Honestly, I never thought that I would get into film photography as it seemed unnecessary, expensive, and a hassle.
I started off with simply trying out a disposable camera (Fujifilm Simple Ace bought from Fotohub), and my journey took off from there.
Having an uncle who was into photography, I went to ask him for advice, but he shut down the idea of disposable cameras or point-and-shoot cameras ( he stated that they produced bad quality images which would ruin anyone's interest in film ) and offered to let me use his multiple vintage, highly expensive 120mm cameras.
Of course, as a beginner who had barely any knowledge of film cameras, yet alone the money to buy 120mm film stock and develop them, I rejected him and proceeded to purchase a Kodak M35 (which was affordable for beginners).
It was after multiple rolls that I decided that I wanted to actually delve into film photography ( which requires willingness to spend money on ) , and experiment more with it. My mother kindly sponsored a Canon AE1, which I had bought from Filem.
For beginners, I recommend that you all start somewhere. It doesn't have to be an expensive film camera or an expensive film stock. Disposable cameras are not only easy to use and cheap, but also serves as a good way to introduce one to the film world, and allow one to understand the basics.
People prefer film over digital for certain reasons, which include the grain, the experience ( often described as opening a time capsule ), and that the limitations of 36 exposures (for most rolls) forces one to delicately frame their shots, as compared to taking multiple shots on a dslr (which takes up a lot of space in the long run). Some may also like film because they enjoy the excitement of waiting for their photos to develop.
Well, I find it pleasing to be able to wind the film advance button and click on the shutter button. Film also forces me to understand how aperture, speed, and iso rating works together, as compared to shooting on a dslr, where the auto mode is often tempting to use.
Some photographers stay on the extreme end of " I only shoot digital " , or " I only shoot film". For me, I see film as a side hobby, as I have to shoot digital in order to meet the time criteria for my photo duties ( events for school ccas and external activities).
I am still a beginner in film and I hope I will be able to squeeze in time between school ( shoot at least once a month ), and grow throughout this journey. Thanks for reading if you have read up to here. Cheers :)
Here are some photos shot on my first disposable camera
Some tips that I have for absolute beginners
1) Always use flash indoors. You may think that it is bright enough but it is often not the case ( as film is known to be less sensitive to light), which leads to underexposed photos that cannot be saved... and money wasted.
2) Although you are not able to control the aperture and speed on disposables and point and shoot cameras, it is good to understand the specifications of the camera body that you are using, to prevent unwanted blurriness for objects that are too far away/too near.
3) A good way to know if your photo will turn out underexposed is to download a light meter app on your phone, which may not be as accurate as the expensive (around $200) light meters sold on Amazon, but will still be able to provide a good reading.
4) Always check if your rewind crank is rotating when you roll the film advance button, to prevent blank rolls and disappointment.
5) Lastly, enjoy the process, and don't be too afraid to waste your film ! Film is purely experimental and it is only through multiple trials and errors that one can achieve better looking photos.
Cheers :)
