Film Photography 101
Film Photography 101
Where do I even begin?
There is something so timeless about black and white images. My first introduction to photography was with my Dad’s old 35mm film camera. From film photography classes in high school to developing my own film, this art has a special place in my heart. The ability to understand how to take a perfect image the first time around sets you up for great success in digital photography.
1) What camera should I get?
Film photography can seem scary at first and the question I get asked most frequently from photographers is, “Where do I even begin?” The answer is, with a 35mm film camera. There are so many types of film cameras that can seem overwhelming at first. Whether you choose a digital film camera or an old fashion point and shoot, the best place to start is on Craigslist, eBay, or at your local thrift shop. Look for a Canon AE-1, Pentax K1000, Nikon FM Series, Minolta X-700, Olympus OM, or Yashica FX-3 to start. A point and shoot will teach you the basics of film photography.
2) What film do I use?
The first thing to note is film comes in three different sizes, the most popular being 35mm and 120 film format. The sizes correspond to the camera you are using and the way the image will be developed. A 35mm is the traditional film size most photographers use and a great place to start when beginning film photography. Make sure your camera takes the appropriate size film. The next thing to note is that the film can either be color or black and white, not both. C41 film, or color film, is sensitive to different colors of light, which when developed produces color.
The traditional BW film, or black and white, is made up of silver and gelatin. This is what creates a black and white image with grain, which is the tiny specks of silver from the developing process. There are many types of both C41 and BW film. Each carries a different ISO and way the light is captured. My favorites for starting with BW film photography is Kodak Tri X 400, Kodak T-Max 400, and Ilford Delta 400. My favorites for C41, or color film is Kodak Portra 400 or Fuji Superia 400. Store your film in the refrigerator because this will keep the film longer. When you load the film into the camera, load it in a dark space, to decrease the chances of the film from being exposed to light. Once the film is loaded DO NOT OPEN IT. You will expose your film to light and therefore ruin the film.
3) How do I use the camera?
Film photography is different from digital photography because the film is your ISO. You also have a limited number of shots per roll of film. This means that you have to be 100% ready to take that image and take it correctly. The first thing you’ll do is set the ISO on your camera to correspond with the ISO of the film. The next step is setting your aperture and shutter speed. This can usually be found on the wheel and is easy to set. There normally is a little light meter when you look into the viewfinder to help you set the appropriate exposure for your image. It takes some trial and error to practice with the film and camera as each film responds differently. When you have finished a roll of film, make sure you rewind it completely before opening it up.
4) I took the images, now what?
The next step is to develop your film. There are three steps to developing an image first you DEVELOP the image, then you STOP the developing process, then you FIX the image. When you develop the image you are converting the image to metallic silver. The stop bath stops the action of the developer. The fixer makes the image permanent and light-resistant. After the image has been fixed and rinsed, it dries. You are left with a developed negative that has an image. I send my film away to be developed and scanned as I do not have space in my house for a dark room.
My 3 favorite places are Photo Vision, The Find Lab, and Richard Photo Lab. There are a million ways to develop your image within this process. This is where the creative part comes in. You can either develop the film as “normal” meaning that the film is being developed in a standard way or you can push/pull it. When you push the film in the developing process you leave it to the developer for longer, this helps underexposed images come through better. The opposite is done by pulling the image. Basically, you are tricking the ISO to be more or less than the film. Here is a great article to learn more about pushing and pulling while shooting and in the developing process: http://www.richardphotolab.com/blog/pushing-and-pulling-film-the-ultimate-guide/
5) How do you print your image?
Once the film has been developed, the negative gets scanned in to flip the image. Now, you have a digital image of your film. If you were to do this by hand you would slide the negative into an enlarger to print your image. You’d then slide photosensitive paper underneath and scale the image to size. Then you’d turn on light and expose the paper to the image. Without a dark room, this is difficult to do. When you send your film away, instead of burning the image, they scan it into the computer. This allows you to print from your favorite photo store or share the image however you like.
6) Yay! You can shoot film, now what?
Film photography, as with everything in life, takes practice. The more you practice the better you will be and craft your art. I always love sitting down with film beginners and walking you through the process! Check out my Film 101 Mentoring Session if you want to learn more! During our time together we will talk about the basics of film photography, what camera to purchase, the different types of film, developing your photos, and more!
