Why shoot Film Photography in 2020?
The Corona Virus Pandemic has undoubtedly been a terrible time for a lot of people. Personally, I have seen all of my work cancelled which has left me with a lot of free time. Rather than simply binge on box sets, I have tried to use this time productively. One of the things that I’ve wanted to do for a while now is to get back into shooting film. On a side note, I will be making a series of videos about this on my YouTube channel, so keep an eye out for them.
Why Film?
The obvious question for a lot of people, is why shoot film when you have a perfectly good digital camera? The simple answer, for me at least, is to achieve a look & feel that has eluded me for years. Looking at my images, it’s fairly clear that I always try to achieve an element of nostalgia, shooting in soft light and adding grain etc. to make the images feel older than they actually are.
That’s all well and good apart from the fact that digital images tend to be over sharp and well, are clearly digital images. This might sound counter-intuitive to a lot of photographers, ‘you don’t want sharp images?’ - in a way, no. You only have to look at any family album with 70’s, 80’s or 90’s and look at those blurry images to get an instant nostalgia fix! The brain seems to make a correlation between those images and something in our past that always seemed to feel like a ‘better time’. Now, this is obviously not factual, but something in those images makes us feel a sense of comfort - and that is something that I’m always striving to achieve.
OK, so get an old 35mm Camera…
Well, again, things are never quite that straightforward. I’ve shot enough 35mm in the past to understand it’s benefits and limitations. So straight away, I knew it wasn’t going to cut it. So I did what any ‘want-to-be’ hipster photographer would do and went straight to medium format and in particular, the Mamiya 645 Pro. Again, I will make a separate video on the perks & quirks of this particular camera but the simple benefits are that it feels modern enough that I could use it without thinking too much and more importantly, it’s a 120mm film camera - and I want that medium format goodness!
I was always sceptical over people saying that you ‘just can’t replicate the medium format look’ and I still don’t fully subscribe to it, but I do agree that the extra negative size has its own benefits over its 35mm counterpart. Most notably, I love the fall off in the out of focus areas that are very difficult to replicate on 35mm. That combined with the go-to Kodak Portra stocks, is a winning combination for me.
OK, so you just want to be a Hipster?
Well, I do have a beard and more than one check shirt. However, the truth is no. The camera, the medium and even the subject matter are all just ‘tools’ to provoke an emotion. I am not trying to get ‘Insta famous’ - far from it. I have simply found a way to translate the feelings of nostalgia that I want to achieve into an image in the most natural way.
That being said, there is obviously a bit of a trend for photographers turning to film in an attempt to show their credentials as a fully-fledged master of light! Again though, it is not about achieving any acclaim for me, it is simply to understand the process better and to take full control, from start to finish, of the images that I create. So that means I am also developing my own film and scanning my own images - again, more videos on this soon on my YouTube channel.
So no more digital then?
Far from it, I actually still carry my digital camera even when I am shooting film. I will obviously be shooting digital for client work - though I am interested in offering commissions on film, that would be fun! The whole process of shooting film is merely to help convey a metaphor in my images, in the same way, that some might choose to shoot purely black & white because it makes their images feel more ‘honest’. Digital is still absolutely a necessary tool but film simply allows me another option, depending on the subject matter.
What’s next?
I will be shooting a lot more film in the interim and will also be travelling to some of the lesser shot areas of Birmingham to find the kind of gritty, run-down scenes that I like. As previously mentioned, I am developing and scanning at home so I will be looking at simplifying and improving that process too.
Overall, shooting film in 2020 is a great new area for me to explore and allows me to keep developing my own skills. It allows me to slow down a little and work on my composition skills and also improve my ability to meter and read light. All of these will hugely benefit my commercial work and throughout the process, I will, of course, bring you with me to share my experiences and knowledge. I am really excited and glad that I can take at least one tiny positive from the crazy times that we are living in.
The Ultimate Canon EOS-R Cinema Rig
If you want to get the most from your Canon EOS-R for filmmaking, then look no further. Whether you use the EOS-R for cinematic short films, corporate work or simple talking heads, I have compiled what I believe to be the ultimate EOS-R Cinema Rig. These items will boost your cameras abilities and supercharge it to handle almost anything that is thrown at it.
Check out the video and see the links in the description below the video if you wish to purchase any of the items yourself.
10 Useful things Photographers can do during Lockdown!!!
The Corona Virus pandemic has well and truly turned our lives upside down and whilst the health and safety of friends & family is the absolute priority, it can also cause real problems for those working in creative fields. Not only is it hugely damaging to income, but it can also destroy any form of creativity and motivation. However, there are still things that we can be doing to keep ourselves active.
Here are ten things that you can be doing during Lockdown to keep your Photography passion going in the right direction!
