Guide for beginners to analog photography

Vintage is in, and not just since yesterday. It may be due to the feeling of a weighty analog camera in your hand, the knowledge that every photo is unique and unchangeable, or the longing wait for the developed images. What is certain is that analog photography on film is experiencing a real boom again. It may seem strange to the older generation, but this development means that photographers of the younger generation are often confronted with photography on film for the first time. This article will look at what you need to pay particular attention to compared to digital photography.

The basics of analog photography

Before photographers fully immerse themselves in film photography, they often fall in love with a special camera that falls into their hands in their parents' or grandparents' attic or at a flea market and completely captivates them with its very special feel. Both manual and semi-automatic cameras with interchangeable lenses are generally well suited for getting started with analog photography. The most popular models include cameras from Pentax, Canon and Nikon. Before you start taking photos, it is important to check all functions, especially on older models, and to make sure that the light meter is working, and the lens is clean and in good condition.

If the camera is in order and ready for use, the next step is to buy the right roll of film for it. If you have never bought camera film before, you should pay particular attention to the light sensitivity, i.e. the specified ISO value. Depending on the camera, there are also different film formats that are suitable, as well as color and black and white films. For beginners, color negative films with ISO 200 or 400 are generally recommended.

Depending on which analog camera you are working with and how old it is, there are more or less aspects to consider when taking pictures. In general, the situation with older analog cameras is similar to manual photography with a digital camera. The exposure must be adjusted individually for each photo. It can be controlled and adjusted using the aperture, shutter speed and ISO value. The depth of field of the images is also determined by the aperture settings, while the shutter speed plays a decisive role in the sharpness of movement in the images. A light meter can also be helpful for the correct exposure of the images, allowing you to accurately determine the current lighting conditions and adjust the camera settings accordingly.

Once the photos have been taken, they need to be developed in the photo lab. To do this, you can simply hand in the rolls of film at a drugstore or photo store and pick up the finished photos there a few days later. If you have space and time and would like to be creative when developing your own pictures, you can also set up your own darkroom and develop the films yourself, as you can have a big influence on the final photographic result in this step.

Tip for on the go: If you want to take your first film camera with you, complete with light meter, interchangeable lens and perhaps even spare film, a practical companion with a system is worthwhile. A compact, high-quality camera bag with modular compartments not only protects your equipment, but also helps you to stay intuitive and organized when taking photos. The elegant vintage leather of the Munich or Freiburg camera bag also perfectly matches the character of analog photography - classic, durable and stylish.

The unique thing about shooting on film

What particularly fascinates many people about film photography is often the very special and unique aesthetic of the images, as they have an unmistakable look that various digital filters try to recreate but cannot match. That certain something about analog images is just as difficult to describe as the special fascination of listening to an old record compared to a modern MP3 playback.

Part of the fascination of photographing with analog cameras is certainly the special haptic experience of loading the film, releasing the shutter and the sometimes mechanical advancement of the film roll. Many photographers also appreciate the fact that they have absolute control over the end result at every stage of the photographic process.

In an age of fast food, fast fashion and constantly changing news, analog photography can also act as an island of deceleration in everyday life. Here, you take a lot of time for photography in general and then for each photo in particular, and are aware of every single step of the process. This can have a relaxing and inspiring effect and photographers often take ideas and thoughts about their pictures into their everyday lives, so that photography can also offer a kind of retreat there.

Anyone who regularly takes analog photos knows how important it is to transport their camera and accessories safely and stylishly - whether on the way to the photo lab or on a walk through the city and countryside. A bag with a timeless look, made of high-quality leather, not only emphasizes the special experience of film photography, but also protects your equipment reliably and with dignity. Photography becomes a stylish ritual.

And then where to put all the pictures?

Anyone who is passionate about analog photography, frequently captures their images on film and then develops the photos will soon have a lot of them at home and realize that the analog images cannot simply be moved to a cloud or hard drive and stored there for all eternity. However, the physical presence of the pictures can also be a real opportunity, because you see the photos more often and if you don't just want to fill shoeboxes with them and store them in the attic (the physical alternative to the cloud), you can create a whole host of great things with the pictures.

Classic options include photo albums that you can make for yourself or give as gifts to family and friends. If you want to get even more creative with your own pictures, you can use them in collages, for example, or paint, embroider or otherwise change and add to the pictures and then hang up the unique works of art.

Conclusion

Film photography teaches patience and mindfulness and can help us to slow down. If you don't have the final photo right in front of you, you think about, plan and design each image more carefully. The limited number of shots per roll of film and the associated monetary value forces you to compose more consciously and wait for the right moment. The tactile experience of inserting the film, winding the shutter and releasing the shutter can also be a sensual pleasure in itself.

And finally, every film grain, every small irregularity in the emulsion has a unique character that digital images often lack. Film photography therefore represents a journey back to the roots of photography and a wonderful opportunity to perceive the world in a new and deeper way.

Anyone who really wants to get involved in this photographic deceleration will also attach importance to the small, analog details surrounding photography, from the camera to suitable storage. A well-thought-out bag with classic aesthetics, made from fine materials, will itself become part of the analog adventure.