I am approaching 60 years and have developed film for 40 of those years. It is gratifying to see so many people enjoying film again. It took me a long time to become hip and trendy ! Great work Matt. Keep it up and long may it continue.
I am 68 John and returning to my roots after recently purchased a Nikon F3. When everyone with mobile phones began to think they are photographers I knew then the tide was turning. Keep advancing that roll John.
Love the mean girls analogy and transparency when talking about the community. Being part of the film community is something I love, but the toxicity needs to be replaced with support and perspective. Because your so right, we're literally taking photos
Some "RULES" of Composition =========================== Adapted from "Photocommunication" by David Curl 1. Have a single, DOMINANT center of interest. 2. Place the center of interest away from the center of the picture. Follow the "rule of thirds" - but NOT for portraits! 3. Keep the horizon level, placing it according to the rule of thirds. Don't cut a picture into two equal parts either horizontally or vertically. 4. Don't allow important tones and textures in your main subject to merge with the background. 5. Fill the frame! Do most of your cropping in the camera viewfinder instead of in the darkroom/post processing. 6. Keep extraneous details out of the picture. 7. Don't amputate parts of your main subject at awkward places. 8. Avoid distracting shapes at the very edges of the photograph. 9. Have the main subject facing or moving INTO the frame, rather than out of it. 10. Frame the principal subject with a complimentary foreground object. 11. Concentrate attention with leading lines, such as convergence and S curves. 12. Employ strong DIAGONAL lines to imply action or conflict. 13. Compose VERTICALLY to emphasize height or dignity. 14. Compose HORIZONTALLY to suggest peace and rest. These rules can of course be broken (depending on the actual scene) - but not in ignorance. Advice from a few great photographers: --------------------------------------------------------------- "If your photographs aren't good enough, you're not close enough" - Robert Capa "The camera is an instrument that teaches people to see without a camera" - Dorothea Lange "It is better to have a fuzzy picture of a clear idea than a clear picture of a fuzzy idea" - Henri Cartier-Bresson However ... "Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston And here is a Quick Tip (from a fellow Flickr user) : “Once you've identified what you want to shoot, zoom in slowly till you feel something is "missing"; once that happens, zoom out till you feel the image is again complete” - works like a charm "SUNNY SIXTEEN" RULE --------------------------------------- Here is a rough and ready rule for setting exposures (when your camera battery dies) - also sometimes called the "sunny sixteen" rule. First let the film speed ASA index be the (nearest reciprocal) shutter speed. For example, for ASA 100 or ASA 125 film set the shutter speed to 1/125 second, for ASA 400 film set shutter speed at 1/500 s etc. Then for outdoor bright sun set aperture to f/16 (for direct or side lighting). For hazy sun, open up to f/11. For light overcast, open up to f/8. If the sky is heavily overcast, or if your subject is in open shade on a sunny day open up to f/5.6. This will work 80 - 90 % of the time. This assumes the entire scene has EVEN brightness throughout. But then you will need to make an adjustment (even when using an exposure meter). If the scene has more dark than bright areas then you UNDEREXPOSE (increase f-stop setting) by 1/2 stop, if dark areas predominate UNDEREXPOSE by 1 stop. This is counterintuitive - films and exposure meters are calibrated for 18% reflected light (the average). NEVER UNDEREXPOSE by more than 1 stop. Similarly, if the scene contains more bright then OVEREXPOSE by 1/2 or 1 stop. If bright areas are very dominant (e.g. sand, snow) then OVEREXPOSE by 1.5 or 2 stops. Again counterintuitive. Backlighting is very difficult. Usually OVEREXPOSE by 1 stop - but then the highlights will be very bright. The only way to fix this is while printing - by burning in the darkroom or in Photoshop (there is no other way.) Hope this helps.
Bless your heart. This down-to-earth talk is so refreshing. Its all about the person and his/her camera and film. Thank you for being you - sensitive, genuine and caring.
This is why I stay at this channel. I just started shooting digital and film and i am almost 50 years old and there are many many photographers that talk so much negative and you don’t. Thank you!!!
For the first time, I'm heading to the film store to pick up some rolls tomorrow, was feeling pretty overwhelmed by the myriad of opinions and information available online for sure. Thanks for the valuable advice! appreciate it man
Growing up, film is all there was. I didn’t get serious about photography until well after digital became the overwhelmingly accepted standard, so that’s what I’ve been shooting. Now, I’m trying to go back and actually learn how to shoot film. It’s been a huge struggle, but these simple tips are EXACTLY what I needed to hear. Thank you🙏🏻
Thank You for the morning coffee advice talk, So far since the shelter in place as I did get my shots that I have been scanning film, and with both flat bed, and film scanner that seeing the images just brought me joy to see the images once again... Thank You, Hang in There...
Great video Matt! Now is such a good time to get into film photography because like you said, there are tons of resources and people online that are willing to help. That's the main reason I love film photography. Its such a great community to be a part of.
