Experimental techniques to emphasise the aliveness of film itself?

[AHiggz]

Hello!
I am no professional in the field of photochemical processes but I have been self teaching for the past couple years so forgive me if I say something silly. I am currently doing a project exploring film as something alive, the collaboration between me (the photographer or filmmaker) and the grain of the film and the reactions necessary to create an interesting texture; I’m hoping to create work that will highlight this aliveness of film and I was hoping to achieve this by exaggerating the grain of film In some way?
I often use massively expired film and try to focus on the less chemical based processing as it’s just me doing this in my bedroom.
I was wondering if there’s any major ways to do this through experimental techniques with camera settings (do certain camera settings leave space for the film to create something interesting rather than focusing too much on the outcome of a perfect in focus image?), or with the processing stage- can I add anything to the processing with caffenol or seaweed or change temperature to create interesting results?
I want to be playful but not accidentally create something dangerous haha

I am trying not to do too much to film after it’s already been processed and fixed as that doesn’t really feel like the film doing something but more me, as a human, going in afterwards and creating interesting textures- which isn’t really what I want.
in summary, what can I do to film in the stages between being placed in a camera and it being processed to achieve this ‘aliveness’
anyways, sorry for waffling, and I hope this makes some kind of sense. I honestly just want to play around and get some really cool examples of how incredible film can be (both stills and cine film)

anything you can offer me I’ll accept! Thanku

 

[loccdor]

While it's contrary to what a lot of the members of this forum are interested in, I believe the easiest way to emphasize the "filmness" of film is to either go down to a smaller format or crop. The grain will become enlarged and a more prominent element of your picture.

Another way is to use an acutance developer like Rodinal, especially diluted 1+100 or more, with stand or semi-stand development. You will get edge effects and Rodinal is famous for increasing both sharpness and grain.

do certain camera settings leave space for the film to create something interesting rather than focusing too much on the outcome of a perfect in focus image?

Using expired film often gives similar results to underexposing film, as it tends to have lost film speed. But additional effects can come from it like backing paper offset in 120, oxidization of the edges, emulsion flaking off and leaving tiny holes, fogging, etc. So setting your camera to -2 exposure may make things more interesting to you.

Another thing you can do is use simple or very old lens designs. Like a single element plastic holga lens, a petzval lens, some other 1800s lens designs. Many of these lenses are valued for their imperfection. Or, you can try using your lenses at their widest aperture where you will probably get effects like ghosting and other aberrations.

Some of what you can do to make film feel "filmy" can really be a result of the printing you choose as well. There are countless options in that regard.

Welcome to Photrio.

 

[BrianShaw]

It would help if you could more clearly express the desired end goal, specifically what you mean by “aliveness of film”. That’s a new concept to me (and I’ve been around film and photography for quite some time). With that knowledge it might be easier to make suggestions.

As far as exaggerating grain, which I don't think makes film "alive", there are historical techniques to do that... and the effect can be quite artistic and interesting:

Google Search

 

[Truzi]

Does it have to involve grain? You could try "Light Painting."
wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_painting

 

[Jan de Jong]

You could explore the toe and the shoulder of the film ie under-expose and over-develop, or over expose, develop normal and bleach, with Farmer`s reducer. Just a thought after reading your post.

 

[Bill Burk]

You could try Lith printing. It is easy (some may disagree) and effectively creates grain of its own.

 

[ic-racer]

Minox + Lith printing works for me.

 

[cliveh]

Sorry to disapoint you, but film is not alive. It is not organic, merely a base with a chemical compound.

 

[ic-racer]

Gelatin is composed of organic molecules. Other agents, like metol, are organic compounds.