oct 14, 2009

I took an Alt printing workshop over the summer at the local JC. The class was about 1/3 college students, 1/3 high school & college instructors & the rest of us who were enthusiasts. The student contingent were down right militant film users. The class TA made it quite clear that she could not help with adjusting digi negs on the computer, but was more than happy to help with enlarged negatives on litho film.

I have come to film after being hooked with digital. So I think there are many like me who transition to film from digital.

Aurum · Oct 14, 2009

Purely ancedotal, but when I took the family around the science museum in London, I certainly wasn't the only one shooting film The Konica TC-X was being given a beating that day,as I was travelling light, and didn't want a bag full of lenses.
In retrospect, I should have taken the Canon T70, and packed a wide angle, a standard, and the 135mm, but hey....

I counted at least 4 early 20's studenty types wielding such things as a full-on pro 35mm Nikon, a very old Minolta SLR a OM10, and a Olympus Trip.

Not a Lomo in sight

Leighgion · Oct 14, 2009

While "dead" and "comeback" are really popular words to fling around, I don't believe either ultimately applies to film.

I think more what's happened is that digital photography has settled in so that it's looked upon more objectively and as a consequence, it's once more socially acceptable to shoot film. Now that it's socially acceptable again, that's helped open the doors to young folk who grew up knowing mostly digital to dabble in film without crippling peer disapproval.

Are photographers "going film?"

Advertiser

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency