Ditching the Digital

For some time now taking photos has been my most accessible hobby. In the modern day, I think sentiment is left out of thought a lot because we change and grow so often. My photos are important to me because they’re wholly mine, they offer my audience their own chance to interpret the way I see my world. I have (and a have always had) respect and appreciation for work that takes time and effort to achieve a final product that’s worth the wait. You find that you’re connected to these photos, not only because you took them but because you’ve worked closely with them the whole way that you’re invested in their final presentation. Taking days or weeks to finish a roll of great frames, then developing the film itself, and later working in Photoshop or Lightroom to make small correctional edits requires a lot of effort and patience. One of the reasons I enjoy this method so much is because the final result is nowhere near instant. Because you’ve got a limited amount of frames per roll, you’re forced to make the best out of your subject. You’re forced to be more creative with lighting, props, angles, timing, speed, movement, etc. Photography is centered in decisions that must be thoughtful and made in a timely manner or you risk losing that particular shot. I’ve found that I enjoy film much more than I enjoy shooting on a DSLR or and SLR because I feel more connected to the time I spent working with the people or settings I want to capture. In a world where everything and anything is accessible at the touch of a finger, film has helped me take a step back and appreciate the time, people, and places i’d otherwise overlook.