Film Is Not Dead

Guess who's back.... Film.  

Ok well, really it never went away... you probably just haven't heard about too many people still working with film unless you are a photographer. 

I have to start with a big thank you first of all to the The FIND Lab (FIND = Film Is Not Dead) for re-sparking my love for film! The FIND Lab is a professional film processing lab based in Utah.  They process my film AND give me little tips for improving as I go!  Which is just about the best customer service and encouragement to shoot film that I have ever seen! Now, when you get your film processed, you can have prints made and they get scanned in digitally so you have digital copies on your computer. They processed the pictures below that I shot about a month ago on my very first film camera.  This was my first roll of film in about 7 or 8 years!!!!  

Fuji Pro 400H Film, scanned in on the Noritsu Scanner at the FIND Lab.  I chose Fuji, because I love how this film processes the greens to be a little bluer and it is a perfect compliment to a light and airy style. 

Fuji Pro 400H Film, scanned in on the Noritsu Scanner at the FIND Lab.  I chose Fuji, because I love how this film processes the greens to be a little bluer and it is a perfect compliment to a light and airy style. 

Quick little bit history for you: I learned on film.  Not digital.  As a kid, I shot on film and had it developed at the drugstore.  Then in college I shot on film and learned to develop the film and make the prints myself.  It was the most magical experience I've ever had in the photography world, hands down.  If you ever have the chance to develop and print your own film.... DO. IT.   You will never ever say, "man, I wish I hadn't done that."  (Hint: Check out a local community college or art institute for a film class... they might just still be running them!!)

Nowadays, there are these folks that are called Hybrid Photographers that shoot both digital and film during their sessions/weddings/etc.  They are rock stars and I stalk many of them on Facebook.  I am not a hybrid shooter right now; I am only shooting film for my own personal work and with my family for fun.  I just wanted to relay my excitement about this revival because this is where I first began and I am SO happy to be back! Working with film again has been refreshing, exciting, a little nerve wracking, and joyous all in one little film canister at a time.  

I was sooooo nervous to send my film to the lab thinking I was "out of shape" so-to-speak when it came to shooting film and that the people scanning my film in would think I was silly... but I was so surprised by my work!  Remember, with film - there is no peeking at the back of your screen to see how the shot turned out.  Either you got it, or you didn't.  And if you didn't, well then, there went that slide on your film.  I only had 36 pictures that I could take on one roll... so I needed to shoot to the best of my ability and make them count.

My exposures were all pretty darn good, it was just my focus that was off in a few shots. Focusing my film camera is much harder than my digital camera, but I had completely forgotten that!  So for my next roll, I have been reallllllly careful with my focus.  We will see how it turns out! :) 

Fuji Pro 400H Film - shot at sunset on a cloudy day. 

Fuji Pro 400H Film - shot at sunset on a cloudy day. 

I will be sharing more of my film work in the future!  I hope you enjoy looking through them. :)

p.s. If you have any questions about my shots or shooting film leave them below or contact me. 

 

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