Upgrade to Film

[shadowfox]

Very true. People who have been doing it for years will most likely never switch back to film. I was wrong to target my project at hobby photographers like I did. This would be unwise. I should tailor it more to the student population, those who are younger and willing to try new things, take risks, learn about different aspects of photography.

Sorry for being late to chime in. Your project is one of my dearest topic to think about and pursue.

I find similarly as you did, that young people, who are willing to try new stuff is the perfect target for the re-introduction of film as a medium to consider.

Hobby photographers have one advantage that pro's do not: time and options. Focus on the differentiating factor, rather than trying to evangelize superiority to digital (I don't agree with that anyways).

Come up with a presentation that makes it palatable for people in this day and age to setup their own film developing kit (easy and cheap), and gradually introduce them to darkroom which would appeal to those who like a more tangible way to create prints.

Read this recent lively thread that got started by the mention of an piece of writing (hint: one that pointed out the main differentiating quality of film photography as opposed to digital), many here who commented on this thread opined similarly there, you can almost detect a pattern or some sort 😉

Good luck with your project!

 

[kitaanat]

This project is quite challenge and I'm glad that you love film photography.
In my country the new hobby photographers started to interested in film again
even 110 film can be found on a shelf in some shopping malls.
I could call them "Lomolization" these groups are young and full of creativity.
Hope you successfully achieve your goal.

Sure, they wizz through their projects with their digital SLRs, but when I look at their work, I don't feel the kind of soul and effort present when compared to those who have used film.

kitaanat

 

[Pherdinand]

People want ease of use. Film does not provide this. Your project is doomed from the start.

you are totally wrong.
People interested in such stuff by definition are INTERESTED in the process thus don't just want the images in the quickest and cheapest way. Plus, the original idea was about convincing them.

You can't convince somebody of idea X if he is already working on idea X.

 

[Pherdinand]

I suggest you organize darkroom sessions if possible. I also suggest you make the people go and convince bars, cafes, whatever public place owners, to put a collection of their hand printed photos up on their walls.

 

[Roger Warren]

I think all you can do is promote the use of film photography for an event and not try to stop people from using digital. Maybe have people mail in their negatives to be combined into something greater.

 

[degruyl]

side issue, but if you want to show that film is superior to digital, use large format (or, possibly, medium format) and enlarge it.

Personally, I shoot medium format and 35mm, but I have prints from 4x5 negatives on my walls.

 

[wgerrard]

You know, don't try to convince people that film is better than digital. Just show them how film is different from digital and try to give them reasons to use it.

We get too wrapped up in this silly notion of film vs digital. It isn't a war.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

You could maybe start by getting them back to basics with some of this pinhole stuff - that's in vogue?
Dave.

 

[Roger Hicks]

He's a graphic design student - this is not a corporate project with a 200k budget. The project doesn't have to actually convert many thousands, it just has to be an example that he can communicate a message about something he has an opinion about...

Here's what I would consider - why do Europeans take the train so many places when it is faster (and sometimes cheaper) to fly? Or faster to take a car? It's very difficult to convince Americans to "go back" to trains, but it is a very civilized form of transportation, especially where the system is reliable and good.

Using a traditional medium that connects you to the past (and past family photos) creates a slight slower situation where you can be a little more careful. In a poster or brochure I imagine showing the dad with the digital camera shooting everything he sees and the mom with the old Nikon taking just a few careful really tasteful shots of the kids, the keepers.

Brilliantly put.

Cheers,

R.

 

[mwooten]

An old ad-man once told me, "I tell the client that I can get folks to try their product once--the second time is all up to the product."

--michael

 

[Nikkor AIS]

Up grade to film. I like it.

It's a great message. If you can convince one person to give film a chance you will have succeeded IMO. It's not about convincing everyone. Stay on message and let no one take you off.

gregory

 

[umboody]

Right, quick update on this one. The project hasn't got going just yet, but I have set up a Twitter page here: http://twitter.com/upgradetofilm and a Facebook grooup page here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=141273562057&ref=ts (Facebook mainly for the younger people at university here). I'm keeping the name the same, but radically changing the focus of the project. Like a number of people suggested here, it's not going to be a project about why film may or may not be better than digital. Instead, it will show people that film still has its uses and can produce stunning photography.

I am planning competitions, one collecting people's favourite film-based photographs, another collecting photos people took on the spur of the moment, making them glad they took their camera with them that day. Very broad subjects, but I think this should capture the imagination of at least some of my fellow students. Both of these will culminate in a book. I hope to gain sponsorship from local sources or photography-related companies such as Ilford. I also hope I can find somewhere to exhibit these pieces, even if it is just a commission at a local coffee shop or at the university.

Things should really start to get going after Christmas when my course time allows me to fully concentrate on this project alone. I will be gradually creating more publicity and hopefully be gaining a lot more interest in it.

Cheers,
Stephen

 

[not_in_good_order]

One thing that I emphasize when discussing what I like about using film is that different types of film give your photos a distinctive look. To achieve anything similar with digital requires careful post processing which is very easy to overdo and make an image look artificial or over-processed.