Comments on: How (and Where) to Develop Film in the Digital Age

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 23:56:13 +0000

I agree with Kathleen. There is a certain aesthetic quality achieved through film. Do some online investigation and look into a camera called a Holga. You can't get photos like that unless you photoshop, and even then its not the same.

By: Kathleen J

Kathleen J — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:17:10 +0000

Why are some of these people so ugly in their attitudes towards artistic freedom? Yes, do we remember that a real artist is allowed to choose their medium. And regardless of what any of you digital people say, IT cannot duplicate the qualities of a fine silver print no matter how hard you try. We have one of the foremost digital printing companies in the US here in Denver, and hsi prints still look like digital prints, NOT silver prints. Why can't everyone just respect a person's RIGHT to use the camera of their choice.

By: Hector Borroto

Hector Borroto — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:02:07 +0000

I need to develop 3 rolls of B&W film 35 mm ,could you advise me where to take this rolls in Miami,

Thank you ,

Hector

By: John Sevigny

John Sevigny — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:12:55 +0000

Thanks for reading and for all your comments. This was not meant to spark a film vs. digital debate, which is a pretty tired subject by now. Some people like film. Some like digital. Some, like me, use both. Questions as to "why" anyone would shoot film vary from photographer to photographer. Film looks different. Not better. Not worse. Just different. It reacts to light differently, needs to be handled differently, and may bring a certain joy to some of us who don't feel the same shooting digital (and I do use both). I say, to each his/her own. Best to everyone.

By: Denver Engagement Photographer

Denver Engagement Photographer — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:18:27 +0000

after recently getting back to film, just got an f100 I'm curious to see how the labs are now a days.

By: Stanley Leary

Stanley Leary — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:16:57 +0000

"I really can't see screens very well in bright sunlight outside..."

And how does film help with this? Nothing to see.

By: ian campbell

ian campbell — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:13:14 +0000

...well, I rather like black and white, and I really can't see screens very well in bright sunlight outside... so why not use the 35mm and 120mm and 5x7 every so often? I still use digital, but there are times when I LIKE to use an old, close to the ground system. It's not actually a criminal offence, you know...

By: Stanley Leary

Stanley Leary — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:30:48 +0000

Digital far surpasses film. With training you can diminish the quality and get film look if you want. They even have plug-ins you can buy that will do all the steps for you if you choose.

I hear this wining all the time and rarely is it coming from someone who knows how to use digital and chooses to shoot film. It most all the time is someone who refuses to learn about digital.

Go take some classes and find out how much you can achieve. The dynamic range alone with digital is reason enough to switch. You can also easily shoot multiple exposures and increase the dynamic range beyond your imagination. Cameras will do this in the camera or you can bring it into PhotoShop and use HDR.

Another great reason film should die is how bad it is for the environment. The chemicals get into our water supply and take a lot to filter out the harmful parts.

Kodak continues to shut down their plants from making film and processing.

I agree with Fredrik's comment "WHY Develop Film in the Digital Age? "

By: ian campbell

ian campbell — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 15:15:39 +0000

agreed -- my hands live in a big changing bag these days.

By: Ken Kollodge

Ken Kollodge — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:41:38 +0000

There may be a handful interested in film that may not know this. So, my comments are for you. You don't need a darkroom to process 35mm and 120 film in tanks. Just get a "dark tent" , basically an elaborate "changing bag" to spool your film onto the reels. Once the films are on the reels and placed in the tank with the cap on, all the rest is done in the light anyway. I got my dark tent at Calumet years ago and it works perfect, takes up no space since it folds flat and you don't need an extra room. You can now scan the negs/chromes and print digitally or send the film of to a lab for prints. You can even load sheet film holders in the dark tents and there may be some sheet film processing tanks still around so you can process sheet film also.

By: Fort Lauderdale Photographer

Fort Lauderdale Photographer — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:23:45 +0000

When we got this apartment I didn't know how lucky we were but the only pro-lab for 50 miles is a block away.

Pompano Pro lab is the best place around Fort Lauderdale for sure.

By: David

David — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:33:24 +0000

Same problems here in South Africa. 5 Years ago any old lab did a good job, but lately even the good ones are quite crap. C41 and home scanning is the way to go with film for sure.

By: Eric Luden

Eric Luden — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:25:31 +0000

We just lost another Pro Lab in the Boston area not too long ago. Photographers are finding it harder and harder to get their films processed. We are fortunate to have a lab in our area called The Image Inn, run by Christine Ofria. She is still offering hand processing for black & white films and does an outstanding job. She is a purely analog lab and still offers optical printing on both RC & Fiber silver papers.
We have sent a number of our clients to her who want to have film processed but then scanned and printed large. We want to be sure that labs like The Image Inn survive, so that those of us who like shooting film for purely aesthetic reasons, have an option. So, put down the 20 meagpixel camera for a day, grab your nearest film camera and a roll of Ilford FP4+ and go out and shoot! It's a great way to slow things down a bit and enjoy shooting. It's not about which is better, it's about learning to slow down and think more about your exposure and the image you're making, not just capturing.

By: Fredrik Naumann

Fredrik Naumann — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:47:23 +0000

While I share the passion for some of the film based cameras and their technical qualities - they were great tools - I think it the question now should be: WHY Develop Film in the Digital Age?

I think we are past the point were you can't get great prints from digital files. Perhaps it is a reluctance to learn new tools rather than the new tools themselves that are the problem of "black and white aficionados"?

Perhaps they could learn a few tricks from Jean Miele or others that have emabraced the new technology? (http://www.jeanmiele.com/)