Shooting on film

Why did I start shooting on film? 

For years, I had never considered shooting on film. The uncertainty of the process deterred me. The slow process, the inability to see the photographs, no room for error. Since starting experimenting with film 3 years ago, the original reasons that deterred me are what makes me love it. Using film, makes me slow down. To be more considerate and thoughtful with my shots instead of being trigger-happy with a digital camera. I often take my digital camera as a backup and have my Minolta and Olympic as my leading cameras. Or for the shots that I don’t know how to create using a film camera. Such as the dark photography to populate It Starts With A Step.

 Photographs from first few rolls of film

I find the work I create using films is more rewarding because the process is more personal and intimate. The photographs are created over a longer length of time. Often, I finish the roll with multiple different locations and by the end I can’t remember what shots captured my eye. I enjoy the process of developing myself and the challenges that come with it. I feel very lucky to have access to the darkroom at university and during my final year, I wanted to take full advantage of this. I feel as though, I have done this. All the rolls of film I used when experimenting and developing my project, I have developed myself.

Photographs from my Final year project, developed myself