Sound advice Matt, especially " enjoy yourself and do your own thing" I am pushing 60 and have gone back to what I started a "few" years back, shooting film with a monster RB67 (Sherpa not included) and developing my own work. Look forward to viewing more of your channel... Cheers...
Great video Mat, G'day from Downunder.. as an old girl who is on the wrong side of 55 now, and only got into photography in 2009 after my divorce, I started off in digital with a cheap Canon P&S ( I'd never owned a camera in my life before that ). after using that for a few years and getting advice from a friend I learned more. then in 2010 I met my partner who just happened to be into photography as well and with their help and encouragement I bought my first DSLR in 2012. fast forward a couple of years and I picked up a 1930's vintage Zeiss folding camera for a few dollars at a camera market we went to. after discovering while researching it that you could still get 120 film I bought a couple rolls of B&W for fun to shoot and I was hooked. have now built up a good collection on medium format and 35mm cameras and love using them all. after a while I started developing my own film, making a few mistakes along the way but enjoying the learning curve. have yet to do my own prints, but in the meantime have changed from shooting digital to shooting film almost exclusively. I love its feel and look, and enjoy the whole process, from buying the film, to choosing which one I'll shoot with and what camera I'll use as well, then developing it and seeing those images as I take the film from the tank. to anyone out there thinking of shooting film but your'e unsure, I say go for it. you'll love it.
I went to UMass Dartmouth as a graphic design major but their photography program and learning from the film lab are the the reason why I still shoot film to this day 🥺✨
A friend gifted me a camera years ago & it’s been in a box, I wasn’t really into film when I got it. I recently found out film was experiencing a comeback so I got it out. It’s an M3 in amazing shape with the Summicron-M f/2 collapsible & a mint in box Summicron f/2 near focus model with the close focus attachment. There are a ton of accessories & all the manuals too. I am blown away that it’s been sitting in a box this whole time. I’m not familiar with the M3 other than knowing its pedigree, I’d love to trade it in for an M6 & keep the near focus Summicron.
Great advice for beginners Matt .... I started out in 1977 when all we had was film, and it was certainly a lot cheaper. I started with a basic kit consisting of a Zenit E and the now much loved by hipsters Helios 58mm 44-2 standard lens, and I just used that combo and 3 film stocks for a year. I then added only 2 other lenses. I basically stuck to those 3 lenses (58mm, 28mm and 135mm) and 4 film stocks (Kodachrome 25, 64, 200 .. Ilford HP5 and Kodak Tri X) until I was happy with my skill level. Geting a job in a large commercial photography studio complex then opened up a whole new world with Hasselblad 6x6 and Sinar 5x4 and 10x8. The advice I always give is to start with the basics, and learn from the many mistakes that you'll no doubt make, be that with analogue or digital.
"Don't pay attention to all the 🐂 💩💩💩 out there".... Probably the most valuable advice brother, seriously. Along with shooting whatever inspires, no matter how many times it's been done before, IMHO. Great tips Dad!! ❤❤❤
I work at a college with a thriving darkroom and film component to classes and we even have super 8 and 16mm. We have Pentax k1000s that all the students use and one film stock and it makes teaching so easy.
I tried several old lenses on digital, before I jumped into film. I prefer pictures with a certain character over image-quality. Learning everything on iso/exposure, aperture and shutterspeeds on digital is a lot more friendly. You can easily learn how good compositions work, because you can snap away hundreds of pictures. At least for me it was a lot less daunting that way. Now a year later I started shooting film for my more personal pictures, just because I like the way you can focus on certain moments only. I have tried some different gear, but funnily enough I've settled on the stuff that was already around the house before I started shooting; my dads Canon A1 and my granddads Helios 44 lens are a great combo. Just shooting drugstore filmstocks/developing for now, keeping cost low.
not anything real technical about this video, just a good mental. Thanks guy, shot my first roll last week and there's still plenty of things I have to experiment on.
I just happened to come across this video and I’m so glad I did. So many good pointers for a beginner or even a more experienced film photographer. Thanks for these words. I’m even more excited to start my film photography journey now 😊😊
My biggest advice to those coming into the craft is to do what excites YOU! When I started, I started with medium format and people told me I was crazy for doing so, but it's what excited me. I lugged my Pentax67 all over the place even though it was crazy heavy, and terrible for my back. I loved every moment of it and captured some amazing photos. Then my excitement lead me to large format photography, where I took photo trips to places like Death Valley and really honed my craft even more. Now I'm getting into 35mm, mostly out of convenience because holy cow is the Pentax67 heavy, and now that the honeymoon phase has worn off, that's more obvious to me now. But if I had started with 35mm I guarantee you I wouldn't have taken the amazing photos I had, because when I entered film photography 35mm wasn't a format that EXCITED me. Follow whatever makes you stoked to get out and take pictures, no matter how inconvenient that setup might seem.
Nice video. Many, Many years ago I worked at the Kodak Information Center supporting Kodak professional and consumer products. I really enjoy the rebirth of film.
