PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB BASED ON MAUI
Since 1936
Our Member's Story
My Film and Digital Photo Journey
by Valentin (Val) Guiala
While attending the University of Hawaii in 1970, I was inspired by the photographs documenting the Hawaiian Renaissance and the Community Activism movements that were occurring at the time. I thought to myself, “I need to get myself a camera!”
Then in 1971, I got myself a Nikon Nikkormat. When I graduated, I found a job teaching at the Wahiawa Storefront School which serviced alienated students from middle and high schools in Central Oahu. I put my camera to work documenting our non-traditional curriculum, students, and school campus to create media presentations that were shown to the community and to the State Legislature to lobby for support and funding for our programs.
Fast forward to 1983, I secured a traditional teaching position on Maui and found my time occupied by other interests. I stopped doing photography. Then, in 2013, I thought it was time to pick up my camera again. By then, film was out. Cameras were now digital. My Nikon lenses could only work on Nikon Digital SLRs if modified, which rendered them unusable on my film cameras. Three years would pass before I succumbed to the allure of a digital Nikon.
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Digital has been the dominant format for over two decades. Its modern technological improvements surpass film. Digital also offers the capability to produce multiple images in quick succession with almost no difference between frame 1 and frame 100. The frames are all available for instant review on the camera’s Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen. Digital works well for sports, wildlife, and applications requiring fast responses. Digital is fast, efficient, and convenient and a lot cheaper and quicker than developing film.
Film is the opposite: slower, more deliberate, and less screen driven. In my opinion, if you are pursuing the technical perfection of an image, shoot digital. If you are looking to capture emotion with all its imperfections, shoot film. Here are a few examples of my challenges with film processing labs.
Light Leak
Mysterious Green Line
Dust Particles
Film involves tactile experiences like, opening a box of film, loading it into your camera, setting the ASA, adjusting the aperture on your lens while feeling it click through its aperture range, rotating the shutter speed dial on the camera; all now-forgotten rituals. You need to advance the film lever after every shot. At the end of the roll, you would carefully remove the film spool and send it to the developer. Having no LCD screen, I had to wait until the images were developed to review photos. However, I found that because reviewing is done later, I spent more time in the art of capturing images.
So, which is better? I love the technology of shooting in the digital format, but I often reminisce of old school film photography.
Which improved my overall photography skills?
Digital allows me to shoot, reshoot, review images, and adjust on the fly. It does not limit me to the number of images I can shoot to obtain what I see in my head. This freedom may have improved my photography skills in a shorter time than when I was shooting film.
But shooting film taught me to slow down and plan my shot. I had to meter light carefully, compose intentionally (no “Spray and Pray”), and trust my instincts. If I gained anything, I got better at reading the light, making decisions quickly, and making each frame count.
If you're interested, give Film Photography a shot!
Starting film photography is simple: grab a 35 mm camera, load it with film, shoot your surroundings, and send your roll to a lab for developing and digital scanning.
The Characteristics of Film
Photos from film has a distinct look. It has a natural grain, rich tones, and unique color renderings that digital cameras often attempt to imitate through camera picture profiles but cannot duplicate.
With film, you can choose the look of your photos by the film stock. Each film stock brings its own character. This requires that you take the time to familiarize yourself with various film stock characteristics.
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Kodak Gold - nostalgic, warm summery aesthetic.
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Fujifilm - natural skin tones, sharp detail, and fine grain.
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Ilford-HP5 - a high-speed black-and-white film known for exceptional versatility, wide exposure latitude, and beautiful classic grain. It’s a favorite for those who frequently push film to ISO 1600 or 3200 for lowlight shooting.
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Kodak Tri-X Black and White High-Speed film - fine grain, gritty aesthetic, and broad exposure latitude. It’s a staple for photojournalism, street photography, and available light photography.
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Portra 400 - exceptional skin tones, fine grain, incredible exposure latitude. It is considered the industry standard for portraiture and everyday photography.
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Cinestill 800T - highly stylized color negative film stock, prized for low light performance, cinematic tone, and prominent red halations around bright light.
Choose your Camera
Disposable/Single Use camera. Point, click, take to a lab.
Point and Shoot Camera. These are small, automated cameras from the 90s and 00s. They differ from disposable cameras because they can be used over again once the exposed roll of film is taken out and replaced with a new roll.
35mm Single Lens Reflex/Rangefinder camera. The lens on these cameras can be changed, and shutter speed/aperture/ISO can be adjusted.
Friends/Family members/relatives may have these types of cameras stored away and might be willing to give them to you. Thrift stores are a good place to check as well. If buying online, check reputable gear retailers like KEH Camera, Used Photo Pro or B & H Photo.
Pick Your Film Stock
Start with color or b/w film as they are the least expensive to process: Kodak Gold 200, Fujifilm 400, Ilford-HP5, Kodak 400 Tri-X. Understand the basics of exposure—shutter speed, aperture, ISO/ASA. Know how to apply the Sunny 16 rule.
Kodacolor 200 Film
Develop and Scan Your Film
Send your film to a reputable lab like Darkroom Photo Lab or Boutique Film Lab. When placing your order, opt for “Develop and Scan.” The lab will process the film negatives and email you the digital files which you can post on social media or print. Always request that they mail your physical negatives back to you, so you have them for future use.
Kodak Gold Film
Mahalo for letting me share my film and digital journey as a photographer.
~ Val