Darkroom: The Modern Day Debate

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Film v Digital. The debate that many have discussed, siding with their choice of style. For myself, I grew up in the era of DSLR cameras and digital being all around me. Digital is all I had shot, but as of a year and a half ago, Film and its unique look has piqued my interest. This is due to the exposure to film photographers as well as film photographer Vuhlandes. At a glance, Film had always seemed like something of the past generation. The exposure to Vuh and the look of the film, made me compare digital to film and how they compare to one another.

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Film: A Classic

I’ve only used film and shoot film for the last year and a half but it’s something I will continue to shoot with. Film is unique with its look and colors and how it creates its one-of-a-kind look; something rather difficult to recreate on digital. For me, Film has a very interesting look that feels nostalgic and dreamy to me. Oftentimes people can say the image Film produces is very “vibey”. Film stocks such as classic Portra 400 and Cinestill are film stocks I love. The looks of 120 and 135 format are looks that are unique and something I appreciate the more I shoot. The feeling of shooting Film differs from digital, when I shoot Film I feel relaxed and letting my creativity come to me unlike digital where it can feel forced sometimes.

Digital: An Evolving Style

Digital photography is a giant style that is continuing to evolve today since its introduction in 1986. Digital is what most consider the modern standard; this is due to the fact of advancements with digital cameras and their advanced detail and color science with each revision. I began my photography journey on digital, and I love how you can alter and make an image you want. Many editing styles can come out of digital shooting with many creators choosing different looks as compared to where film has an already made look. This doesn’t stop people on digital from trying to emulate that film look, I myself have tried to recreate the look of digital FUJI emulations. The possibilities of digital are endless.

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Preference: A Dilemma

After shooting with both Film and Digital it’s apparent to me to see how they differ and why they each have their differences. I understand why Film photographers love film with its very natural feel and gorgeous colors and dreamy look. Yet I understand Digital shooter’s love for digital with creating and curating a perfect look with editing and incredible advancements in digital cameras. For myself, I enjoy both and still find myself shooting both when I feel like it. My Olympus Stylus continues to stay in my pocket to capture those unique moments on Film, where my digital setup is carried in my camera ready with my Sigma 35mm lens when I need it. I truly love both, but the more I shoot with film I find myself falling in love with how I shoot film and how much more relaxed and free-flowing it is compared to my digital setup with manipulating and finding the “perfect settings”. I still believe I’ll use both for the necessary settings, but can find myself transitioning to FUJI’s digital cameras which emulate the signature Film looks I love. Film to me feels very natural and will grow into my portfolio similar to my digital photos.

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“Capture Those Unique Moments on Film”

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Art In The Eye of The Creator

At the end of the day, we as creatives are allowed to create whichever way we choose. There is no right way to create or make art. Whether shooting Film or creating a masterpiece on Digital it’s all subjective and we hold the art in our eyes as creative. The more I grow as a creative and as a photographer the more I learn that I create art and photos for Myself. Being in a time where Instagram’s influence is big can be harmful to creating. Oftentimes thinking my film photos don’t look enough like film and that my digital photos don’t look unique and one-of-one. That’s the beauty in both of these styles, they’re unique due to your vision and the subject. Concluding this editorial, I think everyone should shoot and try film at least once and also try digital if you’ve never shot with it before. You may feel and experience something that’s new and that stands out to you. Go Create.