Really agree with your sentiments , having g grown up with nothing but film i don't understand the hype , I shoot with it occasionally for purely nostalgic purposes. It's crazy that people are caring more about the medium than the actual photos , just go out and take great photos.
Matt I think you nailed it because you are old and wise. I get the impression it takes time for a lot of people to get to the stage where they are happy doing things for themselves rather than for likes or recognition from others. But the sooner you can get there in life, the better for everyone.
If I may offer one piece of advice. Anytime you do wind up with a new piece of gear like a body or lens, use it at every aperture/shutter speed to make sure everything works. Ive been burned on a body or two
For anyone wanting to start developing their own black and white film: I’ve started with CineStill DF96 monobath and it’s easy enough and the results are also really not bad. The one thing you really give up is control. You’ll get good negs but if you want to control contrast or grain you should start looking into other developers. The film developer can have a huge impact to the look of a film.
After shooting digital for 20 years, including digital Leicas for ten, I just bought an M3. Looking forward to shooting it tho a bit wary of needing to rely on the sunny 16 rule and guess-work in lieu of a built in meter. Living on the edge, I guess.
I was learning by my own mistakes. So doing some research for film that you want to buy or simple load/unload of the film in a camera , how to clean it - can save you a lot of money or nerves. And also for a first camera it can be pretty much anything , my advice- it should be something that will work without breaks. Because you can replace your camera with a new one, but you cannot do anything with a film that was developed blank because your camera is broken .
Hey Matt! Really enjoy your videos. I've recently picked up a Leica MP to shoot along with my M3. This is great advice for people new to film and even for folks that have been shooting for a while!
@@hellatightdude exactly the one I have! It’s such a beautiful camera, especially in black paint. I’ll be taking it with me to the Kentucky Derby this weekend. Should get some pretty sweet photos with it!
Good tips!! Toxicity is just everywhere.. not just photo or film communities.. whenever you go, people tend to form their own groups and gang up on others like pack of wolves.. it’s ugly and super childish.. amazing how many never grow up at all!! 😀 engineers who built the damn thing they’re shooting with should be a thousand times more cocky if they must get into who’s better than who game..
I bought a lot of old vintage Pentax equipment a 35mm3.5, 50mm1.4, 135mm3.5 as well as a Spotmatic SP 11 . I have not photographed with film since 2005 when I bought a Pentax *istDL 6 megapixel DSLR . A friend gave me a roll of film the other day. I can't get the light meter to work so I'll have to use my Minolta light meter to get proper espourse
I did my photography course in London at a College few years ago in 1990s and that time I was using black and white and colour and Slide Films also I had Medium Format camera as well and I still take photos with a FILM and I can develop Black and White films and i also got Developing Tanks for Black and white Films
5:58 there’s a huge amount of this going on but the discussion of the difference between content and an actual body of work is not discussed. meanwhile people complain their content isn’t bringing them engagement when it’s more of the same.
At age 68 I began my photography journey with a Canon AE-1 with a 50mm lens and read books (yes, books back in the day). Changed to Nikon Digital in 2002, but just recently bought a mint Nikon F3 and got a nice couple of lens, 28 and 50 and some Ilford HP5. Returning to my youth. Great video Matt.
Very well said. Why we all have to turn everything into a competition is beyond me. We've got film and digital. Why on earth does it have to be film vs digital in some people's mind. Seriously I just don't get it
Very good points here. Too many brainfarts in the photography community who haven't got a clue about how people perceive and enjoy images. Labeling film images as lesser quality and digital being far superior. Oh... and hipsters are really evil too - gotta remember that. Who gives a ... about these know-it-alls. Just do whatever kind of photography you like. I mainly use digital cameras, but when I started shooting black and white film a year ago, I had to learn quite a few things which have certainly helped me going forward in photography generally. Thanks for your videos Matt.
hi i am desperately trying to view your video about "scanning" negatives with your fuji xt3 from a while back but it's gone to private it says, is there a reason or somewhere else I can watch? No other info on the internet about it really :(
Used the darkroom recently for black and white film prints and was really disappointed. The images were shot on an M10-P and Summicron, were tack sharp, and somehow they softened the images markedly. Any idea how this happens in the printing process?
I don’t see a problem with people getting excited about a hobby and buying stuff for it. Experimenting with cameras, formats, film stocks, developers, etc are part of the joy of film photography. Why do we have to feel bad about it?
You get better by experimenting. The cost of film--over a buck a shot for purchase, developing, and scanning--inhibits that. (I still shoot film, just not very often. Has to be a reason.)
@@hellatightdude I'm adding up the cost of the film, the developing, and large scans at a local lab here in Los Angeles. That's for 36-exposures of 35 mm Portra 400. I figure $40 a roll .all together.
@@hellatightdude Probably. These lab scans are the best available. Anyway, I don't find shooting film, in general, to be a viable way to go, and that's just my personal view. If I thought film offered superior artistic results, it wouldn't matter, but I just think it is different, not better.
