Why Film?

This is film and this is why you should do it!

Currently we shoot 35mm film. Film is a thin piece of plastic that is coated with silver halide crystals and gelatin. We can get into the science at another time but that is the quick description of what film actually is. The image to the left is an undeveloped test roll of 35mm film we have for practicing reeling the film for developing. It is sitting on top of a developed roll.

Everyone has their own reasons for shooting analogue, and each is unique to that person. So, as we can’t say why you should take the plunge we can tell you why we did.

Anna grew up as a child with film (yeah, she’s that old!) and digital. In her early years, her family couldn’t afford digital, so 35mm point and shoots was how she captured her life and the things that she wanted to remember. Contrastly, shooting analogue is now more expensive than digital! She honestly cannot even really remember when or what her first digital camera was! But her first SLR was a gift from her stepfather on her 16th birthday. It was a Minolta with several different lenses. She was stoked, but overwhelmed at the same time. This was early 2000 and at that time traditional photography was a class that was offered at her high school. She enrolled the next semester and has been hooked ever since. The action of taking photos and not seeing them right away created a ‘magick’ when she finally got to see her final product. The developing of the film and her work in the darkroom made her feel like a mad scientist, and she loved it! She finds the whole process relaxing and meditative, and makes her feel accomplished when she shoots and develops an image that was exactly what she wanted, or more! For her, film reminds her of a time past. A time to relive her childhood through her adult eyes.

This image was a self-portrait Anna took her Senior year in high school, 2002, with her Minolta.

Nick grew up the son of the family photographer. His dad was known for taking the family pictures, and Nick grew up in a large Italian family. Whether it was a visit to Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, or just at home in Maine, Nick’s dad took a lot of pictures. Every cousin knew the time would come for “Picture Time.” Every birthday. Every anniversary. Every trip. Every meal (maybe not all, but quite a few at least).

Nick remembers his father taking pictures and storing them on floppy disks. Lots and lots of floppy disks.

Nick was raised in the digital era. He grew up with the World Wide Web , from dial up (remember AIM?!) to present day (Snapchat, amirite?!). But he didn’t become involved in photography (besides being a subject) until college. In 2014, Nick got his first smartphone (which lasted him until 2020). He finally started taking pictures, but only to capture the moment, never as an artist contemplating the composition. When he started teaching Video Production at his old high school, Nick began taking pictures more consciously. He thought about lighting, angles, and subject.

It wasn’t until Nick met Anna that he found film photography. Film is a mixture of history, art, science, and creativity. Nick enjoys thinking critically before each shot. Much like video or digital photography, the angle, shot size, and composition are key components to creating the image you’re going for. But film forces deeper thinking. Don’t want to waste it!

Nick’s dad on the grill from his first roll of 35mm film.

Summer 2020

This is a quick cap to what brought us to film! What has brought you to this wonderful passion?

~Nick and Anna

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