Do you have a moment to talk about 35mm film?

I think I was probably a part of a wider trend when it came to discovering my passion for 35mm film photography. It's a bit cheesy and hack, but it all began with a curiosity about capturing life's moments 'authentically'.

I am really not a fan of the "take a photo", "let me see it", "oh no I don't like it, take it again". I've witnessed it a few times and I feel it really takes away from the moment and I'd like to think that the best moments in life are the ones that are captured in the moment, not the ones that are staged/posed for.

Ah, maybe not that one

So in May of 2021 I took the plunge and bought myself a fancy SLR camera, thinking it would be the perfect tool to dive into the world of film photography. But alas, was I in for a surprise. The SLR, while undeniably powerful, turned out to be a bit of overkill for what I wanted... quick, easy. I was fumbling with settings, trying to capture the perfect aperture, shutter speed, and all the technicalities that came with it. I needed something simpler.

That's when I stumbled upon the beauty of point-and-shoot film cameras. These little gems were exactly what I needed - no fuss, just point and click. They captured the essence of the moment without overwhelming me with settings. My joy in photography was rekindled, and I began to appreciate the spontaneity and simplicity of film photography.

Film costs how much?!?!

Fast forward to today, and I find myself experimenting with a new twist in my photography journey. I've been using Adobe Lightroom to edit my iPhone photographs, giving them the timeless charm of film. Whack up the grain, mix the tones, add some character of classic 35mm film, you're basically there. It's like having the best of both worlds, although film will undeniably always look better, the iPhone/Lightroom combo does a pretty good job of emulating it.

Film is always going to have the excitment factor, the not knowing what photos I'll get back from the lab is just something you can't emulate. Every roll of film is a surprise waiting to be unwrapped. The imperfections, the unexpected colors, and the sheer unpredictability of film is what makes it so special.

PURE NOSTALGIA

In a world filled with instant gratification, I've discovered that the anticipation, the process, and the magic of film photography bring a unique sense of satisfaction that I hadn't experienced in a while.

...or it could be that i'm just a hipster, and I grew up in the 90s and 00s and I'm just nostalgic. Who knows?