Fran shoots film

Why do you shoot film, Fran?

I have always been drawn to images taken with a film camera because it captures light and flaws beautifully. By shooting film, I am not only learning the basics of photography but I am also learning everyday to become a better observer and be more appreciative of imperfections.

In such a fast-paced, technology-driven world where everything is handed to us 'right now', I also like how film slows me down to get the shot right the first time then having to wait days, sometimes weeks, before finding out if I really did. And if didn't, I don't beat myself up coz a bad roll will remind me of what I did wrong and learn from it. It's not something I could delete and forget about. Having said that, the human element involve in film is very present which makes it raw, honest and a lot more personal.

Film is also predictable in so many ways and yet it has a huge room for serendipitous moments and random surprises and that's a good thing. Shooting film reminds me constantly that there's fun in leaving some things to chance, not knowing and letting surprises knock at my door every now and then.

You can see more of Fran's on her Flickr and blog.

Katherine shoots film

Why do you shoot film, Katherine?

I shoot film for many reasons, although I think it boils down to two. One, it feels visually much more beautiful to me than digital. I think a photo can look like complete crap if you take it with an okay, maybe $300 digital camera, but look really beautiful if you shoot it on a $60 film camera. Until I get to looking at photos shot with super expensive digital cameras (I'm talking 4 digits American dollars here), I can always tell if a photo is film or not. I think that says a lot about the visual-quality of film. The second reason is because I feel much more of a personal connection with my photos when I shoot film. There is something very real and satisfying when you know the life & moment you're capturing when you take a photo becomes imprinted that same moment on a piece of film. And you can hold that image in your hand. Versus images only existing as pixels on a chip with digital. Film is raw & pure, aka, the best :)

You can see more of Katherine's film photos on her website and Flickr.

Isabelle shoots film

Why do you shoot film, Isabelle?

I shoot film because I love how slow the process is, how much reflection it demands compared to the digital photos. It feels so peaceful in a busy world and a busy life. I enjoy taking the time to shoot and then waiting for the photos.

I also love the imperfections of film, of old cameras, the light leaks, the focus that is not always perfect. It feels real, genuine.

You can see more of Isabelle's film photos on her blog and Flickr.

Vanessa shoots film

Why do you shoot film, Vanessa?

I shoot film because it grounds me. It makes me focus on the quality of light, the composition, and forces me to truly see (and breathe in) that very moment. I love that I can’t view it right away, that I have to trust that I took the shot I wanted to. That mystery and anticipation is so appealing to me because so few things in my life are that way.

Film also has a quality and depth to it that digital doesn’t. It feels alive. I am more accepting of my film shots than I am with digital—I take it as it comes. I don’t do any post-processing with film, and I love that.

Oh, and the sound of the shutter… magical.

You can see more of Vanessa's photos on her blog and in this set on Flickr.

Kristina shoots film

Why do you shoot film, Kristina?

I just recently started to shoot film. It all started when I found my grandfathers old Kodak Retina hidden deep in a closet at my grandmothers house. Everything but the light meter seemed to work, so I loaded an expired roll of film and tried my luck.
Ever since I am head over heels in love. The grain. The colours. The vintage look. The imperfection.

The whole process of film photography simply appeals to me. I like the time I take to find the perfect shot. The sound of the shutter. The fact that I do not see the result in the same moment, which makes me think more about what I am trying to capture. The excitment when I pick up the developed film. The magical moment when I see the pictures for the first time. Being proud of the outcome. Understanding the techniques of photography more then before.

For me shooting film is art, a craft. Magical.

You can see more of Kristina's photos on her blog and Flickr.

Hanne shoots film

Why do you shoot film, Hanne?

I shoot film because of the expectations and limitations.

When I shoot film, I simply can’t afford snapping hundreds of photos of the same object longing for capturing just the perfect angle or expression. It’s one or two takes, and then it’s the expectations. Of a bummer – or of magic.

You can see more of Hanne's film shots in this set on Flickr.

Lomocouple shoots film

Why do you shoot film, Guilardo and Ana?

We shoot film because it's the most original and natural form of photography.

Of course that the digital photography was a revolution for the media, and it is awesome to have the results instantly, in a lot of ways. But when you're shooting for the art of photography, the film in the unique result. The digital can simulate the film, but it's not the same thing.

We did shot a lot of digital photos before coming back to analog photography, and when we did, we fell in love for it again. The sensation of having that shot, at that specific time, with the specific camera, the specific lens, registered in that specific film, is unique. It's much more challenging. And when we got the results from the lab, and see that we got a great shot - what a sensation!

Shooting with film is an experience that everybody that really loves photography should have.

And please - HDR is not photography.

You can see more of Guilardo and Ana's, aka Lomocouple, film photos on their Flickr.

Café Vienés shoots film

Why do you shoot film, Café Vienés?

First, because there is nothing more authentic to a film photography, without intervention, most natural. I do not like being manipulated photos are horrendous, I resent the use of Photoshop or other software to make "the perfect shot", the perfect photo is not in the photo manipulation or digital, is in the film photography

Second, because I like it. The moment you give the pictures you sent to reveal it feels wonderful, knows how to explain it is a feeling of pride in the mere fact of taking these photos, the effort to buy the film when some buy a card that allows them over 100 photos with your digital camera makes you feel proud to take the 36 photos with a single film, until you like those photos that you moved out or overexposed.

You can see more of Café Vienés' film photos on Flickr.