Where do I even begin?
There is something so timeless about black and white images. My first introduction to photography was with my Dad’s old 35mm film camera. From film photography classes in high school to developing my own film, this art has a special place in my heart. The ability to understand how to take a perfect image the first time around sets you up for great success in digital photography.
1) What camera should I get?
Film photography can seem scary at first and the question I get asked most frequently from photographers is, “Where do I even begin?” The answer is, with a 35mm film camera. There are so many types of film cameras that can seem overwhelming at first. Whether you choose a digital film camera or an old fashion point and shoot, the best place to start is on Craigslist, eBay, or at your local thrift shop. Look for a Canon AE-1, Pentax K1000, Nikon FM Series, Minolta X-700, Olympus OM, or Yashica FX-3 to start. A point and shoot will teach you the basics of film photography.
2) What film do I use?
The first thing to note is film comes in three different sizes, the most popular being 35mm and 120 film format. The sizes correspond to the camera you are using and the way the image will be developed. A 35mm is the traditional film size most photographers use and a great place to start when beginning film photography. Make sure your camera takes the appropriate size film. The next thing to note is that the film can either be color or black and white, not both. C41 film, or color film, is sensitive to different colors of light, which when developed produces color.
The traditional BW film, or black and white, is made up of silver and gelatin. This is what creates a black and white image with grain, which is the tiny specks of silver from the developing process. There are many types of both C41 and BW film. Each carries a different ISO and way the light is captured. My favorites for starting with BW film photography is Kodak Tri X 400, Kodak T-Max 400, and Ilford Delta 400. My favorites for C41, or color film is Kodak Portra 400 or Fuji Superia 400. Store your film in the refrigerator because this will keep the film longer. When you load the film into the camera, load it in a dark space, to decrease the chances of the film from being exposed to light. Once the film is loaded DO NOT OPEN IT. You will expose your film to light and therefore ruin the film.
3) How do I use the camera?
Film photography is different from digital photography because the film is your ISO. You also have a limited number of shots per roll of film. This means that you have to be 100% ready to take that image and take it correctly. The first thing you’ll do is set the ISO on your camera to correspond with the ISO of the film. The next step is setting your aperture and shutter speed. This can usually be found on the wheel and is easy to set. There normally is a little light meter when you look into the viewfinder to help you set the appropriate exposure for your image. It takes some trial and error to practice with the film and camera as each film responds differently. When you have finished a roll of film, make sure you rewind it completely before opening it up.
4) I took the images, now what?
The next step is to develop your film. There are three steps to developing an image first you DEVELOP the image, then you STOP the developing process, then you FIX the image. When you develop the image you are converting the image to metallic silver. The stop bath stops the action of the developer. The fixer makes the image permanent and light-resistant. After the image has been fixed and rinsed, it dries. You are left with a developed negative that has an image. I send my film away to be developed and scanned as I do not have space in my house for a dark room.
My 3 favorite places are Photo Vision, The Find Lab, and Richard Photo Lab. There are a million ways to develop your image within this process. This is where the creative part comes in. You can either develop the film as “normal” meaning that the film is being developed in a standard way or you can push/pull it. When you push the film in the developing process you leave it to the developer for longer, this helps underexposed images come through better. The opposite is done by pulling the image. Basically, you are tricking the ISO to be more or less than the film. Here is a great article to learn more about pushing and pulling while shooting and in the developing process: http://www.richardphotolab.com/blog/pushing-and-pulling-film-the-ultimate-guide/
5) How do you print your image?
Once the film has been developed, the negative gets scanned in to flip the image. Now, you have a digital image of your film. If you were to do this by hand you would slide the negative into an enlarger to print your image. You’d then slide photosensitive paper underneath and scale the image to size. Then you’d turn on light and expose the paper to the image. Without a dark room, this is difficult to do. When you send your film away, instead of burning the image, they scan it into the computer. This allows you to print from your favorite photo store or share the image however you like.
6) Yay! You can shoot film, now what?
Film photography, as with everything in life, takes practice. The more you practice the better you will be and craft your art. I always love sitting down with film beginners and walking you through the process! Check out my Film 101 Mentoring Session if you want to learn more! During our time together we will talk about the basics of film photography, what camera to purchase, the different types of film, developing your photos, and more!
