BBC feature on film resurgence

[Agulliver]

BBC Breakfast did a 10 minute feature on the resurgence in film photography this morning at around 8:50, revisited again just before the programme ended at 10am. They featured people from The Film Safe and Come Through Lab talking about how there's an upswing in interest in film, mostly driven by the 15-30 age group. Another takeaway is that the film photo industry is expected to grow to £300m pa by 2030. They spoke with the representatives of the labs about cameras, the challenges of film photography and why people are taking it up - including young folk trying film for the first time and older people resuming usage of film.

Nice to see some mainstream attention.

 

[Ballinderry-Michael]

Thank you for that. I watched it and am now off to develop yesterday's roll of Rollei IR.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

The more young people get into film, the better!

 

[mshchem]

I was able to watch a 90 second clip of this of The Facebook, so nice to see young people involved with film. Even us more "seasoned" folks rediscover things analog. I just received my RZ67 Nons Instax square back, what a hoot!

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

With Photoshop and AI around, film has become more authentic. There's so much fake, phoney, and poorly made stuff and opinions around, the public appreciates honesty and reality. We want things to have meaning.

 

[Milpool]

Lol convince yourself.

 

[pentaxuser]

Lol convince yourself.

Well it was a short and somewhat lightweight piece of news by BBC standards and didn't tell us anything we haven't already heard. However what counts is: "What was the figure of the sales increase based on i.e. its source, and how much of a difference is that likely to make to the future of film and other aspects of analogue photography?"

pentaxuser

 

[RalphLambrecht]

BBC Breakfast did a 10 minute feature on the resurgence in film photography this morning at around 8:50, revisited again just before the programme ended at 10am. They featured people from The Film Safe and Come Through Lab talking about how there's an upswing in interest in film, mostly driven by the 15-30 age group. Another takeaway is that the film photo industry is expected to grow to £300m pa by 2030. They spoke with the representatives of the labs about cameras, the challenges of film photography and why people are taking it up - including young folk trying film for the first time and older people resuming usage of film.

Nice to see some mainstream attention.

Unfortunately, a lot of nostalgic myths. Please visit your local photo club and see how many young people you find there; it looks more like the waiting room of a urologist or a meeting of WWI veterans. Every new young member drops the average membership age from 87 to 86 1/2! You can't fight smartphones. They are here to stay.

 

[film4Me]

Nevertheless I enjoy exposing film in old folders from the early twentieth century and until someone supplies a digital back for a Kodak No3, I have no alternative but to keep using film. Modern cameras are great, but I have a collection of old folders I won't abandon especially since they all still work, and why not try them out. I'm getting splendid pics from them. They're something else again when you're so used to much more modern whizz bang electronic cameras.

 

[Don_ih]

Please visit your local photo club and see how many young people you find there; it looks more like the waiting room of a urologist or a meeting of WWI veterans.

More likely is the fact that younger people don't even think about joining a photo or camera club. Also, they tend to want to hang out with their peers.

 

[gbroadbridge]

More likely is the fact that younger people don't even think about joining a photo or camera club. Also, they tend to want to hang out with their peers.

They join clubs - it's called reddit

 

[Agulliver]

Unfortunately, a lot of nostalgic myths. Please visit your local photo club and see how many young people you find there; it looks more like the waiting room of a urologist or a meeting of WWI veterans. Every new young member drops the average membership age from 87 to 86 1/2! You can't fight smartphones. They are here to stay.

Young people won't join a traditional photo club. Hell, I didn't feel welcome in my local club in the mid 80s when I was bordering on my teens because the older folk who ruled the roost didn't approve of the brand of camera I was using, and had rather strict ideas on what film to use and how to use it.

Of course smartphones are here to stay. I have made that point many times in many different circumstances. But you also find that young people are on Reddit, Instagram and other social media shooting film...there's a very active Discord server run by Analogue Wonderland with a lot of youngsters on it...all sharing tips, experiences, photos they've shot, mistakes they've made, experiments they've tried. I've mentored three young film photographers in the last five years...one of whom has an interview for a pro photography job later this month where her experience shooting on film was cited as a big reason she got the interview. She's 23, BTW....would never consider joining a camera club.

