Why I use film

[Socke]

Here something that our film cameras will never do like the new Canon Mark III can do....Auto ISO....you set the shutter speed & aperture & the camera sets the ISO.

That's the way I use XP2 in my meterless FSU cameras, ok, somewhat.
I set aperture and shutter after a secret sunny 16 rule which is based on the weatherforecast for another town and the moon and then forget about it

 

[nrb]

I like the magic of film, and the crop factor of most digital cameras only adds to that preference.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Boy, what experiences...

Only once did I try to photograph a wedding... and fortunately, they had hired a photographer. I always waited for him to shoot first, and in a couple of situations he gave me a cordial nod to let me shoot first. That was in the church, where we both were careful about use of flash.

Later, in the reception, he approached me and offered me the use of his lighting gear in case I wanted to shoot some portraits.

Now... I wonder if he did that because we were both shooting with Nikon?

Whatever the reason, he was a great sport and a true gentleman!

EDIT: This was my brother's wedding. I absolutely insisted that they hire someone and not rely on me for the shots. I'm glad they did.

 

[jky]

Returned to film when I purchased an M6 then shot it exclusively again for over a year (after using digital for 3 years prior). Loved the camera (handling and all that jazz), loved the film/grain - found that the time spent processing the TX's & Hp5's was quite relaxing...
until I was about 30 rolls of film back-logged. Suddenly the time spent agitating became agitating....
So... been shooting digital for almost 2 months now as my exposed rolls wait their turn.
You know what though... missing film again
What's the point? None really, it's late and I saw this thread, but it is nice to have both!

 

[GeneW]

I've never felt a need to use one and eschew the other. I like using film cams and I also use digital cams. The crop factor? As a nature photographer for much of my shooting, I LOVE the crop factor. Gives my tele's and macro lenses more reach.

For B&W though, nothing satisfies me as much as film and I split my time between RF's and SLR's.

Gene

 

[mw_uio]

I shoot film because, later in my life I want to have the ability to have some custom murals, large size 24x30 or larger, fine art prints to hang on a wall with a custom frame. I want museum archival style qualilty. I enjoy learning about the properties of film. I like that I can shoot b&w, chromes or print. I love my F3HP with a 28/F2.8 on it. Maybe one day I could sell one of my framed prints, who knows. Where are your digital files going to be in 5 or 10 years time? Will they be retreviable? I am not into digital machine gun style shooting, producing every angle. I am not into photo shop or other post processing tool. I like that I can go to the lab to take film in for development. I like that I can choose different films for various subjects. Also in my mind no digital camera can produce what Velvia RVP 50 or Provia 400F can do! It is amazing, a "chrome".

Cheers
MArk
Quito, EC

Who do you love?

 

[RHaroldP]

I use film because for me photography is a hobby. I enjoy mechanical cameras. I enjoy processing film (B&W and C-41). I take joy in the process. I do own a DSLR, and use it on occasion. But I feel that film just has more soul. The light that struck the subject is captured by the emulsion, there is a direct connection between subject and film. With digital the connection is lost.

Richard

 

[DougK]

I like film and digital and use both, but it seems that I wind up taking a film camera on every vacation. I'm not entirely sure why, but for some reason it just works better for me.

 

[Riccis]

The expectations from brides these days is they want 1,500 photos of their wedding day, they must be perfectly exposed, grainless and delivered tomorrow!

I respectfully disagree with you. My brides hire me for my style which, I believe is the complete opposite of the statement above... SLR, DSRL, film, digital, rangefinders are all tools that should be used to capture the essence of the wedding day in whatever photographic style you have.

On any given wedding day I use the M8 90% and the rest of the time I use an M7, a Holga and an XPan...

Cheers,

Riccis

 

[Anupam]

fantastic work, Riccis! Loved your site.

 

[IGMeanwell]

I respectfully disagree with you. My brides hire me for my style which, I believe is the complete opposite of the statement above... SLR, DSRL, film, digital, rangefinders are all tools that should be used to capture the essence of the wedding day in whatever photographic style you have.

