3 Tips to Get You Started With Film Photography
What's good? Welcome to my blog about film photography.☻ Although many have abandoned film in the age of digital products, I've always loved the timeless look and unique image quality that film gives you. I made this page to share some of my work and encourage others to try film out for themselves.
Whether you're new to photography altogether or looking to expand your photographic repertoire to film, here are some tips to get you started shooting old-school.
My first camera was a Pentax Spotmatic (pictured below), but there are plenty of great bang-for-your-buck cameras like the Canon AE-1, Minolta SRT-101, and Pentax K1000.
THIS beautiful cheat sheet was a lifesaver when I was getting started. It goes over all the things you need to know, from depth of field to exposure and ISO. If you're new to photography altogether, it even teaches you some tips on how to make your image more interesting with leading lines, rule of thirds, negative space, and repetition. I would start off using these rules, but once you get comfortable, use your own creative flair!
Films have different speeds which affect their sensitivity to light and grain quality in images. I recommend starting with 400 film because it's versatile, easy to find, and the cheapest 35mm film you can buy. Higher speed films (800, 1200, 1600, etc.) are better for low lighting situations and a have a grainier look, while slower films (200, 100, 50) will serve you better in a sunny setting and yield sharper images. Be warned -- film on both extremes will cost a small fortune since many brands have limited their production.
Once you find your preferred film speed, experiment with as many brands as possible! No film make is exactly the same, and even the cheapest film rolls can produce beautiful tones. It all depends on what you're trying to achieve aesthetically.
Works Cited:
“Darkrooms.” Fourcorners, 2017, www.fourcornersfilm.co.uk/photographic-darkrooms-london
Hanssie. “The Manual Photographer’s Cheat Sheet: An Infographic for Beginners.” SLR Lounge, 16 Oct. 2014, www.slrlounge.com/manual-photographers-cheat-sheet-infographic-beginners/.
Whether you're new to photography altogether or looking to expand your photographic repertoire to film, here are some tips to get you started shooting old-school.
1. Choosing the Right Camera
It's not so common anymore to find film cameras in your local electronics store, but a HUGE selection of film SLR cameras are being sold all over the place online. I've bought several of my own cameras from online retailers through Amazon and Ebay for a great price --- just make sure the camera has been tested and listed with all parts working.My first camera was a Pentax Spotmatic (pictured below), but there are plenty of great bang-for-your-buck cameras like the Canon AE-1, Minolta SRT-101, and Pentax K1000.
2. Get Comfortable With Shooting Analog
Many film SLR cameras are analog, meaning you'll have to adjust aperture, shutter speed, and focus yourself for every shot. This can be painfully slow if you're used to the automatic functions on digital camera, but it's an extremely useful skill to learn and gives you a lot of creative control over your images.THIS beautiful cheat sheet was a lifesaver when I was getting started. It goes over all the things you need to know, from depth of field to exposure and ISO. If you're new to photography altogether, it even teaches you some tips on how to make your image more interesting with leading lines, rule of thirds, negative space, and repetition. I would start off using these rules, but once you get comfortable, use your own creative flair!
3. Know Your Film
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Once you find your preferred film speed, experiment with as many brands as possible! No film make is exactly the same, and even the cheapest film rolls can produce beautiful tones. It all depends on what you're trying to achieve aesthetically.
Works Cited:
“Darkrooms.” Fourcorners, 2017, www.fourcornersfilm.co.uk/photographic-darkrooms-london
Hanssie. “The Manual Photographer’s Cheat Sheet: An Infographic for Beginners.” SLR Lounge, 16 Oct. 2014, www.slrlounge.com/manual-photographers-cheat-sheet-infographic-beginners/.
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