Why yes - yes it does.
Digital cameras have made photography a much more accessible art form, and while that is a wonderful thing, it has had the inevitable effect of making film photography less accessible. Shooting with film is not cheap, nor is it convenient. Digital photography, on the other hand, once you've made the initial investment in your equipment, is pretty much free, and immediate. Today's digital cameras are so sophisticated, many of them actually have better resolution than a good film camera. So why is it, then, that people spend so much time and money editing their photos to mimic the look of film?
Well, it looks pretty cool. So there's that. But there's a few other reasons why I've chosen to revisit film.
1. Because it forces intention: A cheap roll of film is $5. Developing that roll with a set of prints and a low quality scan will run you about $20. Increase the quality of those scans, and upgrade to a nice portrait film, and you're spending upwards of $40 per roll, for 24-36 shots. So every time I miss a shot, there's an internal stream of angry curses. When I'm shooting film, I am very deliberate. I take my time.
2. Because I like surprises: Leave a roll of film in your camera long enough, and you'll totally forget what was on it. But even if you develop it right away, you will always find a pleasant surprise or two. A cool lens flare, an unexpected expression. Digital photography gives you instant gratification, but film rewards patience. I just picked up a roll of film which sat in my camera for a couple of months. It was pretty fun to look back on the highlights of our summer in a single set of photos.
3. Because I like prints: There are so many apps that make it super easy to print directly from your phone, and it's not much harder to order from your computer, and yet, the generation growing up today will find themselves bereft of actual prints. They'll have thousands of images on screen, if your hard drives last that long, but nothing to hold in their hands. I remember the excitement of getting prints from the drugstore when I was a kid. I still have shoe boxes filled with them, bound in a paper envelope with the date on the front. I still bring them out from time to time and sift through them, savoring the memories.
4. Because film is timeless: I'm going to be very honest, I've taken a lot of horrid pictures on film. My 8th grade trip to Yosemite was a blur - mostly because every photo I took was blurry. We'll allow youth to be my excuse there, but I've also taken some great photos on digital, as an adult, then ruined them with horrible editing: editing which was popular once, but doesn't stand the test of time. The look of film will never not be cool.
5. Because #nofilter: You take the photos, you develop the photos, you enjoy the photos. Sure, you can tweak them a bit in the computer if you overexposed, or underexposed, or whatever. Or you can also just enjoy the photos.
6. Because, creativity: Film will never really go away, there are too many people who remain loyal to it. Consequently, there are a ton of options out there. I've rarely shot the same type of film twice, to be honest, because there's so many I want to try. All these options mean more ways to be creative. And you don't need a fancy camera either. Many film enthusiasts love the look of the high school photo class favorite: the Holga, which costs a mere $30.
7. Because it's pretty: There are several companies that make their bread and butter on emulating the look of film, and then selling their secrets to others. I'm not knocking this at all - it's beautiful; but, you can also achieve that look by shooting film.
If you're afraid to jump into shooting film, pick up a disposable camera (yes, they still make those!) and try it out. Or add a roll of film to your next photo session with me. ;-)
