Young Generation Getting Interested in Film Photography

[malkmata]

Twice this week a couple of friends of mine had asked me for some advice because their teenage kids are getting interested in film cameras and wanted to learn photography including how to develop black and white film and make prints in the darkroom. The kids think film cameras are cool and that some of their teenage friends are shooting with them.

Film cameras are getting hip again!

 

[Borghesia]

Yes, I´ve seen them on camera fairs, looking only for Oly Trips, Lomo´s and Holga´s.
Nice camera´s, but hopefully they also later investigate in OM´s, Nikkors, Isolette´s and Mamiya´s.

 

[Vics]

Our local Junior College teaches photography with film and darkroom, and the head of the art department told me that they've kept the program because it's so popular with the kids.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Our local Junior College teaches photography with film and darkroom, and the head of the art department told me that they've kept the program because it's so popular with the kids.

Same at the community college here. The multiple photo classes that include darkroom are among the first to max out enrollment. They have even hired another instructor so they can add more darkroom classes.

And that is not even Daytona State College nearby which offers associates and bachelors degrees in photography. Large format is a required class for even a 2 year degree.

 

[Peter^]

My son is only interested in digital. Actually, he thinks I'm kinda weird fooling around with film and chemicals. But he's got a good eye, and I guess that that is what counts most.

His pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ikaros88/

 

[TXForester]

To paraphrase an old country music song, "I shot film before shooting film was cool." 😀

 

[coffeelatte]

I am 19 years old and have been shooting and developing film during the last four years. I've had my Leica m4-p since i was 16. Just so you know that not everyone here are adults 😉

 

[Roma]

It seems like a trendy thing these days, especially if you shoot film in medium format, you’re automatically considered an artist.
I’m just glad the film sales are up so it continues to be made.

 

[Keith]

Aside from the benefits to the film manufacturers I see it as a positive in other ways.

Young people have fresh ideas and although the medium is eons old they'll approach it in their own way with their own unique perspective.

 

[Field]

Aside from the benefits to the film manufacturers I see it as a positive in other ways.

Young people have fresh ideas and although the medium is eons old they'll approach it in their own way with their own unique perspective.

What an optimist... I disagree. I think it is played out. I think art is suffering from extensive acceleration.

 

[Keith]

What an optimist... I disagree. I think it is played out. I think art is suffering from extensive acceleration.

Don't be so jaded! 😀

By nature of the environment they live in, love it or hate it, they bring their own perspective to what they do creatively.

They probabaly won't be doing a lot of landscapes, or photographing cats! 😛

 

[Roma]

Oh no, landscapes and cats are not in style these days. It has to be something blurry, then scratch the film, then blow the photos up to enormous sizes. 😉

 

[coelacanth]

Oh wait, do I have to do those light painting thingy to stay hip?? I guess I'm done. :angel:

 

[TXForester]

I think art is suffering from extensive acceleration.

I have no idea what that means. Is it like this guy who suffered from extensive acceleration?

 

[malkmata]

I don't think my friends' kids are interested in film photography only because it is trendy. Like us, they like to tinker with the old cameras and are intrigue by the technical process.

 

[Pickett Wilson]

"I’m just glad the film sales are up so it continues to be made."

How do you figure film sales are up?

 

[Keith]

A lot of cynicism here towards this new group of film users I notice ... hipsters or whatever!

We're happy for them to use film provided they toe the line, give the secret handshake and chant the appropriate mantra!

 

[Mackinaw]

There's a podcast I listen to (Film Photography Podcast) that's very popular with 20 year olds, almost all who started with digital and have now decided to try film. An encouraging trend if anything.

Jim B.

 

[coelacanth]

I do think it's great that younger generation is getting into film (I think I'm still in the "younger" group). Probably 90% of them will end up buying overpriced "toy" cameras at Urban Outfitters and forget about it after 3 rolls of cross processing, but maybe a few of them actually find film photography to be their life-long hobby or profession as an artist. It's great that the new "new movement" is lowering the bar to get started.

 

[SciAggie]

I have students who are interested in my film cameras. Our local liberal arts universities have photography classes that offer film and darkroom classes. It does not surprise me at all - young people are very much like many of us. They enjoy the immediacy and ease of digital capture. They can also be captivated by the smell of fixer just like the rest of us. There are many of us that enjoy the challenge, chemistry, alchemy, and attention that film requires.

If anything, we should be celebrating their interest and perhaps making efforts to introduce someone to film. I know my journey as a photographer began when a kind adult took the time to teach me and trusted me enough to give me access to his darkroom when I was only 15 years old.