We are told time and time again by the likes of Kodak and Ilford, not just the BBC and other news outlets, that the increase in film sales and in sales of film cameras comes from the under 30s. The generation who grew up with digital photography and phones. Certainly borne out when I talk to the proprietors of camera shops that sell film and used film cameras. And when I talk to people who run processing labs.

I know it's just one shop....but the fortunes of my most local camera shop turned upwards the week they changed the window display from all digital stuff to 16mm projectors, and assorted film cameras from the 50s to the 90s.

 

[Milpool]

They join clubs - it's called reddit

What’s wrong with Reddit?

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Young people won't join a traditional photo club. Hell, I didn't feel welcome in my local club in the mid 80s when I was bordering on my teens because the older folk who ruled the roost didn't approve of the brand of camera I was using, and had rather strict ideas on what film to use and how to use it.

Of course smartphones are here to stay. I have made that point many times in many different circumstances. But you also find that young people are on Reddit, Instagram and other social media shooting film...there's a very active Discord server run by Analogue Wonderland with a lot of youngsters on it...all sharing tips, experiences, photos they've shot, mistakes they've made, experiments they've tried. I've mentored three young film photographers in the last five years...one of whom has an interview for a pro photography job later this month where her experience shooting on film was cited as a big reason she got the interview. She's 23, BTW....would never consider joining a camera club.

We are told time and time again by the likes of Kodak and Ilford, not just the BBC and other news outlets, that the increase in film sales and in sales of film cameras comes from the under 30s. The generation who grew up with digital photography and phones. Certainly borne out when I talk to the proprietors of camera shops that sell film and used film cameras. And when I talk to people who run processing labs.

I know it's just one shop....but the fortunes of my most local camera shop turned upwards the week they changed the window display from all digital stuff to 16mm projectors, and assorted film cameras from the 50s to the 90s.

I'm the only person in my 55+ photo club that still shoots film even though everyone there shot film for all of their younger lives and many still have their film camera equipment stored in their attic. When I mention I shoot film, they look at me like I'm some old relic and ask questions like, "You mean they still make film?" Most old people have moved on. To young people, it's something different and new, sort of like driving manual transmission stick shift cars.

 

[polaromar]

As one of these "young people", I don't know of any photo club in my local area yet. To be honest, it doesn't interest me a ton, not because I don't want to meet other people, but I:

1. Prefer the freedom to go out and shoot whenever.
2. Most people who join these sorts of groups and walks are all in on digital and:
2a. As @Alan Edward Klein said, don't even realize that film exists (most people),
2b. Or look down on it as a fad/kid's toy (small minority).

I will say though that my local film lab is entirely staffed, and almost entirely patronized, by under 35s. They're trying to come up with community events and walks, so maybe that will change soon.

 

[MattKing]

Younger people are living their lives, and interacting with other photographers, including film photographers, outside of traditional photo clubs.
The internet is one place. Schools and other places where they spend time are where that is happening.
If you visit the film counter at Beau Photo in Vancouver, there is a definite buzz.
But you won't find most of those people meeting together on a Wednesday evening in a room at the Senior's Centre.
So if you value your photo club experience, you need to put some energy into outreach.
One of our Darkroom Group is a high school Art and photography teacher, and another just retired from that position.
Two other members retired from teaching several ears ago.
Outreach is very satisfying.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

As one of these "young people", I don't know of any photo club in my local area yet. To be honest, it doesn't interest me a ton, not because I don't want to meet other people, but I:

1. Prefer the freedom to go out and shoot whenever.
2. Most people who join these sorts of groups and walks are all in on digital and:
2a. As @Alan Edward Klein said, don't even realize that film exists (most people),
2b. Or look down on it as a fad/kid's toy (small minority).

I will say though that my local film lab is entirely staffed, and almost entirely patronized, by under 35s. They're trying to come up with community events and walks, so maybe that will change soon.

When I set up my medium format RB67 or 4x5 LF camera, there's always someone who comes over interested in what I'm doing, even or especially if they only shoot digital. It's a pleasant experience, actually. No one looks down on me and what I;m doing. They're always excited when I ask them if they like to look through viewfinder or see the ground glass.

