I made an accidental purchase last week: a tangible piece of photography history.
Now in my camera bag is a mint condition Minolta X-300 SLR, a classic from the 1980s.
It’s a camera and a time machine.
After more than two decades of shooting digital photography, I’m returning to the world of film cameras, where it all started.
Why film? I love the immediacy of digital photography, so choosing to shoot on film might seem like a backwards step. But here’s why I’m experimenting with (at least) a few rolls of film.
Intentionality in every frame. Shooting with film changes how I compose each image through my lens. Each roll of Kodak UltraMax 400, with its 36 exposures, limits my number of shots compared to the virtually unlimited frames I can capture with a digital camera.
The result? Hopefully, a more thought-out, better composed, and more meaningful series of images.
The aesthetic appeal. Film brings an undeniable character that digital sensors can’t hope to replicate. The grain, colour reproduction, and slight unpredictability of how light plays on film add depth and nostalgic quality to each photo.
The texture that comes from film brings life to photographs that stand apart from the highly polished digital images we’ve all come to expect.
Mastering patience. I’m not a particularly patient person. The absence of immediate feedback on a digital screen is a valuable lesson in patience and trust in one’s skills
Waiting a week or longer to see the developed slides is part of the excitement, like waiting for a gift in the post. Better yet, I’m fully expecting to completely forget about a few of the frames I snap, making the big reveal an even bigger surprise!
The delay between shutter press and developed photos is part of the excitement of shooting film. This ‘slow photography’ should help refine my skills and instincts as I learn to trust my eye and camera.
Learning and refining. Using a vintage Minolta SLR is helping me reconnect with every aspect of photography. There’s a degree of automation, as the camera can set a shutter speed based on a through-the-lens exposure reading. Still, I definitely have to consider lighting more carefully and take extra care not to under or overexpose frames.
Sustainability of practice. Posting a roll of film to the lab is already rejuvenating my love for the craft of photography. I’m shooting film right now as a personal project designed to improve my wider photography skills, and it’s already reminding me why I started this career.
The tangibility of film and the mechanical nature of the camera bring a sense of raw, real photography back to my practice.
I’m currently running a couple of rolls of film through my newly acquired Minolta to see how well this particular model has stood the test of time and technology.
Are you curious about film photography? Follow my Instagram account to see the results as they come through.
I won’t stop shooting digitally, especially for client projects, but I would like to introduce a few film frames to these, too.
If you want to see the charm of film photography at your next photo shoot, why not book a session with me? We can create something timeless together.
🎞️✨ Stepping back to leap forward! Rediscovered the magic of film photography with a classic Minolta X-300 SLR. Dive into my latest blog post to see why I'm loving this journey back in time! #FilmPhotography #MinoltaX300 📷 Share on X