@@RonScibilia no problem with that. I shoot film for a lot of reasons but a big one is I’m too lazy to edit. My workflow sucks and I end up spending hours editing photos on capture one which drives me insane. I like the feeling of going out shooting photos developing and waiting to see what I get as well as making the decisions on the look before hand and knowing all it will need afterwards is slight tweaks. Different strokes
So true, best to invest in one camera first and eventually can have a few across systems, but more than investing in cameras, I think it’s best to use money to buy film and do developing.
@@CalumetVideo An adequate camera and cheap film go a long way toward learning the fundamentals. The exposure Triangle, along with the Sunny 16 rule, learning how to see light (sun, shadow, open shade, diffuse light, directional light) and learning how to meter for your subject/shadows/highlights can all be learned and enjoyed with a good basic SLR, so long as it has a simple meter built in. Everything else is just gravy on those meat and potatoes!
@@RonScibilia you download it on your phone do a quick edit and then the app on the phone for instax printer gives me a few options and I print it. Usually it’s someone I have talked with for a while.
I got a friend of mine who want to sale his LEICA M6 NONE TTL Model Black Body to me for £500.00 and he has the camera for 20, years and he has not used it
Great points, I saw a group of younger guys doing photography with the Nikon F5 and Hasselblad telling another couple of guys that they were shooting digital that they were not cool and stuff. It’s sad that people have to be so condescending, basically it comes down to the camera being a tool, it’s the photographer and subject matter.
To put it in simple words, you can't just go and buy a Ferrari if you don't know how to drive!! You need to learn with the simple and cheap stuff and then move it up a notch! Or not!!
@@andrewkerns6777 yeah I’m sure I can find them online, I’ve heard some photographers do that. But I’ll need space and what not. However it’s not on high demand here. That’s why most studios stopped developing film. Sadly People are more into the latest tech regardless of quality.
@@mattdayphoto I don’t know, you seemed really peeved about something, like in response to something we as the viewers aren’t aware of. I also don’t remember you swearing in any other videos I’ve seen. Sorry if I misread it. I know how hard it is to make content and stick your neck out for criticism from anyone and everyone. I hope you know that me challenging you in response to something said in a video isn’t challenging *you* the person at all. Peace, and be well.✌🏻
I am approaching 60 years and have developed film for 40 of those years. It is gratifying to see so many people enjoying film again. It took me a long time to become hip and trendy ! Great work Matt. Keep it up and long may it continue.
I am 68 John and returning to my roots after recently purchased a Nikon F3. When everyone with mobile phones began to think they are photographers I knew then the tide was turning. Keep advancing that roll John.
The film photography father everyone needs. Thank you Matt ❤️
Daddy Day
Love the mean girls analogy and transparency when talking about the community. Being part of the film community is something I love, but the toxicity needs to be replaced with support and perspective. Because your so right, we're literally taking photos
Some "RULES" of Composition
===========================
Adapted from "Photocommunication" by David Curl
1. Have a single, DOMINANT center of interest.
2. Place the center of interest away from the center of the picture. Follow the "rule of thirds" - but NOT for portraits!
3. Keep the horizon level, placing it according to the rule of thirds. Don't cut a picture into two equal parts either horizontally or vertically.
4. Don't allow important tones and textures in your main subject to merge with the background.
5. Fill the frame! Do most of your cropping in the camera viewfinder instead of in the darkroom/post processing.
6. Keep extraneous details out of the picture.
7. Don't amputate parts of your main subject at awkward places.
8. Avoid distracting shapes at the very edges of the photograph.
9. Have the main subject facing or moving INTO the frame, rather than out of it.
10. Frame the principal subject with a complimentary foreground object.
11. Concentrate attention with leading lines, such as convergence and S curves.
12. Employ strong DIAGONAL lines to imply action or conflict.
13. Compose VERTICALLY to emphasize height or dignity.
14. Compose HORIZONTALLY to suggest peace and rest.
These rules can of course be broken (depending on the actual scene) - but not in ignorance.