It was a nice way to meet girls. Even when I;m shooting digital.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Real film being an "in" thing again, especially with sub-30's generations, and has been the topic of major US TV news segments too, along with the resurgence in vinyl music records. There's an enormous music store in this area which sells nothing but vinyl, just about every music genre you can think of, and then a lot more most of us have never heard of, from many cultures and languages.

There are now a number of local stores where one can find a wide selection of 120 and 4x5 film, both color and b&W, but with one exception a bit too far a drive for me, only a token representation of 8x10 (b&w only). They can't compete in price with the big online houses, but pick up a fair amount of local convenience business, especially amateur 35mm, 120, and disposable cameras. In one case, the little lab they use for film development, scanning, and inkjet printing is right next door to a camera store with a good film selection.

Used 35mm and MF film gear sells off awfully fast locally. Stores can't seem to keep it in on the shelves. But the alternative swap meets and flea market venues are probably filling in some of the void. Again, the crowd involved seems a little more wary of overseas web sellers than most of us are, and prefer to buy local, or else get into film photography after they've been gifted or have inherited a vintage camera. One lucky 8 year old had a grandmother who bought him a thousand dollar film Nikon for his birthday - he was one of several people on the trail that day who wanted to look through my own camera propped up on a wooden Ries tripod, and ask me all kinds of questions.

 

[armadsen]

Unfortunately, a lot of nostalgic myths. Please visit your local photo club and see how many young people you find there; it looks more like the waiting room of a urologist or a meeting of WWI veterans. Every new young member drops the average membership age from 87 to 86 1/2! You can't fight smartphones. They are here to stay.

There are two camera/photo groups in my local area. One is "Wasatch Camera Club". The impression I get of them is that they're stuffy, mostly older, shoot mostly (entirely?) with digital gear. Based on the photos they post of their competition winners, etc., they have very competent, experienced photographers attending, but their work is almost all unexciting to me. Technically competent, but the same kinds of photos people have been taking for decades -- landscapes, wildlife, sit down portraits, that sort of thing. They have formal meetings, an actual leadership structure with a board of directors, etc. I've never had any desire to attend.

The other group is SLC Photo Community. It's organized through Instagram and Discord. I'm an active participant. We have two activities per month: a photo walk, a "photo quest" (photo walk but farther away, with carpooling, etc.). At 41, I tend to be one of the oldest people that attends, and also in the minority being a lifelong Salt Laker vs. many who are newish to the area. Most people are in their 20s, a significant percentage are women and hispanic people (plus plenty of others). It's probably 70/30 film/digital on any given outing, though most of us shoot both regularly. We publish a zine. Depending on the outing, I'd say we get 30-40 people attending most months.

All that is to say, I'm not sure old style "photo clubs" are the best way to get an idea of the makeup of hobbyist photographers these days.

We also have at least 6 active film labs in the city, plus more down in Provo 50 miles south. That includes two labs doing E6. We've got a very nice new-only camera store. They sell mostly digital gear but sell film too (and the Pentax 17, I noticed recently). We've also got a store that only sells used gear, most of it film gear. Then there are 2 great stores that sell both, one with a walk in fridge full of film. There are two public darkrooms in Salt Lake. At least based on my personal observation, in my area, the film resurgence is anything but a myth.

 

[isaac7]

There are two 20 somethings at work that are into film photography. Both use AE-1. Nothing wrong with those cameras but they are definitely a bit of a meme. Guess they always have been lol. When I told one of them that I used to sell cameras he excitedly asked, “The AE-1 is the best right?” Well, they are certainly the best known right now.

The other one showed me some of his pictures that he called fashion shots. He is riding the current wave of what looks to me like 70s and 80s celebrity out on the town look. Think candids taken at Studio 54. Direct flash, if not on the camera very close to it. I don’t think he’s familiar with pictures from that era but it is in style right now. It has even driven up the value of some mid 2000s digital point and shoots that have become popular with some “influencers.” I lent him my Fuji 645 folder, we’ll see what he makes of using a rangefinder.

