Author: Steve

Film photography has got expensive in recent months. The supply of film is struggling to meet the demands of photographers. If you can find a supply then the cost of rolls of film can be quite high.

A few years ago I came across an idea of how to shoot like film, but with a digital camera. Looking back on this now I think it’s a great exercise/project to try out. I’ve added in some of my own ideas too.

Firstly, you don’t need the newest and best digital camera out there. You can use one you have put away in the cupboard, one you have may be replaced, but you are hanging on to the old one for what ever reason.

Also find a small memory card, ones you now consider too small to use, or may be one that came with the camera. If it can only hold 36-40 images then that is perfect for this project. The higher resolution you use, or may be set your camera to RAW, then of course that reduces the number of images you can take.

Like a film camera you might not take all of the images in one session, it’s ok to put it to one side in between shooting.

Here are the basic rules:

1. Select a fixed ISO setting (film speed).
2. Turn off image preview after taking a photo.
3. Decide on what you wish to also restrict in terms of aids depending on the camera. (Autofocus, metering and exposure control etc).
4. Do not download your images until you have taken at least 36 images and delay downloading them for 2-3 days after taking the last image.
5. Try to resist the temptation of editing the downloaded images.

Enjoy the project, get to know your old gear again if you haven’t used it for a few years. Learn to cope with limitations. Use the project to improve your own creativeness and composition, because you can’t ‘fix it in post’

Repeat the exercise as often as you wish…. after all it’s not costing you anything.

I got this idea or the basics of the idea from another photographer, I suspect they saw it elsewhere too. Share the idea on your own Substack, YouTube or where ever.

Time to get shooting, remember #therearenobadcameras

I have a habit of taking photographs of the same scene multiple times! I am not sure if there is a name for this habit or not?

I like to use the same scene to:

• Record changes over time;
• To try out different cameras;
• Experiment with camera settings

The results can be quite varied…

All of those were taken from approximately the same location. It is a viewpoint about 50 metres from our home here in France.

In the distance is the town of Thouars,(Nouvelle Aquitaine) and the land in the foreground is part of ‘Le Cirque de Missé with the river Thouet winding its way around the curves and pass a small hamlet of Fertevault.

I’ve often cropped my photos from this view to create some great panoramic photos.

I have sometimes spotted a lovely sunset whilst closing our shutters, grabbed a camera and jogged down to the viewpoint in my slippers! Unfortunately our house doesn’t over look this scene, but we are close enough.

Do you ever repeat photos of the same scene?

There are dozens of YouTube channels and web sites devoted to Photography, here are some of the channels that I follow.

• • Analog Insights – A German Channel that review and demonstrate film cameras;
  • Dino Bytes – Revisiting early digital cameras and old gadgets;
  • Electachrome – Film photography vlog;
  • Gordon Laing – Reviews of modern up to date cameras;
  • James Popsys – An English landscape photographer with a great sense of humour!
  • Lucy Lumen’s Analogue Adventures – Australian film photography channel;
  • One Month Two Cameras – Reviews of older digital cameras #nobadcameras;
  • Photo Tips Galore – Ed Major, lots of hints and tips for all types of photography
  • The Art of Photography – Ted Forbes, photographer based in Dallas Fort Worth.
  • Willem Verbeeck – A West Coast American photographer who is very creative;

Take a look and see if there are any that interest you.