On any given wedding day I use the M8 90% and the rest of the time I use an M7, a Holga and an XPan...

Cheers,

Riccis

Riccis I think you have transitioned nicely from film to digital and your specific clientele knows with your price range exactly what they are going to get in terms of volume and speed, because of the premium they feel secure in that you are going to provide your worth.

Now I can say from my experience that at lower prices, local packages (for me), and being exclusively digital (which might change with my style increasingly changing).... I have run into my brides expecting volume, expect those photos done by the time they are back from their honeymoon and can be very disappointed (despite it being in the contract) when you limit the amount of those photos that can be in the album

I am not saying anything is wrong with all that

I am just saying there is no one thing across the board

I have dealt with the couples who are great with 20-50 photos that show beauty, emotion, essence and want a very basic album... maybe one big print

Those couples tend to be happy with experimental type photos, have patience with setting up portraits or whatever else you have up your sleeve

I have also dealt with the bride who wants 800 photos on the website, with proofs, at the wedding wants everybody you could think of in the portraits, and then gets frustrated when you explain we have to limit to those who are most needed due to time constraints (which is due to their planning) ... ultimately being happy once all is said and done... but being very demanding in the process

The last wedding I had one of the couples in the bridal party was talking to me about the package they got which was close to 9,000 USD, guaranteed 1700 photos on a website, CD, printed proofs, with some sort of album, large prints including 1 gigantic one, and a slide show at the reception

I don't think I would ever offer anything like that in my right mind

Different people have different expectations with their money

 

[Riccis]

Anupam - Thanks for your comments.

Sitemistic - IMHO, there are clients out there for every style. It is not about whether a photo is grainy or not but about the impact that any given moment will have on an individual... one of the best compliments I can receive are those of strangers (to any given wedding) and their statement of how they have cried by looking at certain images, if I can stir such emotions for someone who was not at that wedding (and doesn't even know the couple) I know I have done my job... once again, this has nothing to do with gear, film or digital.

I also respectfully disagree with you regarding the "whole wedding photo thing being silly". Statements like those are usually expressed by someone who does not care about photography (when it comes to their wedding), and definitely not the type of clients I want to attract, regardless of how much money they have... When a client commissions me to tell the story of their wedding, I am honored to be there sharing with them such a beautiful day where everyone (usually from all over the world) gathers to celebrate their love for that couple.

You are correct, 15-20 years from now, the bride may no longer be "skinny" or "hot" and the clothing and hair styles may be goofy, but I can guarantee you that every time she opens that book, she will go back to that day, reliving the small moments she may have forgotten or think about that special friend/family member that is no longer around.
That, at least to my clients, is what is all about...

See more here (http://www.riccisvalladares.com/darkroom/view/index.php?darkroom/client/JulissaAndFrankie)

Cheers,

Riccis

 

[IGMeanwell]

Anupam - Thanks for your comments.

Sitemistic - IMHO, there are clients out there for every style. It is not about whether a photo is grainy or not but about the impact that any given moment will have on an individual... one of the best compliments I can receive are those of strangers (to any given wedding) and their statement of how they have cried by looking at certain images, if I can stir such emotions for someone who was not at that wedding (and doesn't even know the couple) I know I have done my job... once again, this has nothing to do with gear, film or digital.

Riccis

To echo this comment, some of my clients favorite photos are many times the ones I think are technically or aesthetically terrible, yet there is something about the moment, the people in the frame, or perhaps the lighting that strike an emotion in the couple or their relatives and it causes them to melt.

The one I am attaching for instance, wasn't a paid gig (a college friend of mine, I happened to bring my camera), and happens to be one of my better selling shots (for some reason as its not a public picture on my website)

Honestly, it wasn't a pleasing photo to my eye at first... I almost discarded it until my sister saw me editing it and told me I had to send that to them.

the funny thing about that shot, I shot it in between two of the professional photographers there, the two shadows on either side of the frame are their legs .

My point being that Ricci is right, wedding photography can be incredibly daunting but incredibly enlightening as you never know when your going to strike that proper chord.