One of the managers in his 30s also uses film. He loves his Rollei 35 and his Ricoh point and shoot. I gotta say, being around them has got me fired up about photography again. My health has prevented me from going out but I’m starting to come around to the idea of finally doing it again. I’m going to start with digital but once I convince myself I’ll do it for real I will start buying film again. I’ve already been exercising the shutters of the cameras I have around just in case

 

[gbroadbridge]

He is riding the current wave of what looks to me like 70s and 80s celebrity out on the town look.

The deer in the headlights look is certainly in vogue right now.
The money I spent to avoid that look years ago. lol

 

[koraks]

The other group is SLC Photo Community. It's organized through Instagram and Discord. I'm an active participant. We have two activities per month: a photo walk, a "photo quest" (photo walk but farther away, with carpooling, etc.). At 41, I tend to be one of the oldest people that attends, and also in the minority being a lifelong Salt Laker vs. many who are newish to the area. Most people are in their 20s, a significant percentage are women and hispanic people (plus plenty of others). It's probably 70/30 film/digital on any given outing, though most of us shoot both regularly. We publish a zine. Depending on the outing, I'd say we get 30-40 people attending most months.

That sound great! Thanks also for sharing the other examples that contrasts with the group you're participating in. I think it goes a long way in explaining how/why some of the old guard are not seeing what's going on. They're just different circles.

 

[Agulliver]

the SLC scene sounds healthy. I dip in and out of the Discord server that Analogue Wonderland run here in the UK and they also organise photo walks. It's all very different to the days of the traditional photo club with it's competitions, meetings in the church hall and stuffy members who look down on you for not owning the "right" brand of camera. Now I actually have a Canon AE-1 and several Nikon SLRs....I still wouldn't touch the local photography clubs with the proverbial barge pole. Nor would the youngsters, if the staff at the local camera shop are to be believed.

I try to be a part of the circles where the younger folk are, to some extent. I've kept up with a lot of social media. I have not embraced TikTok at all but I am around elsewhere enough to have picked up people who want me to help them learn. I think I'm a pretty mediocre teacher but I do encourage experimentation even when it's not something I would do myself. 23 year-old wants to buy Lomochrome Purple...go ahead! See what it does! It means another roll of film sold and processed...which puts money into the industry...and hopefully my young friend gets some shots she likes.

One thing has definitely changed, both at home and on my travels. Not so long ago I was viewed as a madman for shooting on film cameras...didn't matter if it was something from the 90s that looked relatively modern or something from the 30s. People laughed, told me there was no way I had film loaded, even got suspicious. Now they're curious...."What film does that take? Where did you buy it? Do you post your photos anywhere?"

 

[Lachlan Young]

I still wouldn't touch the local photography clubs with the proverbial barge pole. Nor would the youngsters

I think anyone with even the slightest sense of artistic integrity has no desire to get involved in the competitive and sociologically bizarre mediocrity of camera clubs, and have not for at least a century.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Real film being an "in" thing again, especially with sub-30's generations, and has been the topic of major US TV news segments too, along with the resurgence in vinyl music records. There's an enormous music store in this area which sells nothing but vinyl, just about every music genre you can think of, and then a lot more most of us have never heard of, from many cultures and languages.

There are now a number of local stores where one can find a wide selection of 120 and 4x5 film, both color and b&W, but with one exception a bit too far a drive for me, only a token representation of 8x10 (b&w only). They can't compete in price with the big online houses, but pick up a fair amount of local convenience business, especially amateur 35mm, 120, and disposable cameras. In one case, the little lab they use for film development, scanning, and inkjet printing is right next door to a camera store with a good film selection.

Used 35mm and MF film gear sells off awfully fast locally. Stores can't seem to keep it in on the shelves. But the alternative swap meets and flea market venues are probably filling in some of the void. Again, the crowd involved seems a little more wary of overseas web sellers than most of us are, and prefer to buy local, or else get into film photography after they've been gifted or have inherited a vintage camera. One lucky 8 year old had a grandmother who bought him a thousand dollar film Nikon for his birthday - he was one of several people on the trail that day who wanted to look through my own camera propped up on a wooden Ries tripod, and ask me all kinds of questions.

Drew, you seem to be more interesting than your camera equipment.