About film
What is film photography?
In film photography, instead of capturing images on a digital sensor, one uses a roll of film — a long strip of plastic coated with tiny light-sensitive solution. Each film roll typically has multiple frames where you can take pictures, from 10 for larger format to 40 for 35mm film cameras. But the most common number you’ll get is 36 frames.
When you take a picture with a film camera, you allow light to enter the camera through the lens. This light exposes the film, making a latent image on it
It’s a kind of magic
Unlike digital cameras (or, oh, smartphones), film cameras don't provide an instant preview of the photos. But that’s exactly why it’s so intriguing —you have to finish the entire roll and wait until they get developed before seeing your pictures.
Once the pictures are taken, you need to have it developed, either by yourself or at a darkroom. This involves a chemical process where the film is treated to bring out the images. After development, you get negative (or positive) images on your film. Then, you can make hand prints or have the images scanned into digital format.
With film, you usually have a limited number of exposures on each roll (most commonly, 36 frames)
Film photos have a distinct look and feel. They often have a more classic or ‘vintage’ appearance, with graininess and colours that can evoke a sense of nostalgia. This is why so many photographers choose film — they appreciate the unique aesthetic.
Limited number of exposures encourages a more thoughtful approach to photography, as you can't take an endless number of shots like with digital cameras.