10 Things I Hate About Film - Issue 45

It’s a love hate thing…

Housekeeping

Welcome to another Friday newsletter. Thank you for being here!

If you didn't catch last weeks interview with underwater photographer Katharine Kollman be sure to check it out!

I put out a video last week that was a slight departure from my usual content and I would love to know your thoughts on this topic and style of video?? If you haven’t seen it click below to take a peek.

With the price of film (and life) right now I feel it’s gotten us all a little salty on the medium and cursing our love for the sweet tones of film. I feel that too and even though I do shoot some digital and I enjoy many photographers work who use and celebrate digital I am a sucker for analog. I mean it’s pretty obvious right?

Anyway, I thought this week I would share a fun piece stolen from a popular 90’s movie explaining the ways I loathe, but really actually love, shooting film. Enjoy!

10 Things I Hate About Film

1. I hate the anxiety I feel waiting for the images to come back from the lab, not knowing if I nailed it or epicly failed. Waiting to see if I will be pleasantly surprised or horrified by the monstrosity I have created in each frame…or even worse will they just be “fine” totally lacking any feeling at all and at best be called “nice” 
   Oh the waiting, it kills me everytime.

2. I hate having to explain to strangers or distant family members at gatherings that film is still a thing and yes they do still make it, followed by the million other questions people who ordinarily would not be interested in photography now suddenly feel compelled to ask.  

3. I hate my developed compulsion to check all and every major department store in case they maybe, just maybe have film in stock for once. Living in a constant state of fear that a big shipment has come in and the shelves at Kmart have been stocked without me knowing, and then left only to be bought by teenagers who will use and abuse those precious rolls in their 35mmco plastic reloadable cameras. I also hate the guilt I then feel for quietly cursing those teens who really are just having fun and have no idea the sufferings of analog addicts like me. 

4. I hate the fact that because I have shot film and know how good it is I struggle to truly really enjoy digital. I hate that people think because of this it makes me a film snob, but then I also sometimes think maybe I am, because film is really the only thing I want to shoot and if I truly had no barriers it’s all I would ever do. 

5. I hate worrying constantly that the end could be nigh for my main hobby. How will I go on? What will I do for work? What will the world look like if it’s not being captured on film? 

6. I hate that I love colour film so much and I resent those who are happy enough shooting black and white and living a more frugal film life shooting Kentmere and developing at home. I like red too much and my entire style hinges on colour. 

7. I hate that the “film look” is literally the most confusing and misunderstood phrase in the photographic language and I’m so sick of discussing it but at the same time it’s all I want to talk about because it’s so confusing and subjective or based on how much you know or what experience you have had with film in the first place…   

8. I hate having all these fucking negatives everywhere - shoeboxes full of them in no orderly fashion and no time to be that together photographer who dedicates time to filing and labelling all of them. I know I need to keep them but I still hate them and how much they clutter up my house. 

9. I hate when people talk shit about film and say it’s a waste of time or they don’t get it - but I also hate when film shooters talk shit about digital and make out like they are better than everyone cause they shoot film even though I do think everything looks better on film. 

10. But mostly I hate the way I don't hate film.
    Not even close, not even a little bit, not even at all.

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Love Lucy xx