Advice from a few great photographers:
---------------------------------------------------------------
"If your photographs aren't good enough, you're not close enough" - Robert Capa
"The camera is an instrument that teaches people to see without a camera" - Dorothea Lange
"It is better to have a fuzzy picture of a clear idea than a clear picture of a fuzzy idea" - Henri Cartier-Bresson
However ... "Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk." - Edward Weston
And here is a Quick Tip (from a fellow Flickr user) : “Once you've identified what you want to shoot, zoom in slowly till you feel something is "missing"; once that happens, zoom out till you feel the image is again complete” - works like a charm
"SUNNY SIXTEEN" RULE
---------------------------------------
Here is a rough and ready rule for setting exposures (when your camera battery dies) - also sometimes called the "sunny sixteen" rule. First let the film speed ASA index be the (nearest reciprocal) shutter speed. For example, for ASA 100 or ASA 125 film set the shutter speed to 1/125 second, for ASA 400 film set shutter speed at 1/500 s etc. Then for outdoor bright sun set aperture to f/16 (for direct or side lighting). For hazy sun, open up to f/11. For light overcast, open up to f/8. If the sky is heavily overcast, or if your subject is in open shade on a sunny day open up to f/5.6. This will work 80 - 90 % of the time. This assumes the entire scene has EVEN brightness throughout. But then you will need to make an adjustment (even when using an exposure meter). If the scene has more dark than bright areas then you UNDEREXPOSE (increase f-stop setting) by 1/2 stop, if dark areas predominate UNDEREXPOSE by 1 stop. This is counterintuitive - films and exposure meters are calibrated for 18% reflected light (the average). NEVER UNDEREXPOSE by more than 1 stop. Similarly, if the scene contains more bright then OVEREXPOSE by 1/2 or 1 stop. If bright areas are very dominant (e.g. sand, snow) then OVEREXPOSE by 1.5 or 2 stops. Again counterintuitive. Backlighting is very difficult. Usually OVEREXPOSE by 1 stop - but then the highlights will be very bright. The only way to fix this is while printing - by burning in the darkroom or in Photoshop (there is no other way.) Hope this helps.
Thanks for the infodump of easy to follow tips!
Bless your heart. This down-to-earth talk is so refreshing. Its all about the person and his/her camera and film. Thank you for being you - sensitive, genuine and caring.
This is why I stay at this channel. I just started shooting digital and film and i am almost 50 years old and there are many many photographers that talk so much negative and you don’t. Thank you!!!
Love you my dude. You're a more positive influence on all of us than you realize.
Love you, brother. I appreciate you. ❤️🙏🏻
For the first time, I'm heading to the film store to pick up some rolls tomorrow, was feeling pretty overwhelmed by the myriad of opinions and information available online for sure. Thanks for the valuable advice! appreciate it man
Growing up, film is all there was. I didn’t get serious about photography until well after digital became the overwhelmingly accepted standard, so that’s what I’ve been shooting. Now, I’m trying to go back and actually learn how to shoot film. It’s been a huge struggle, but these simple tips are EXACTLY what I needed to hear. Thank you🙏🏻
Thank You for the morning coffee advice talk, So far since the shelter in place as I did get my shots that I have been scanning film, and with both flat bed, and film scanner that seeing the images just brought me joy to see the images once again... Thank You, Hang in There...
Me, not a beginner in film: *watches this*
Me, shooting film since 1992 - liking this comment while also watching this video
I needed this, thank you!❤️ I was feeling discouraged and this helped me take a step back and not worry about what anyone says or thinks
Great video Matt! Now is such a good time to get into film photography because like you said, there are tons of resources and people online that are willing to help. That's the main reason I love film photography. Its such a great community to be a part of.
father Matt spittin facts as usual, I love this community
Sound advice Matt, especially " enjoy yourself and do your own thing" I am pushing 60 and have gone back to what I started a "few" years back, shooting film with a monster RB67 (Sherpa not included) and developing my own work. Look forward to viewing more of your channel... Cheers...
Great video Mat, G'day from Downunder.. as an old girl who is on the wrong side of 55 now, and only got into photography in 2009 after my divorce, I started off in digital with a cheap Canon P&S ( I'd never owned a camera in my life before that ). after using that for a few years and getting advice from a friend I learned more. then in 2010 I met my partner who just happened to be into photography as well and with their help and encouragement I bought my first DSLR in 2012. fast forward a couple of years and I picked up a 1930's vintage Zeiss folding camera for a few dollars at a camera market we went to. after discovering while researching it that you could still get 120 film I bought a couple rolls of B&W for fun to shoot and I was hooked. have now built up a good collection on medium format and 35mm cameras and love using them all. after a while I started developing my own film, making a few mistakes along the way but enjoying the learning curve. have yet to do my own prints, but in the meantime have changed from shooting digital to shooting film almost exclusively. I love its feel and look, and enjoy the whole process, from buying the film, to choosing which one I'll shoot with and what camera I'll use as well, then developing it and seeing those images as I take the film from the tank. to anyone out there thinking of shooting film but your'e unsure, I say go for it. you'll love it.
Matt this is such an incredible message. As a new(er) Leica shooter I feel the judgement
UMASS had great photography program while I was there, from B&W to color printing.
I went to UMass Dartmouth as a graphic design major but their photography program and learning from the film lab are the the reason why I still shoot film to this day 🥺✨
A friend gifted me a camera years ago & it’s been in a box, I wasn’t really into film when I got it. I recently found out film was experiencing a comeback so I got it out. It’s an M3 in amazing shape with the Summicron-M f/2 collapsible & a mint in box Summicron f/2 near focus model with the close focus attachment. There are a ton of accessories & all the manuals too. I am blown away that it’s been sitting in a box this whole time. I’m not familiar with the M3 other than knowing its pedigree, I’d love to trade it in for an M6 & keep the near focus Summicron.
That's like the scene in the Sandlot where the kid never heard of The Babe.
