filmphotography

Why Every Photographer Should Shoot Film, Even in 2021

There are countless distractions that often hinder our creativity and photographic expression. The pressure and comparison that comes with social media can make digital photography end up feeling like a burden: Each shot must be better than the last and a photo with subnormal likes is a failure.

Fallen Sequoias: The Story Behind This Photo Taken in 1977

Over the years I’ve often been asked how I went about making a certain image. That question is commonly asked in my workshops not only of me, but also my co-instructors, where open discussion about all images abounds. It’s a great question, because it gives real insight into the mind of the photographer.

Shooting Landscapes with the Horizon 202 Panoramic Film Camera

The Horizon 202 is an analog panoramic camera from a company out of Russia, and for those who couldn't afford a Hasselblad XPan or Fujifilm GX617, it was the next best thing. Photographer Jay P. Morgan decided to take the camera out to enjoy it today, nearly 50 years after it originally debuted.

Student Hacks His Film Camera to Capture Circular Photos

Student and photographer Imran Nuri was driving alone one day when he started to think about photography and its shape. He asked himself "why are photos rectangular?" The answer might be obvious, but it also got him thinking about what it would be like to capture circular photos instead.

Behind the Scenes of How Kodak Film is Made

Curious how Kodak manufactures its film? In this 8-minute video, Studio C-41 shows the process from making the original giant rolls of plastic that eventually becomes film, to the finished product found on store shelves around the world.

How To Make Your Own Pinhole Camera With a Matchbox or ILC

A pinhole camera is a simple image capture device that doesn't use a lens but instead makes images through a tiny aperture. The simplest ones are just a light-proof box with a hole in it, and in this 7-minute video, you'll learn how to make one as well as how to make your digital camera into one.

Failed Experiment: Shooting Wet Plate with a Mamiya 645 and Polaroid Film Back

Photographer Markus Hofstätter is known for pushing the art of wet plate photography in new and exciting ways, but... of course... it doesn't always work out. That's what happened in this video, where Hofstätter tries (and fails) to shoot wet plate photography with autofocus by putting a plate inside a Mamiya 645 AF AFD Polaroid Film Back.

An ‘Aural Ode’ to the Classic Zenza Bronica S2a

In response to the classic camera shutter sound video we shared yesterday, a reader sent over another, even more enjoyable entry into the "oddly satisfying" category. Created a few years ago by YouTube user Tywen Kelly, he describes his video as "a semi-instructional aural ode to [a] great medium format camera" the Zenza Bronica S2a.

Film Photography Shootout: 35mm vs 120 Film with Fuji 400H

Braedon Flynn from Film Supply Club is back with another film photography shootout. Except this time, instead of comparing two different film stocks (see here), he's comparing two formats using the same film: 35mm and 120 format Fuji 400H.

Ilford is Creating a Set of Super Helpful ‘Darkroom Guides’ on YouTube

Over the past seven months, Ilford has been publishing a set of helpful "Darkroom Guides" to the How To playlist on the company YouTube channel. The series was created to help film photographers take their "next steps in your black and white darkroom printing journey." If that describes you, then this is one you'll want to bookmark.

Pentax vs Contax: Testing 2 Go-To Film Cameras for Wedding Photography

Today we’re going to take a look at two film cameras. We have the Pentax 645nII and the Contax 645: two of the last medium format film bodies ever produced, and the two most popular go-to cameras for wedding shooters who are still shooting film.

Four Composition Techniques to Try for Better Landscape Photos

If you're interested in photographing landscapes, you should know there are multiple ways to make your images more interesting – some that only require a bit of imagination. In this 26-minute video, Canadian film photographer Kyle McDougall covers four techniques he uses to make his landscape images better.

The History of Astronaut Photography: Using Cameras in Space

If you ever wanted to get a quick history of cameras and their use by NASA, YouTuber Scott Manly put together an excellent resource. In this 14-minute video, Manly explains the history of cameras used in the Space Program, what they were, and the changes manufacturers eventually made at NASA's request.

VSCO Went Full MacGyver to Create an Authentic Kodachome Film Simulation

Last month, VSCO achieved a years-old dream of releasing a preset/filter that was based on Kodak's iconic "Kodachrome" film stock. But creating the KC25 preset was anything but easy. In fact, it involved custom chemicals, custom hardware, and two years of experimentation to get this one right.

Perfect for 36 Frames: The Scariest Assignment of My Career

Most everyone’s got one. If you’ve been around for a while, you may have some great stories or a few crazy or scary assignments, but this one is not what you might think. Oh, I have had some interesting gigs for sure, but most of my work was in studio and not at all scary (with the exception of melted ice cream). I’ll save those stories for another time. No, this phone call was a different kind of scary.

Testing Out the Cheapest 35mm Film Scanner on Amazon

Photographer and YouTuber George Muncey of Negative Feedback recently set out on an ill-fated adventure in film scanning. He went out and bought the cheapest 35mm film scanner he could find online—the DIGITNOW! 135, which costs a whopping $60 on Amazon—and tried it out so that you don't have to.

Film Photography Shootout: Fujifilm Pro 400H vs Kodak Portra 400

Braedon Flynn and the folks at Film Supply Club have put together a "shootout" between two of the most popular color negative film stocks out there: Fujifilm Pro 400H and Kodak Portra 400. If you've ever wanted to compare these two side-by-side on the same scenes without going out and shooting them yourself, this film photography shootout video fits the bill.

Photographer Teaches a 7 and 9-Year-Old How to Shoot and Develop Film

Photographer William Gilbert recently decided to start a YouTube channel, but rather than asking you to "smash that like button," he chose to kickstart the channel with 20 minutes of "wholesome goodness" instead. He decided to teach his 7- and 9-year-old niece and nephew how to shoot and develop 35mm film.

7 Tips for Getting Started with Film Photography

The folks over at COOPH recently tamed up with Brooklyn-based freelance photographer Joe Greer to put together a helpful "beginner's guide" of sorts for anybody who wants to get started with film photography.

How Harry Gruyaert Makes You Fall in Love with Color in His Photography

Martin, the host of about photography, has put together a timely and inspiring ode to the work of photographer Harry Gruyaert—a master of his craft and Magnum photographer whose approach to using color, and his passion for photography in general, is worth studying, admiring, and emulating.

World Barista Champion Goes All Out Developing His Photos with Coffee

Specialty coffee guru James Hoffmann recently embarked on a journey many photographers have already been on: developing photos using coffee. But if you think a former World Barista Champion settled for some Instant Nescafe as his main ingredient, think again. Hoffmann went all out.

How to Capture Creative, High-Quality Pinhole Photography in Your Backyard

Fine art photographer Martin Henson has published a wonderful behind-the-scenes look at his pinhole photography process that highlights the results you can get when you use a high-quality camera, you get creative, and you know what the heck you're doing. The result is a masterclass in capturing high-quality pinhole photography that actually qualifies as fine art.