So awhile back I mentioned that I was working on a personal project that I would share with you!  And the time has come!  There is a movement that has several photographers going back to using film.  There is even a Facebook Fan page titled,  “FILM IS NOT DEAD.”  One of my favorite photographers that I follow,  Laura Ivanova,  now exclusively shoots film…  and her work…  is…  amazing!  She is such an inspiration to me and I just oogle over her work.

Jose Villa is an internationally known wedding photographer who exclusively shoots film.  He led the way for the shift in wedding photography from very posed/rigid wedding portraits,  to photo-journalistic styled images.  He is an inspiration to MANY, MANY, MANY photographers,  including myself.  And,  of course,  his work is stunning.  Through his own exposure and processing recipe he creates the most elegant color palate I’ve ever seen.  And THAT is why he loves film.  By using film,  he can craft the image to have this exquisite combination of beautiful color palates and radiant highlights.

So like anything in photography,  I wanted to check it out and see what all this hype is about.  I used to shoot film growing up… but only in the sense that the camera was on “Program” mode and it did all the thinking for me.  It was before I learned how to manually expose an image.  Shooting in “Manual” it gives me VAST creative freedom and control over my exposure.  In order to expand my knowledge and skill set I wanted to shoot some film…  In “Manual” without the safety net!

Each medium has its’ advantages over the other.  But I think the main thing that is drawing fine art photographers back to film,  is the ability for film to capture more vibrant/true colors (as well as control your color palate via their processing) as well as handling the highlights better.

I had NO idea where to start as far as gear and film decisions went.  So I asked Laura for her recommendations for shooting film.  She was very kind and gave me some excellent advice.  (on a side note,  I’m so thankful for these amazing photographers and their willingness to help others!) I purchased a 35mm film camera that was compatible with my existing lenses and shot my first roll!

I have to tell you,  it was very interesting.  I learned a lot about myself and my shooting style when I shot that first roll.  Every time I shot an image I looked down at the back of my camera only to be greeted by black plastic!  I knew that I looked at my LCD screen a lot when shooting my digital cameras because I like to check the histogram,  the composition,  etc.  But what I didn’t realize is HOW OFTEN I peek!  To be honest,  I felt like an idiot by the 20th time I looked down to check the image and realized IT’S FILM…  “gotcha again!”…  UGH!

Shooting film also makes you think more about what you are doing BEFORE you take the picture.  With digital it is SO easy to just snap a “test shot”,  check it,  and make any necessary adjustments.  With film,  you have to make sure all those details and adjustments are taken care of before you take the picture.  I think know shooting film will make me a better photographer in the sense that I’m more conscious of the decisions I’m making.

Without the safety net of flexible digital post processing and an LCD preview screen,  I felt like this first roll of film was a “test” to see if I really knew what I was doing behind the camera.  I thought I was overexposing the images a bit more that this, but having never used this camera before I didn’t really know what to expect.  Overall I’m ok with they way they came out.  I would’ve liked some of the images to a little more overexposed, and they are a little too “contrasty” for my taste.  I definitely have my work cut out for me,  but I think I’m off to an “ok” start!  These images were taken at Allison’s bridal portrait session at Marterlla Winery,  as well as her wedding at Ocean Isle, NC!

These images were taken on a Canon EOS3 with Fuji400HPro.