I started exploring with film photography about five years ago and fell in complete love with the medium. There is just something so special about the whole process of working with film. From the nostalgia, to the beautiful aesthetic, to the careful attention towards more thoughtful shots to make the most from the limited exposures per roll. For me the whole film experience is so much more rewarding than digital.
Unfortunately film and processing fees practically tripled in cost over the last couple of years and it just got to the point where I couldn’t justify that kind of expense for a hobby when my digital cameras for the most part are free. While I know film photography is still not dead. I do worry that it might be on a decline beyond recovery if we don’t continue to actively practice the medium in order to help keep it alive. Now I certainly don’t have any control over inflation, but I can at least contribute some by keeping the conversation going here one roll at a time.
I have a few rolls of film stored in my fridge that I’m anxious to break free and capture some images. Stay tuned!
“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.”
Dorothea Lange
Below are some favorite images I have taken on film over the years and what I learned from them along the way.
The very first image that started my film photography journey back in January of 2019 with a fuji disposable camera. This image is completely unedited. And WOW the purple tones are heavy! But this image is sentimental because it’s where my passion for film photography began.
Olympus OM10 // Kodak Porta 400 // Clearly a disposable camera was not the quality I was seeking; therefore I purchased a used Olympus OM10 on ebay for about $100 and some Kodak Porta film stock for roughly $7 a roll. For this shot I remember being completely twisted into a pretzel form trying to remain steady and proportioned all while holding my breath to get a clear shot of my own feet! All to show off my new combat boots, lol! The breathe holding and odd positions one has to get in sometimes to get “the shot” is no joke!
Olympus OM10 // Kodak Porta 400 // I began initiating little nature walks in the neighborhood with my kiddos so that I could practice my film photography! Little did I know that I would cherish these moments later outside of any photography growth. Now they are older and could care less about going on nature walks with their mom.
Olympus OM10 // Kodak Porta 400 // I was playing around with Aperture settings that day and felt I really nailed this one at the time. A tad overexposed...but it was my start to learning my camera in manual setting.
Olympus OM10 // Kodak Porta 400 // My people! And I think one of the first of my crew on film all together. xoxo
Olympus OM10 / Kodak Porta 400 // I eventually started experimenting out and about with varies scene shots because pictures at home was only going to get me so far. I captured this image during an early 7am walk while on a family vacation at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Camp site. I remember thinking this shot was going to represent nostalgia quite nicely.
Olympus OM10 // Kodak Porta 400 // My first planned solo day shoot to just explore with my camera. I was shocked how dead The Kemah Boardwalk was during the day while school was in session. Usually I avoid this place like a plague because of the crowds.
Olympus OM10 // Kodak Porta 400 // Kemah Boardwalk
Olympus OM10 // Kodak Porta 400 // Nature!
Olympus OM10 // Ilford Delta 400 // The Strand in Galveston, Tx. This was my first experience using black and white film stocks. I was a bit nervous not really knowing what shots would work best in a black and white scene. However I was very pleased with the results. The tones are very dream like to me.
Olympus OM10 // Ilford Delta 400 // I love how this image captures the local beach play.
Olympus OM10 // Ilford Detta 400 // A special outing to the park with my youngest when he was on the tail end of COVID. His eyes say it all on the emotional effects the pandemic had on our kids. I feel like b&w helped capture that aspect even more.
Olympus OM10 // Ilford Delta 400
Olympus OM10 // Ilford // “Mom, for lunch can I have the McDonalds All American Quarter Pounder w/ Cheese and large fries?”
Cannon Sure Shot 65 Zoom // Kodak Porta 400 // My first exploration with an automatic point and shoot film camera. I’m not going to lie a simple point and shoot does have its perks. I love the aesthetic of this shot.
Olympus OM10 // Kodak Gold 400 // Experimenting with a flash attachment (also purchased on ebay) and a cheaper film stock.
Olympus OM10 // Kodak Gold 200 // Light Leak imperfections can actually be really cool!
Olympus OM10 // Kodak Porta 400 // A pasta shot with the flash. I nearly blinded my family at the table when it flashed!
Olympus OM10 // Kodak Porta 800 // A film stock generally for lower light, but it’s what I had to work with. Not too bad for a sunny day. I feel like I can actually feel the textures of the horse in this image. So beautiful!
Olympus OM10 // Kodak Ultramax 400 // my sunflower garden from last year.
Olympus OM10 // Experimenting with my new self timer attachment (purchased on ebay $12). However I later realized my camera already has a self time feature! [sigh]
Olympus OM10 // I learned that complete stillness is a must for the self timer accessory. However the ghost like image is pretty cool if I do say so myself.
Canon Sure Shot 65 zoom // Kodak Gold 400 // My first developed exposure that split between two exposures! It was an exciting moment.
Olympus OM10 // Kodak Porta 800 // Experimenting with low lit spaces.
Olympus OM10 // Kodak Porta 400 // The clarity in this shot is amazing! What can I say, my son enjoys Mountain Dew, lol!
Canon Sure Shot 65 Zoom // Kodak Porta 400 // Austin, Tx - love the splashes of color.
Canon Sure Shot 65 zoom // Kodak Porta 400 // Austin, Tx - more great color detail.
Canon Sure Shot 65 zoom // Kodak Porta 400 // Austin, Tx - for an inexpensive point and shoot camera I love what it produces when paired with Kodak Porta film stock.
Canon Sure Shot 65 Zoom // Kodak Porta 400 // Image of me (and James) taken by my daughter, Tatum last summer in Austin, Tx.
Thank you so much for reading. Until next time. xo
