Help: Why do you still shoot film?

[Scott Peters]

The look, and the 'hand' crafted aspect. I like working with chemicals...I also like the delayed result vs. digital.

I shoot a 7x17, 8 x 10 and 4 x 5 black and white. Color seldom.

Check website for more information.

 

[Ole]

Why do you still shoot film?

Because I can, and they don't make 8x10" digital sensors.

What is your area of photography (e.g. Fine art, photojournalism, etc...)

landscapes/nature mostly, and a little bit of everything else.

Do you do color or B&W?

95% BW, 5% colour.

What type of camera (e.g. 4X5, medium format, 35 etc)

Yes? 35mm, MF, 6.5x9cm, 9x12cm, 4x5", 5x7", 18x24cm, 8x10", 24x30cm, 30x40cm.

Do you perform any alternative photographic processes (e.g. Platinum/PD etc..)

Occasionally.

Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.

Yes, whenever I need to get a picture on the PC quickly.

 

[Removed Account]

Why do you still shoot film?

On the surface it's an affectation, like my pipe smoking. Deeper down, I love the tactility of film and chemistry. I love the sights, sounds and smells of it. I love loading a mechanical SLR with a film cartridge, the clack of the film door closing, the cranking of the wind lever. I love feeling the clunk of the shutter and mirror, and especially love the sound of it! I love how freakin' cool large format cameras look, and how they basically have not changed since the invention of photography. I love controlling perspective and plane of focus. I love the thunk of putting a film holder in. I love how I can take as much or little control as I wish. Did I mention LF cameras look awesome? I love handling negatives and imagining the possibilities in printing. I love looking at the groundglass and have discovered it's a great way to get a curious girl to share the darkcloth with me . I love contact prints. For me, darkroom work is half the fun of photography. I spend too much time in front of a computer without photography. I enjoy feeling like a mad scientist with cameras, chemicals, enlargers, densitometers, trays, funnels, graduated cylinders etc... I'm sure I could think up more reasons but I think you get the idea.

What is your area of photography (e.g. Fine art, photojournalism, etc...)
I'll say art, because I wouldn't consider my work to be fine quite yet. I do a lot of still life and find it's much more difficult to make a reasonably interesting still life than any other genre. I would like to do portraiture and nude work as well. I have an interest in extreme macro work along the lines of B. A. Bosaiya.

Do you do color or B&W?
Almost exclusively black and white. Colour only for pics of stuff to sell online, and snapshots. I'm even thinking about doing all my snapshots in B&W. But with toning, hand colouring, and three-colour gum or carbon printing can you really call it B&W?

What type of camera (e.g. 4X5, medium format, 35 etc)
4x5 and 35mm P&S. I am looking for a 5x7 camera and would go even bigger if not for the exponential growth in equipment and operating costs when you go larger than 5x7. I'd also like a 6x6 folder, 35mm rangefinder and a 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 camera. I still cry over selling my FM3a.

Do you perform any alternative photographic processes (e.g. Platinum/PD etc..)
I have a VDB kit I have yet to mix up, just hunting for a contact frame. I'm also excited to get in to platinum/palladium. I'd also like to try coffee developing for both films and prints. That's the only respectable way to use instant coffee.

Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.
Only for stuff that goes straight to web. I sold my dSLR to go 4x5 and don't regret it a bit. I wouldn't mind having a good dSLR, but there's too much film stuff I'd rather spend my money on. Maybe if I get a 35mm kit one day I'll get a dSLR body to tag along. I can see myself doing hybrid editing with traditional output but that shall not be discussed here...

- Justin

 

[Steve Roberts]

Why do you still shoot film?
I've used film for the last 37 years and enjoy not only the destination, but also the journey. I sit in front of a computer for most of the day as my job and doing so outside of work holds precisely zero attraction for me!

What is your area of photography (e.g. Fine art, photojournalism, etc...)
Industrial archaeology, local history.

Do you do color or B&W?
B&W prints (myself), C/prints (lab) & C/slides (lab)

What type of camera (e.g. 4X5, medium format, 35 etc)
35mm so far, but I do have a 2 1/4 square loaded with film that I've yet to try. Time.......

Do you perform any alternative photographic processes (e.g. Platinum/PD etc..)
YES! Taking photos with the lens cap on, forgetting to set the ASA, going out for the day with a screw thread camera but bayonet fit lenses, trying to eek the last bit of life out of print dev that looks like brown sauce ... all guaranteed to promote creativity!

Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.
None whatsoever. I don't possess a digital camera and have no plans to buy one.

