With the CP+ Camera & Photo Imaging Show in Tokyo, Japan wrapping up Sunday, March 2, there’s been lots of discussion and excitement around new innovations in photographic equipment being brought out by industry powerhouses like Canon, Sony and Sigma.
Some of the event’s most anticipated announcements were Sigma’s unveiling of the new full-frame 24 megapixel Sigma BF, and Canon’s unveiling of the PowerShot V1, a compact camera boasting a 1.4-inch 22 megapixel sensor.
However, even with the ability to take high-resolution photos in a digital format, I still find myself setting down my high-resolution full-frame Canon RP for my Minolta Sr-1 35mm film camera. While I’m able to capture those grainy and nostalgic photos, I end up sacrificing some of the image sharpness.
I’ve been able to find just how much of a nostalgic vibe can be transmitted through these film photographs. After learning the painstakingly long process of developing and scanning film at home, I was able to truly bring back some summer aesthetics so desperately needed during the end of February.
This picture above was taken on Kodak’s UltraMax 400 film stock, one of my favorite film stocks due to its subtle grain and vibrant colors. Kodak’s UltraMax 400 is one of my personal favorite film stocks due to just how vibrant and nostalgic it feels. It’s able to bring an artistic feel that digital photography just doesn’t always accomplish.
However, unlike digital photography, adjustments to the pictures’ colors and looks can’t be done in the Minolta SR-1, but instead are changed through which type of film is loaded into the camera. While applying creative filters to digital photos might sacrifice the photo’s sharpness and resolution, different film stocks don’t suffer from this issue.
Normally, whenever you use a black-and-white filter on a photo, the shadows or highlights get distorted where they seem too bright or too dark. However, while using the black-and-white Fomapan 400 film, I was able to see how when exposed correctly, everything seemed to be perfect while also seeming a bit more genuine.
In most cases, shooting with 35mm film takes a lot longer to process and put out there than digital photos. But something to consider is if the storytelling/nostalgic factor of film photography is worth the extra labor and time needed to bring the picture to fruition.
At Least for me, I’ll still pick up my 35mm Minolta SR-1 when I head out on a trip. It makes the memories seem that much more vivid.