Great advice for beginners Matt .... I started out in 1977 when all we had was film, and it was certainly a lot cheaper.
I started with a basic kit consisting of a Zenit E and the now much loved by hipsters Helios 58mm 44-2 standard lens, and I just used that combo and 3 film stocks for a year. I then added only 2 other lenses. I basically stuck to those 3 lenses (58mm, 28mm and 135mm) and 4 film stocks (Kodachrome 25, 64, 200 .. Ilford HP5 and Kodak Tri X) until I was happy with my skill level.
Geting a job in a large commercial photography studio complex then opened up a whole new world with Hasselblad 6x6 and Sinar 5x4 and 10x8.
The advice I always give is to start with the basics, and learn from the many mistakes that you'll no doubt make, be that with analogue or digital.
"Don't pay attention to all the 🐂 💩💩💩 out there".... Probably the most valuable advice brother, seriously. Along with shooting whatever inspires, no matter how many times it's been done before, IMHO. Great tips Dad!! ❤❤❤
On my 3rd ever roll of film now. Practical, yet invaluable, as well as inspiring information. Thank you, Matt.
Not even gonna lie, I’ve been wanting a video like this from you for awhile! Been wanting to get into the photography world for awhile now. Thanks! :)
Matt Day is an absolute legend! Thank you for all the knowledge brotha!
I work at a college with a thriving darkroom and film component to classes and we even have super 8 and 16mm. We have Pentax k1000s that all the students use and one film stock and it makes teaching so easy.
It's been 3 years since I started and I'm still running my Olympus XA
I tried several old lenses on digital, before I jumped into film. I prefer pictures with a certain character over image-quality. Learning everything on iso/exposure, aperture and shutterspeeds on digital is a lot more friendly. You can easily learn how good compositions work, because you can snap away hundreds of pictures. At least for me it was a lot less daunting that way. Now a year later I started shooting film for my more personal pictures, just because I like the way you can focus on certain moments only.
I have tried some different gear, but funnily enough I've settled on the stuff that was already around the house before I started shooting; my dads Canon A1 and my granddads Helios 44 lens are a great combo. Just shooting drugstore filmstocks/developing for now, keeping cost low.
Thanks for every thing Papa Day. The goat fr.
not anything real technical about this video, just a good mental. Thanks guy, shot my first roll last week and there's still plenty of things I have to experiment on.
Excellent thoughts! It's great to see lots of young folks using film and exploring the creative potential. Stay safe and good shooting.
I just happened to come across this video and I’m so glad I did. So many good pointers for a beginner or even a more experienced film photographer. Thanks for these words. I’m even more excited to start my film photography journey now 😊😊
My biggest advice to those coming into the craft is to do what excites YOU! When I started, I started with medium format and people told me I was crazy for doing so, but it's what excited me. I lugged my Pentax67 all over the place even though it was crazy heavy, and terrible for my back. I loved every moment of it and captured some amazing photos. Then my excitement lead me to large format photography, where I took photo trips to places like Death Valley and really honed my craft even more.
Now I'm getting into 35mm, mostly out of convenience because holy cow is the Pentax67 heavy, and now that the honeymoon phase has worn off, that's more obvious to me now. But if I had started with 35mm I guarantee you I wouldn't have taken the amazing photos I had, because when I entered film photography 35mm wasn't a format that EXCITED me.
Follow whatever makes you stoked to get out and take pictures, no matter how inconvenient that setup might seem.
Just started my film journey this year along with my UA-cam channel. Thanks for all the helpful stuff thus far!
6:30 that is so right, this (and many other hobbies) are so full of snobbery...
I really dont expect this video, but i also really thankfull to this
Great timing. Just ordered my first film camera today. Thanks!
Nice video. Many, Many years ago I worked at the Kodak Information Center supporting Kodak professional and consumer products. I really enjoy the rebirth of film.
Really agree with your sentiments , having g grown up with nothing but film i don't understand the hype , I shoot with it occasionally for purely nostalgic purposes. It's crazy that people are caring more about the medium than the actual photos , just go out and take great photos.
This was super helpful thank you Matt. Going to dive into this whole world in a couple of months so this was well timed for me
Matt I think you nailed it because you are old and wise. I get the impression it takes time for a lot of people to get to the stage where they are happy doing things for themselves rather than for likes or recognition from others. But the sooner you can get there in life, the better for everyone.
Old?
I used the same Olympus OM1 from the late 70s until the mid90s before I went wild and got all kinds of cameras and formats!!!
Some good advice. I wish these kind of resources were around when I started in the pre-social media age, but I had fun while I slowly learned.
If I may offer one piece of advice. Anytime you do wind up with a new piece of gear like a body or lens, use it at every aperture/shutter speed to make sure everything works. Ive been burned on a body or two
For anyone wanting to start developing their own black and white film:
I’ve started with CineStill DF96 monobath and it’s easy enough and the results are also really not bad. The one thing you really give up is control. You’ll get good negs but if you want to control contrast or grain you should start looking into other developers. The film developer can have a huge impact to the look of a film.