Best wishes,
Steve

 

[hacken]

I shoot film for the archival ability reasons - much easier to store for long periods of time, much easier to retrieve from the archive after a long period of time. Properly stored, film is almost eternal (I said - almost).
I shoot 35, MF, long panos somewhere between MF and LF, LF.
I shoot slides.
Many cameras, Arca Swiss for the LF.
No esoteric photo processes.
Digital for easy pics and for some stock agencies.

 

[David Lingham]

Why do you still shoot film?
Because I can, and I prefer it.

What is your area of photography (e.g. Fine art, photojournalism, etc...)
landscape, amongst other things. I wouldn’t define what I do as Fine Art, by it gives me pleasure.

Do you do color or B&W?
B&W

What type of camera (e.g. 4X5, medium format, 35 etc)
35mm and 6x6

Do you perform any alternative photographic processes (e.g. Platinum/PD etc..)
No.

Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.
None at all.

 

[m_liddell]

Why do you still shoot film?
High depreciation on digital gear

Prohibitively high cost for comparable quality of larger film formats (I don’t shoot enough for film cost to be offset)

Film cameras are smaller (look at the size of pro dslrs!) and nicer to use. Digital cameras are full of menus, AF, poor viewfinders and are missing dof markings and distance scales

Fix all these issues and I would happily ditch film!


What is your area of photography (e.g. Fine art, photojournalism, etc...)
Landscape
Street


Do you do color or B&W?
B&W


What type of camera (e.g. 4X5, medium format, 35 etc)
Large format (with 6x7 back)
6x7
35mm


Do you perform any alternative photographic processes (e.g. Platinum/PD etc..)No.


Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.
A p&s for less serious photography, trying things out and ebay pics

I wish I had a leica M8 for street/travel photography

 

[thefizz]

Why do you still shoot film?
Because I love the hand made print. Using a computer just wouldn't be the same.

What is your area of photography (e.g. Fine art, photojournalism, etc...)
Landscapes & buildings.

Do you do color or B&W?
Mostly B&W

What type of camera (e.g. 4X5, medium format, 35 etc)
Mostly 6x7 with a little 35mm.

Do you perform any alternative photographic processes (e.g. Platinum/PD etc..)
Hoping to get back into liquid emulsions.

Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.
No.

 

[Simon R Galley]

Dear Mark,

Thought the photograph was brilliant.....a record of the first radio in the village...exactly what I mean...and photographed on an ILFORD brand ( Selo ) as well...

Made my day

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN technology Limited :

 

[sjperry]

A lot of folks have answered this question, but I will also add my 2 cents.
I shoot film because I can get far better resolution than digi for big enlargements. I shoot medium format and large format. Use Rolleiflex, Hassy and Linhof for same.
I shoot 35mm anymore mainly for ebay listing pictures (part of my small business). I use the 35mm adapter for my 2.8E.
No alternative processes.
I used to use digi some at work before I retired (that was their camera, not mine).

 

[stillsilver]

The reason I prefer to shoot film is I enjoy the medium. I like to be in a darkroom making the prints that will last several lifetimes. Also, I don‘t want to invest the time and money (photoshop, printer, dslr) needed to achieve the results I get now.

My area of photography would be whatever is catching my attention at the moment. I’ll focus (no pun intended) on still life for a while then shift over to landscapes then jump to portraits.

I shoot B & W.

Mostly I shoot MF and a little 35mm. I just got a 4x5 and I’ll be using that primarily for a while.

No alt. processing at this time.

I do use a digital point and shoot for snapshots and eBay sales.

Mike

 

[catem]

Why do you still shoot film?
Because for me the quality or 'feel' of film and digital is different. I prefer the appearance and feel of b&w film - which is what I mostly do - over digital for my needs. I like having control in the darkroom, and making use of the darkroom & associated processes.

What is your area of photography (e.g. Fine art, photojournalism, etc...)
Hate categories. My first love - people/children especially. Documentary/story-telling - involving places, objects, people...

Do you do color or B&W?
Mostly B&W- I define myself, and see myself at present as first and foremost a B&W photographer. But use a little colour film. And a little digital colour.

What type of camera (e.g. 4X5, medium format, 35 etc)
Medium format (6x7) and 35mm.

Do you perform any alternative photographic processes (e.g. Platinum/PD etc..)
Have dipped a toe in but beginning to realise I'm not really interested (for me I mean - can enjoy looking). Love the grittiness, down-to-earthness and everydayness of silver gelatin. For me, I'm beginning to think alt processes ultimately move an image somehow into 'art' and away from ....whatever it is I want... which is something less distanced.

Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.
Yes. Mostly for play, and for 'sketching'. Also for holidays. I do some serious colour work (& it's mostly digital) but keep quiet about it on the whole!

 

[Pete Millson]

Why do you still shoot film?

Because I have found my medium and it does everything I need it to. Plus I have the added advantage that I can't see what I've photographed straight away.

PETE.

 

[nworth]

...

Film cameras are smaller (look at the size of pro dslrs!) and nicer to use. Digital cameras are full of menus, AF, poor viewfinders and are missing dof markings and distance scales

...

My Nikon D200 is slightly smaller than my F5, and is noticeably lighter. Both are about the same size as my MF gear, but heavier (they also have more features). Point and shoot digitals are truly tiny these days, and they give results comparable to the DSLRs. The viewfinder issue is important, and a real minus on digital gear. Most zoom lenses do not have DOF indications, and that is what you have with most digital gear.

 

[jmolligo]

Why I use film: Questions 1 thru 6

1. Emulsions have personalities, they are real, not virtual.
2. Fine Art, Ex-Photojournalist, Ex-Fashion Photographer
3. Mainly B/W. But I also shoot Color Neg and Transparency depending on subject.
4. 4x5, 35mm
5. Sometimes (Lith Printing, Platinum, Reverse Processing [color])
6. Yes, snapshots and ballgames

Please contact me if you desire anymore information. Best of luck to you!

 

[m_liddell]

My Nikon D200 is slightly smaller than my F5, and is noticeably lighter. Both are about the same size as my MF gear, but heavier (they also have more features). Point and shoot digitals are truly tiny these days, and they give results comparable to the DSLRs. The viewfinder issue is important, and a real minus on digital gear. Most zoom lenses do not have DOF indications, and that is what you have with most digital gear.

I was thinking more along the lines of the size of my Nikon FE2 vs digital slrs which, in comparison, is tiny! The feature set is quite different as you point out - I wish they would make a digital version of an old manual slr since the FE2 is a great street camera but digital slrs are just too big

The only p&s I know of that can compete with a dslr is probably the new sigma DP1?

 

[Erik Petersson]

Why do you still shoot film?
A film SLR is smaller and lighter than a DSLR. And, as I understand it, film is better in capturing highlights and shadows than digital, at least in the price range that is available to me.

And as someone said above, films have personalities.


What is your area of photography (e.g. Fine art, photojournalism, etc...)
Hobbyist. I try to photograph what is going on around me, and make it look interesting and beautiful.

Do you do color or B&W?
Mostly B&W. But some of my best results where made on color negative. I will have to think more about this...

What type of camera (e.g. 4X5, medium format, 35 etc)
35mm SLR, manually focused, but with automatic exposure.

Do you perform any alternative photographic processes (e.g. Platinum/PD etc..)
No, as I am very happy with the results of normal processes.

Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.
Only when I borrow someone else's camera. This does not happen very often.

 

[pesphoto]

Why do you still shoot film?
Because it's just what I do and enjoy.

What is your area of photography (e.g. Fine art, photojournalism, etc...)
Pretty much anyhting I feel like shooting at the time. All b/w though. Could be street stuff one day or nature the next. I like different subject that catch my eye.
Do you do color or B&W?
B/W only, it's just how I see things when I shoot. TriX mostly, though Ive tried many films.

What type of camera (e.g. 4X5, medium format, 35 etc)
35mm rangefinders right now. Bessa R, Yashica GSN mostly

Do you perform any alternative photographic processes (e.g. Platinum/PD etc..) No, prefer straight forward b/w. Though I appreciate ohters that do it.

Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.
I only shoot digital because I have to to make a living. Outside of work I dont use it at all if I can help it.


Helping my wife pay taxes sale: Dead Link Removed

 

[Tom Hoskinson]

Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.

Yes:
1. Digital Radiography
2. Digital Optical Microscopy
3. Acoustic Microscopy
4. Thermal Imaging
4. SEM and TEM

 

[dpurdy]

Why do you still shoot film?

I shoot film because the prints look better and sitting at computers is unpleasant and I would rather work with a physical craft.

What is your area of photography (e.g. Fine art, photojournalism, etc...)
Fine Art, and anything I can get paid for. Survival. I don't know how to do anything else.

Do you do color or B&W?
Yes.

