Articles

The Story Behind the Photograph

Witness to War (On Film)

The story behind the famous photograph of a Japanese "Zeke" striking the USS Missouri on April 11, 1945, during the Battle of Okinawa.

From Gargoyles to Galvanized Steel: How Our Streets Lost Their Art

Ornate lamp posts, carved gargoyles, and sculpted fountains once gave every city its own character. Today they're being replaced by catalog-bought steel and LED. Here's why cities stopped making public art, and why film photographers should record what's left before it's gone.

Film Development Times: A Starting-Point Chart

Get all three right and you get a negative that scans and prints easily.

Why Film Photography?

There is a reason I keep coming back to film. A negative is a physical object. When light entered my camera — the light reflected from my subject’s face, from the weather that morning, from whatever was actually there — it passed through the lens and struck silver halide crystals suspended..

Film Photography on a Budget

There's a version of film photography that costs a dollar a frame. Buy a roll of Portra 400, send it to a lab for develop-and-scan, get your files back a week later, repeat. Do that seriously — a couple rolls a week — and you're spending more on photography than on your phone bill.

Beginners Guide to Film Photography

A complete beginner's guide to film photography: how to choose your first camera, pick film, nail exposure, and shoot your first roll with confidence.

Why a Film Community Matters When You're Learning Film Photography

A film community is the fastest way to learn film photography. Here's why connection, mentorship, and shared gear matter — and how to join one.

Film Photography in the Age of Digital

Film photography didn't just survive the digital era — it came roaring back, driven by a new generation chasing something screens can't give them.