Thank you Matt for some great tips. Love your channel, keep up the good work.
Great video. 👍 people are obsessed with gear and what gear is cool. Just get out there and shoot. It's just so fun.
Oh! Hitting them with the Mean Girls comment. Love it, man.
After shooting digital for 20 years, including digital Leicas for ten, I just bought an M3. Looking forward to shooting it tho a bit wary of needing to rely on the sunny 16 rule and guess-work in lieu of a built in meter. Living on the edge, I guess.
I'm upgrading you to "Prophet Day" 😁
I was learning by my own mistakes. So doing some research for film that you want to buy or simple load/unload of the film in a camera , how to clean it - can save you a lot of money or nerves. And also for a first camera it can be pretty much anything , my advice- it should be something that will work without breaks. Because you can replace your camera with a new one, but you cannot do anything with a film that was developed blank because your camera is broken .
Hey Matt! Really enjoy your videos. I've recently picked up a Leica MP to shoot along with my M3. This is great advice for people new to film and even for folks that have been shooting for a while!
Just got a M7. Would love to eventually get a black paint MP
@@hellatightdude exactly the one I have! It’s such a beautiful camera, especially in black paint. I’ll be taking it with me to the Kentucky Derby this weekend. Should get some pretty sweet photos with it!
Good tips!! Toxicity is just everywhere.. not just photo or film communities.. whenever you go, people tend to form their own groups and gang up on others like pack of wolves.. it’s ugly and super childish.. amazing how many never grow up at all!! 😀 engineers who built the damn thing they’re shooting with should be a thousand times more cocky if they must get into who’s better than who game..
I bought a lot of old vintage Pentax equipment a 35mm3.5, 50mm1.4, 135mm3.5 as well as a Spotmatic SP 11 . I have not photographed with film since 2005 when I bought a Pentax *istDL 6 megapixel DSLR . A friend gave me a roll of film the other day. I can't get the light meter to work so I'll have to use my Minolta light meter to get proper espourse
Thank you for being you brother
This is great advice! Cheers Matt!
Very inspirational message and advice. Thank you!
I did my photography course in London at a College few years ago in 1990s and that time I was using black and white and colour and Slide Films also I had Medium Format camera as well and I still take photos with a FILM and I can develop Black and White films and i also got Developing Tanks for Black and white Films
Well said Matt. Here’s my tip. There’s a sheet load of info out there. Make sure you search out the RIGHT information.
5:58 there’s a huge amount of this going on but the discussion of the difference between content and an actual body of work is not discussed. meanwhile people complain their content isn’t bringing them engagement when it’s more of the same.
Well said, man.
Thanks for your very encouraging words
At age 68 I began my photography journey with a Canon AE-1 with a 50mm lens and read books (yes, books back in the day). Changed to Nikon Digital in 2002, but just recently bought a mint Nikon F3 and got a nice couple of lens, 28 and 50 and some Ilford HP5. Returning to my youth. Great video Matt.
Great advice, Matt. Thank you!
The first minute of this video reminded me that I am getting up there in age...damn
Very well said. Why we all have to turn everything into a competition is beyond me. We've got film and digital. Why on earth does it have to be film vs digital in some people's mind. Seriously I just don't get it
Words of Wisdom.
Hi Matt! Do you still using the Summarit?
The is such solid advice. Thank you M@
wow, really appreciate this
A great perspective!
Very good points here. Too many brainfarts in the photography community who haven't got a clue about how people perceive and enjoy images. Labeling film images as lesser quality and digital being far superior. Oh... and hipsters are really evil too - gotta remember that. Who gives a ... about these know-it-alls. Just do whatever kind of photography you like. I mainly use digital cameras, but when I started shooting black and white film a year ago, I had to learn quite a few things which have certainly helped me going forward in photography generally. Thanks for your videos Matt.
Briefly, a video, or segment, on using partial 35mm rolls for testing.
Great vid. Helpful for those who are new to film.
One tip: Undo the top button on the shirt, Matt. :)
I don't really worry about what other people wear or what they want me to wear. 👍🏻
@@mattdayphoto Ha! Do your own thing Matt (but you would look more handsome.... :)
Thanks dad
keep it simple... three words but a lot of meaning
hi i am desperately trying to view your video about "scanning" negatives with your fuji xt3 from a while back but it's gone to private it says, is there a reason or somewhere else I can watch? No other info on the internet about it really :(
thank you matt I need it to heard this.
Used the darkroom recently for black and white film prints and was really disappointed. The images were shot on an M10-P and Summicron, were tack sharp, and somehow they softened the images markedly. Any idea how this happens in the printing process?
when I press the shutter button I hear the dropping coin sound everytime I took a shot
I don’t see a problem with people getting excited about a hobby and buying stuff for it. Experimenting with cameras, formats, film stocks, developers, etc are part of the joy of film photography.
Why do we have to feel bad about it?
