Before going to university I had never used a analogue camera. I had always used a digital camera, constantly shooting and not having to think about how many photographs I was taking as I could always delete any unwanted ones. 

Learning about analogue photography I have increasing grown to enjoy and enthuse about this way of taking photographs and also developing the film myself. I still take digital photographs  for their quickness and instant but I love learning old techniques, different formats and ranges of films. 

I learnt how to use my first film camera in my 1st year at university. I started with the Canon EOS 300/EOS Rebel 2000 35mm and from this I have been able to progress using different analogue cameras. I gained more understanding on how to load the camera with film and how to develop my black and white negatives into photographs using all the chemicals and techniques in the darkroom and finally printing my own photographs by hand. 

I first started off using 35mm film, the type of film I use is Illford HP5 Plus 35mm . What I love about black and white photography is being able to play around with light so when you go into the darkroom to develop your photograph you bring out the contrast of the black and white within the photograph.

Using 35mm format aloud me to show a wide frame, however moving on I decided to experiment with a square format camera. I used a Hasselblad and Boronica cameras with Illford FP4 120mm film. At the beginning I struggled with the focusing on these cameras,  but with practise and taking my time it allow me to become more confident and competent when using these cameras. With the square format it allowed me  become more aware on what will be in my frame. I played around with these cameras within my Architecture project which I will talk about in another post. The square format also change my perception to be more abstract when working with a subject.

Using film has actually made me slow down as a photographer when approaching a subject and analysing what will be in frame before capturing it. This is now reflected within my digital work as I am slowing down the process when taking a photograph.

Expanding from this I have also used colour film which was unknown to me. Using this shows me the different tones and colours you get from film compared to digital photograph. I like using the colour film as I think it gives a different perception to the photograph, sometimes creating cool calm tones when other times with different film you can capture bright vibrant colours. 

When I developed my colour film I used Kodak Color Plus 200, I used the C41 machine to develop it. I usually scan in the film with an ESPON scanner. I frequently use this scanner allowing me to make my film photographs digital. I like using the scanner but still love going into the darkroom and hand printing my photographs. 

I have now expanded my film camera collection these include :

• Olympus OM10
• Halina
• Zorki - 4
• Weltaflex 

My interest has grown in film photography it has enabled me to expand my photographic practise and I have experimented with different types of film to produce my own photographs by hand.