Have you ever thought about trying film photography but don’t know how to get started?
Film photography is making a comeback. To some, it never really went away, but to a new generation of film photographers it is a great alternative to digital.
Why is there a renaissance in film photography? Firstly, a film has personality. Unlike its digital counterpart, shooting on film is more about the look and feel of the film being used and its characteristics. Digital is digital, but different films have different personalities. It is fun to interact with film.
Another important reason for shooting in film is that the photographer has to learn photography to achieve great results. It is not point and shoot, it is not about auto-modes and it is certainly not about shooting numerous shots in the hope that one turns out nicely. A film photographer has to learn the craft and has to be very deliberate about the image that he wants to produce.
Digital gives a very clinical look to pictures. Crisp, sharp, vivid and predictable are words often used to describe digital images. There is a warmth to film that cannot be achieved digitally. Think about listening to Bob Marley on vinyl versus listening to a streamed recording. There is a richness and warmth that you experience listening to vinyl. Similarly, there is a different look and feel to analogue images than those produced digitally.
But the most important reason for learning to shoot in film is the slow and deliberate process. It is therapeutic. Deeper concentration is needed to get the image ‘just right’. And there is a mystery to film too, you never know what you have achieved until the processed film appears.
Our one-day workshops have been designed to introduce you to the wonderful world of film photography.
Set in the beautiful Cairngorms National Park, our workshops are a great day out in the highlands of Scotland. Not only will you learn about film photography, you will also enjoy some spectacular locations. Mountains, heather-clad hills, fast flowing rivers and great skies combine to offer photographers a wonderful backdrop to learning the craft.
Locations we use for our workshops
We provide everything you need for the day. We use the Olympus OM-1 35mm camera, which you can use for the day, and we provide each delegate with a tripod, cable release and five rolls of Ilford Delta 100 Pro film.
The workshop fee includes processing your film, scanning and sending the images to you via WeTransfer. And, it includes a follow-up session on Zoom to discuss your results.
We try to limit the number of delegates to five or six, to ensure that everyone gets the attention of the tutor.
If you would like more information and dates of our next workshops, please get in contact. I will send a PDF brochure.
FAQs
Will a camera be provided? Yes, we will provide a 35mm film camera, a tripod, filters and a cable release. We use the Olympus OM-1 camera for 35mm workshops, which is a great piece of equipment. The camera was introduced in the 1970s and became a favourite with professional photographers.
Will film be provided? Yes, we will provide rolls of 35mm film to each delegate. We use Ilford Delta 100 Professional film, which is a black and white fine grain film that offers great tonality. We expect each delegate to get through at least three rolls of film on the day.
Will I be able to use my digital camera as well? Absolutely. We encourage delegates to bring along their digital camera or smart phones to take pictures during the day. This is a great way to compare and contrast film photography versus digital.
Will I need a light meter? The Olympus OM-1 is a manual camera but it does have a light meter. However, this will not be used during the day. Instead, we encourage the use of separate light meters. Alternatively, there are some great free apps that work really well as light meters.
Will tuition be provided on the use of the camera? Yes, definitely. We start the day by discussing the camera, its operation, loading and unloading film.
Do I need to know the theory of photography before coming along? Our film photography workshops take delegates right back to the basics of film photography, so learning about the relationship between shutter speed, aperture and film ISO is important. We provide a PDF instruction booklet to all delegates prior to the day so that they can brush up on the theory of photography.
How do I get my film processed? We will process your film and the cost of this is included in the workshop. We usually turnaround film within five days of the workshop.
Will negatives be scanned? After processing the film, we will scan the negatives and send these to delegates electronically.
Will I be able to discuss the results? Yes, definitely. Included in the cost of the workshop is a one to one follow up session, which is conducted via Zoom at a time convenient to each delegate. The session offers the opportunity to discuss the results and to discuss film photography in general.
Will we be walking long distances? Not really. We have a few different locations that we use for these workshops, around the Braemar area of Aberdeenshire. Most of these locations are within a 30-minute walk from a nearby car park.
What clothing is best to take? We will be outdoors for the whole day, so suitable clothing is needed. The weather can be unpredictable so something warm and something waterproof is essential. Walking boots or sturdy shoes are important because the terrain can be a little rough at times.
Will I need to provide lunch? Yes, bring along a packed lunch and plenty of water. We will be outdoors without access to shops.
Where do we meet for the workshop? We use several locations around the Braemar area. The location on the day will depend on the weather, but we will send a text message the day before to ensure that everyone knows the location. Some of the locations we use are: Linn of Dee, Braemar; River Quoich near Mar Lodge; Lui Water near Braemar; and Ballochbui Forest, which is between Ballater and Braemar.
Norman Thomson Photography 