What type of camera (e.g. 4X5, medium format, 35 etc)
8x10, 4x5, 6x7, 6x6, 135mm

Do you perform any alternative photographic processes (e.g. Platinum/PD etc..)
Platinum/palladium

Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.
Never have yet. Except a bunch of tourists that handed me their camera once to take a picture of them.

 

[Contrastique]

Why do you still shoot film?
Because I like the chemical part, the darkroom etc. I like holding and looking at the negatives, it's something you can touch whereas digital is just air until you print it. It has a certain magic.

What is your area of photography (e.g. Fine art, photojournalism, etc...)
Find that one hard to answer...I'm not sure if what I do belongs to the fine-art catagory. Mostly I work on conceptual photography, abstracts and landscapes.

Do you do color or B&W?
Film is B&W for me. I used to work on slides and colour film (reala and pro 400h = awesome) but it's just B&W now.

What type of camera (e.g. 4X5, medium format, 35 etc)
Have worked on midformat and 4x5" but only have a 35mm camera in my possesion so that's what I work with. Looking forward buying my first MF, hopefully sooner than later

Do you perform any alternative photographic processes (e.g. Platinum/PD etc..)
Nope. Normal fiber-based prints although I'm gonna work with the Selenium toner (mostly for archival purposes) when my new darkroom is up and running.

Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.
I work in a photoshop so couldn't resist buying a dslr. I'm on my second now but as I can see it now I'll most likely will not be spending more money in that area again, at least not now.
I played a lot with it and I like it. I create my image in front of the lens and digital is just a way of capturing that, just as with film, it's just a different kind of film. But it lacks the magic of real film so I pushed it to the background. I take it with me on holidays and for commercial shooting where I don't have much time finishing a product and it has to be delivered digital anyways.
But b&w properly with digital is just simply outpreformed by analogue, period.

 

[Matt5791]

Why do you still shoot film?

The film "look"; having a tangible original; option to go into digital domain available with a scan. I enjoy the workflow.

What is your area of photography (e.g. Fine art, photojournalism, etc...)

Weddings and Landscape. Shooting film for weddings gives me a USP (unique selling point) over virtually every other weddings photographer. A little something to differentiate me from the crowd.

Do you do color or B&W?

Both

What type of camera (e.g. 4X5, medium format, 35 etc)

35mm; MF; LF

Do you perform any alternative photographic processes (e.g. Platinum/PD etc..)

No

Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.

yes - eg. listing items on Ebay.


Matt

 

[Jerevan]

Why do you still shoot film?
Because I can. But mostly it has to do with the tactility of the film, the archive qualities, and the look. The craft aspect of the whole process, I think, is vital to me.

What is your area of photography (e.g. Fine art, photojournalism, etc...)
Fine art, I guess. Trees, rocks and anything I happen to find interesting.

Do you do color or B&W?
Mainly B/W but colour once in a while.

What type of camera (e.g. 4X5, medium format, 35 etc)
35, 6x6 and 5x7/13x18. Mainly 6x6 these days.

Do you perform any alternative photographic processes (e.g. Platinum/PD etc..)
I've dabbled in cyanotypes and I am (very slowly indeed!) coming to grips with salt prints. That's why I use the LF camera.

Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.
Product shots - if I have to sell some camera on the net. Otherwise, no.

 

[kerrpanda]

Yeah, I'm still shooting film. 35mm, medium format, toy cameras....B/W only. I had to buy a new fridge for the garage to store my hoarded film and paper. I print fine art and dabble in Lith printing (taking Tim's workshop in October at Photoformulary). I am open to alternative processes to further separate my work from digital. I love the hands on and the magic that happens in the darkroom. I belong to a photo club and 70% of the members have only experienced digital. The other 30% are digital but constantly waxing poetic about film and wishing they "could" go back. If ever I cannot get darkroom supplies and would have to turn to sitting at my computer to make art, I will try quilting or something else!

 

[gr82bart]

Why do you still shoot film?

I like the process; it slows me down; forces me to think and see. It's now really unique in a sea of digital. It's somewhat rebellious.

What is your area of photography (e.g. Fine art, photojournalism, etc...)

No style and every style - my style.

Do you do color or B&W?

Colour

What type of camera (e.g. 4X5, medium format, 35 etc)

35 and MF

Do you perform any alternative photographic processes (e.g. Platinum/PD etc..)

Polaroid transfers, PT/PD, ambrotypes, cyanotypes

Do you shoot digital at all? if yes what type of photography.

Yes. Fashion/glamour/beauty/swimsuit/porn/erotic/boudoir/headshots

Regards, Art.