Corona Virus Update: April 2020
It’s amazing how much all of our lives have changed in such a small space of time. I want to start by saying that this is a truly scary time and I’m pretty certain that everyone’s lives will be affected somehow, and I am incredibly sorry for that. At a time like this, everything gets put into perspective and what is truly important to us, the health of those around us becomes the absolute pinnacle of our concerns.
With all of this in mind, I’m sure everyone has more important things on their mind but I thought I would provide a quick update of where I am with things, just in case there are any enquiries…
Are you available for work?
All of my work dried up overnight and as much as I wish I was still out there doing what I do best, I am following the government Guidelines for Social Distancing very closely. With that in mind, I have to classify my work as ‘non-essential’ and therefore limiting my contact with others. However, the moment this changes, I will, of course, be available for work.
Can I still buy prints?
I take a lot of pride in my prints and therefore choose to outsource the printing process to professionals. The company I use are currently closed and therefore, I am unable to get new work printed. However, I do hold a small selection of prints so please feel free to contact me to see if I can be of assistance.
How are you filling your time?
I have taken a little time to myself and tried to wrap my head around what is happening and the potential fall out it will have for the rest of this year. I think it will be incredibly difficult to predict what happens next so I have spent a bit of time making some much-needed changes to my website, cleaned my gear and organised a few projects that had been on the back-burner. Most of all, I am just sticking to the ‘stay home’ instruction and annoying my girlfriend, which is surprisingly easy to do apparently!
How do you keep yourself motivated?
This is a real challenge and after speaking to several friends, I know a lot of other people are struggling. However, I have taken some time to teach myself a few new skills, including home developing and a few new editing techniques. I have also thrown myself into a few good books and I am enjoying the time to find new inspiration.
Are you going out and getting ‘empty street shots’ of Birmingham?
This is a real touchy subject. I love the idea and I believe times like this should be documented. However, I personally think the risk of passing on infection and putting unwanted strain on the NHS is still too much of a risk to warrant going out just for photography purposes. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t take my camera with me on my allowed ‘exercise’ time, but I won’t be producing any new projects on the back of what is a very difficult situation for so many people.
What’s next for you?
Like so many others, I am just waiting for the opportunity to return to some kind of normality. At this point, that seems a way off. I will also be producing some new work for my YouTube channel so please consider taking a look at that.
Finally, I would just like to say please take care of yourselves. This is such a strange and challenging time for so many people that our priorities must shift. Hopefully, we all come through this stronger and with compassion for those who have had their lives severely impacted by these terrible times. Stay Safe.
VIDEO: MY DREAM DESK/STUDIO SETUP FOR 2020!!!
Being a Photographer & Videographer - I need a space for editing and to store my gear. I also need a space for creating my YouTube videos (don’t forget to Subscribe!) and therefore, I think I have finally created my dream desk/studio setup! Watch the video below for more ;)
VIDEO: The Canon EOS-R is the BEST camera of 2019!!
What is the best camera of 2019? Well, I may have one recommendation for you. There were obviously lots of very good cameras released in 2019, but I have absolutely loved using my Canon EOS-R - Watch the video below to find out more!
How to get the Black & White Film look with the DXO Nik Collection 2.3
If you’ve been in the photography game for a while and done any kind of serious digital editing, you’ve probably come across the ‘Nik Collection’. I’ve been using the Nik Collection for a number of years and swear by the ability for these handy little plug-ins to take your images from a ‘7’ to a ‘10’! So I was obviously intrigued when I learnt that DxO had launched their latest update to the now legendary ‘Silver Efex Pro’ plug-in.
The upgrade sees the introduction of a range of new film effect emulations from top brands such as Polaroid, Bergger and Rollei. Not only does this allow you to expand your creativity by lifting your black & white edits to another level, but it also allows you to stay true to those halcyon film days with the introduction of the 10 new film types.
To find out more and purchase, visit: Nik Collection
VIDEO: The Loupedeck CT for Photographer & Videographers
The Loupedeck CT is genuinely perfect for Photographers and Videographers looking to improve their editing workflow. It support apps such as Lightroom, Photoshop, Ableton, Premier Pro Final Cut and more - it really is a great tool, but it has one massive drawback! Would you stump up for the Loupedeck CT?
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VIDEO: LowePro Protactic 450 AW II - Still the BEST Camera Bag in 2019?
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VIDEO: DataColor Spyder X Elite - BEST Monitor Calibrator
Having a perfectly calibrated monitor is critical for photography & videography. Find out what I thought of the Spyder X Elite and see how to easily & correctly calibrate your monitor. Is the Spyder X Monitor Calibrator the best of 2019?
Buy the Spyder X Elite here: https://amzn.to/2NkJQRK
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