I never said you had to feel bad about it. I’m saying if you’re literally just starting out, you might get overwhelmed with too many options.
Best wishes!
Hmm, I guess there's a severe word limit. I had a suggestion of offer for future video, but it won't fit.
The first film camera i bought was at the begining of the year, i now have 15+ film cameras 😂
any suggestions for a "cheap" film rangefinder with leica M mount? (1000$)
tyyy :P
I swear by that "one camera, one lens, one stock" advice for beginners! it's so valuable.
Yeah I always tell people who want to start out in painting to just stick with one color and one brush for years.🎨👨🏻🎨
You get better by experimenting. The cost of film--over a buck a shot for purchase, developing, and scanning--inhibits that. (I still shoot film, just not very often. Has to be a reason.)
Damn son over a buck? Costs me .77 cents to shoot, develop and scan Portra 400 at my local lab
@@hellatightdude I'm adding up the cost of the film, the developing, and large scans at a local lab here in Los Angeles. That's for 36-exposures of 35 mm Portra 400. I figure $40 a roll .all together.
@@RonScibilia damn man might as well invest in your own scanner at that price
@@hellatightdude Probably. These lab scans are the best available. Anyway, I don't find shooting film, in general, to be a viable way to go, and that's just my personal view. If I thought film offered superior artistic results, it wouldn't matter, but I just think it is different, not better.
@@RonScibilia no problem with that. I shoot film for a lot of reasons but a big one is I’m too lazy to edit. My workflow sucks and I end up spending hours editing photos on capture one which drives me insane. I like the feeling of going out shooting photos developing and waiting to see what I get as well as making the decisions on the look before hand and knowing all it will need afterwards is slight tweaks. Different strokes
Can I shoot iso 200 in all weather situation as long i use a light meter?
I feel like these are the cardinal rules with any hobby;
Don't blow all your money right off the bat, don't be a dick, enjoy yourself.
So true, best to invest in one camera first and eventually can have a few across systems, but more than investing in cameras, I think it’s best to use money to buy film and do developing.
@@CalumetVideo An adequate camera and cheap film go a long way toward learning the fundamentals. The exposure Triangle, along with the Sunny 16 rule, learning how to see light (sun, shadow, open shade, diffuse light, directional light) and learning how to meter for your subject/shadows/highlights can all be learned and enjoyed with a good basic SLR, so long as it has a simple meter built in. Everything else is just gravy on those meat and potatoes!
I’ve gotten 3 of my friends into film photography, trying my best at expanding the teen film community
Real talk 👌
Hmmm don’t buy every camera. Did my wife ask you to say that? 🤔
I did film in the 90s I’ll never go back, but I do love carrying a instant compact instax printer for giving to people while doing street photography
How does that work out? How often do you give people on the street a photo?
@@RonScibilia you download it on your phone do a quick edit and then the app on the phone for instax printer gives me a few options and I print it. Usually it’s someone I have talked with for a while.
@@RonScibilia in case you’re curious which one I use?
instagram.com/p/COJTfl0Bdpb/?igshid=1d7qnsx109g51
@@WhoIsSerafin thanks
I got a friend of mine who want to sale his LEICA M6 NONE TTL Model Black Body to me for £500.00 and he has the camera for 20, years and he has not used it
Great points, I saw a group of younger guys doing photography with the Nikon F5 and Hasselblad telling another couple of guys that they were shooting digital that they were not cool and stuff. It’s sad that people have to be so condescending, basically it comes down to the camera being a tool, it’s the photographer and subject matter.
Did I say something wrong? My comment from a few hours ago has vanished.
Definitely not? I haven't seen any other comment from you?
Well said … Period
To put it in simple words, you can't just go and buy a Ferrari if you don't know how to drive!! You need to learn with the simple and cheap stuff and then move it up a notch! Or not!!
I wish they still develop film here in Saudi Arabia, over 100 film cameras in my studio, sadly can't use any of them.
That's terrible! Is there a way for you to buy the developing chemicals and do it yourself?
@@andrewkerns6777 yeah I’m sure I can find them online, I’ve heard some photographers do that. But I’ll need space and what not. However it’s not on high demand here. That’s why most studios stopped developing film. Sadly People are more into the latest tech regardless of quality.
Well Matt just exposed the boys over at r/analogcirclejerk that like to troll about tones, basketball hops and naked women photography
Call me old fashioned or even a prude but I think you can make your point without the four letter words. I find them rude and crude.
This was an odd video, and somewhat out of character for him.
@@joeltunnah This was probably the most "me" I've been in front of the camera in a long time.. curious what seems out of character?
@@mattdayphoto I don’t know, you seemed really peeved about something, like in response to something we as the viewers aren’t aware of. I also don’t remember you swearing in any other videos I’ve seen.
Sorry if I misread it. I know how hard it is to make content and stick your neck out for criticism from anyone and everyone.
I hope you know that me challenging you in response to something said in a video isn’t challenging *you* the person at all.
Peace, and be well.✌🏻
young'uns--ha ha! Good video.