Film Photography

Why do I shoot film?

 

Mainly because I like it. It's no better than digital photography and for many assignments it's not the best option - I certainly wouldn't want to go back to shooting sport on film. Film cameras are simply a tool and film is a medium that I prefer to use. I love the mechanical sound and feel of film cameras, I like the time it takes to see the results after a shoot, and I like the slightly unpredictable nature of film chemistry - the fact that it’s a bit organic and the results aren’t always exactly what you expect. I even like the risk of using the older cameras - has anything at all turned out! I love the smell of the darkroom. The red safelight and the magic of a print appearing in the developer. I like the depth of a good print on silver halide fibre paper. And I really like the fact that it’s a traditional craft and that I have to make everything happen; the responsibility of correctly exposing and developing the film and then the time spent to produce a print that will last generations.

​

Black and white film is perfect if you want to slow right down and create images that are unique, and with its inherent non-perfect qualities, grittiness and grain, it really suits editorial, documentary and street photography, and also black and white portraiture.