My Film Photography ( Upadted 5/2026 ) - I have created this page due to my rekindled interest and passion for capturing images on film. I appreciate what digital technology has added to photography but there is just something special about an image made on film. So in March of 2020 I reintroduced film photography back in to my repertoire. I shot a whole lot of film from 1971 -2004, but after 16 years of only digital, I am back!
I'm currently shooting black and white film in 35mm, and 120 medium format sizes, using various styles and type of cameras including a wooden pinhole camera and I have to say that the return to film has completely rejuvenated my interest in photography. I am doing what a lot of film photographers call the hybrid method, where I develop my own black & white film and then scan the negatives into Photoshop. Once in Photoshop I can then make the necessary adjustments to the final image for print or upload. I prefer this method to standing for hours in my darkroom making wet prints. My legs and back are surley thankful.
 
|
| Here I am around 1978 in my darkroom with wet sink and two Omega enlargers, one for black and white and one for color. |
|
| Here I am March 2020 scanning my negatives with an Epson 4490 scanner and then importing my scans into Photoshop for the finishing touches. |
Even though I am editing my film scans in Photoshop, I still try to keep within the parameters of what I used to do with my enlarger in my darkroom. Adjustments such as exposure, contrast, easel position, burning, dodging and cropping as such to create a desired result. I do feel that scanning a negative is still an effective way of conveying that special look and feeling that comes from an image that is captured on film. A look and feeling which I believe is not completely experienced from an image captured by the exacting technology of a digital camera or phone. I am not alone for there a large number of younger photographers turning on to film these days as well as quite a few of us veterans returning. For me its a breath of fresh air.
|
| Already having a large number of Pentax K mount lenses made choosing the K1000 SE a perfect choice for me to step back and slow down the pace. |
Shooting film makes me re-appreciate the way a majority of those older 35mm film cameras feel and handle. Most notably the all metal mechanical cameras with just basic manual controls. Cameras like the Pentax K1000 and so many other similar cameras from the 60's, 70's and early 80's, all before the automated electronic and plastic revolution of the mid 80's and beyond. Just shutter speed, aperture, manual focus and ISO setting for the light meter thereby creating a slower paced experience that enables one to thoroughly analyze each scene, contemplating the final result of each frame and exposure.
Choosing a film camera I prefer to use is just one part of the adventure. There is also now the task of deciding what type of film or films that I would like to match with my camera of choice. To keep things equally interesting there are just so many types and brands of black and white film stocks to choose from these days making it truly an interesting time to be shooting film. Then finally for someone like myself who loves to develop their own black and white film, there is now the availibility of so many various types of film developers. Different films combined with different shooting techniques and film developing methods create a different result. It all depends on the look I am after.
|
|
| Experimenting with the different film stocks is all part of the journey and for my current favorites I have chosen the option to bulk load from 100ft rolls into re-useable cassettes |
About a year into my revived film photography journey and also trying to be a bit budget minded, Fomapan 200 and Rollei RPX400 had become my overall favorite 35mm films, so much that I decided to purchase a couple of bulk loaders and a 100 ft roll of each and began loading my own cassettes. Fast forward to 2026 and even though the price of film has increased considerably since 2020 those two films are still on the top of my list, but along the way I have also shot black and white films from Ilford, Kentmere, Fomapan, Ferrania, including good old Kodak Tri-X as well as some other rebrands and over time with a bit of experimentation I feel I have obtained some very nice results with all of those films. As for 120 medium format film which I shoot in my 6x9 pinhole and plastic Holga 120 cameras, I have pretty much narrowed down to shooting Kentmere 100 and 400, I have been getting nice results from those two films and they are also a bit more budget minded.
|
| I find the actual process of the developing the film so gratifying, from loading the film into the developing tank to experimenting with the different film developers and techniques. |
What really attracted me to film photography from the beginning, was the actual process of developing the film itself. The anticipated results of each roll loaded in the developing tank can be so gratifying. The way certain film developers affect different film stocks, such as fine grain, course grain, high contrast, low contrast, I find it so interesting how varying the ISO speed rating of a roll of film combined with the method or technique of development such as pushing or pulling can affect the final result.
|
| Trying different film and film developer combinations is definitely part of the adventure. Experimenting with various combos that work is quite rewarding. |
Searching for a favorite film and developer combination is all all part of the adventure and though certain combinations produce different results, for my liking, Clayton F76 plus produces excellent results for the majority of 35mm film that I shoot. Making this developer not only one of my favorites but also a very good choice when looking for a quality easy to use one shot liquid film developer. Though I have recently taken a bit of a liking to developing Kodak Tri-X in D76, and even though it's a powder developer and not quite as convenient as F76, it is a classic film developer for sure. Then there is Rodinal ( R09 ) another time tested classic that I use exclusively for all my 120 medium format film. I have used several other film developers since 2020 but these three are my current go to choices. They are economic and capable of producing excellent results, but I'm pretty much open at trying something new so if I come upon a film developer that works nicely with the films I shoot I'll be sure to post an update.
In the meantime though, if you would like to view some of my black and white film photography captured with the various film and developer combos that I have used to this point please click on the photo or link below. You can also check out my blog where I have several posts in regards to my experiences shooting different films as well as my favorite developer types and methods. Thanks so much for viewing (-:
