Well, for starters, it just looks SO MUCH BETTER!
Dreaminess, soft halation, ethereal colors, aesthetic textures of grain — it all suddenly makes a photo have soul, nostalgia, authenticity & history. The very light that was present as you took that photograph, stamping the film negative forever, leaving a piece of that moment with you for life; isn’t that beautiful?I’ve been shooting film since 2019 and I have been completely captivated since receiving my first film scans, unable to see digital photography the same way. It has never, not once, failed me or dissatisfied me as an artist. I could even say I believe film brings out a deeper and more intentional version of my artistry. Film photography is a genuine love and passion of mine, and introducing it to others brings me unspeakable joy. As the world slowly shifts back to keeping film alive and reintroducing it to the world — I must say it moves me a little.
Let’s talk hesitations though, as I’m sure you have some while reading this page. Most of the world now uses digital photography so why would you go with film? Well, be special! It’s not nearly as scary as you think, so let’s talk film.
Beijing | October ‘20
Pentax K1000 | Kodak Portra 400
#1 What does film photography mean to you?
Film photography is a tangible connection to time and light. It's a deliberate and intentional process that forces you to slow down and appreciate the moment. Every frame is precious, and the anticipation of seeing the developed images is a thrill. It's an art form that values imperfection, and the results are often imbued with a unique, nostalgic quality. Ultimately, film photography is a passion that allows me to express my creativity in a truly authentic way.The unknown is always scary, I’m sure — but isn’t it exciting? Digital photography offers instant gratification, but it can also lead to a relentless pursuit of perfection — the picture slowly loses meaning. Then you sit for hours and hours at a time editing it, changing the colors, the scene, and the essence — the authenticity of the image until you create a product you’re “satisfied enough” with. Truthfully, a lot of digital photographers will try to achieve the “film look” through editing anyway, so why not just go for the real thing at this point?
With film, mindful capturing becomes an essential part of your craft. You wouldn’t take pictures you would never look at again, you wouldn’t waste your precious film on that. Film has forced me to hone my photography skills truthfully and without any shortcuts. Doing that has made me a more creative and intentional photographer, even in the cases of using a digital camera. It has made me accepting and patient. For me, photography is now less of a “perfectionist stressful race” and more of a meditative and artistic expression. It’s just so beautiful — not just the results, but the process of photographing itself.
On my Beijing trip, there’s one specific picture that made me fall hard for film photography. I was visiting a temple and I saw this kid dancing while giving me his back. The documentary photojournalist in me had to take that shot. However, as I pressed on the shutter, he turned around. My curiosity spiked every day thinking about that picture. Was his back still given? Was he turning around? Guessing how it would end up looking made the reveal ten times more exciting and the moment itself ten times more precious. It took me almost 2 months to find a film lab and develop the films, the picture — it made me happy. I cannot put it any other way.
Beijing | October ‘20
Pentax K1000 | Kodak Portra 400
#2 How did you get into film photography?
Well, as some of you already know, I graduated from a film school in Los Angeles, and being there for four years has introduced me to many artists of different mediums, including film. It felt like the universe kept sending signs my way to pick that whole thing up. From having a classmate photographing on film, shooting scenes on cinema film in one of my classes, to random Instagram finds — I was always mesmerized by the results.
I bought my first 35mm film camera, the Pentax K1000, and a bunch of films in 2019. I wandered through Los Angeles, Alexandria, Sohag & Cairo with this camera without developing any film for a while. In October of that year, I impulsively decided to skip a few days of college to go celebrate my 21st birthday on my own in Beijing, China. With this adventure came the decision and commitment to shoot only film. In the span of four days, I shot around nine 36-exposure films! The scans blew me away and I fell in love with this craft immediately. From this point on, film photography has been my world and my main artistic expression.
Beijing | October ‘20
Pentax K1000 | Kodak 400TX
#3 Can’t things go wrong with film?
Contrary to popular belief, digital photography isn't always the more safe and reliable option. I've experienced countless technical issues with digital cameras, from overheating to memory card failures. In my experience, film cameras have proven to be more robust. To mitigate risks, I meticulously test all my film cameras before professional use.
When it comes to development, I exclusively partner with top-tier labs, ensuring the highest quality and minimal chance of errors. I will always try, test, and investigate the services of film labs (multiple times) before using them for work (or even artistic use). From the developing chemicals and methods to the scanners used. As a person with experience working in a film lab, I know what kind of lab is best for my films.
Beijing | October ‘20
Pentax K1000 | Kodak Portra 400
Beijing | October ‘20
Pentax K1000 | Kodak Portra 400
#4 Don’t you feel limited by the number of photos in a film roll ?
Would I be taking fewer photos than your average digital photographer? Yes, but if you think about it — that’s better. Unlike in digital photography, no film photographer would mindlessly be pressing down the shutter button hoping to capture the perfect pictures that way. Film makes you more deliberate about your shots, leaving less room for “filler” pictures you won’t like or choose and leaving more room for keepers. This makes us more present and mindful of each shot taken. And even though some (no, not all) digital photographers will filter their pictures, most of the time you will need to filter out the ones you don’t like either. So to this, I say — quality > quantity!
Beijing | October ‘20
Pentax K1000 | Kodak Portra 400
#5 Won’t it take longer to receive our pictures with film?
Actually nope! Most people will assume that since film needs to go through a developing and scanning process that would mean taking longer, but that’s not the case. I always arrange for fast service delivery with the film labs I work with and since these are nothing like RAW images from a digital camera, no editing needs to happen, and if I intend to edit anything — it’s usually very gentle and not at all time-consuming. I usually deliver all of my work in up to two weeks and often times I can deliver a lot faster too!
Beijing | October ‘20
Pentax K1000 | Kodak Portra 400
Beijing | October ‘20
Pentax K1000 | Kodak 400TX
Beijing | October ‘20
Pentax K1000 | Kodak Portra 400
Remember, the photographer job has existed since mid 1800s and digital photography wasn’t introduced till 1975, and it wasn’t used professionally till the early 2000s. This means that until the early 2000s, film was the only option for professional photography. It was trusted and loved by all. Just like it amazed people back then, I’m sure it still can impress you now too.
well now, ready to do this the analog way?
Here I'd just like to add a small, but very heartfelt thank you to the film labs that supported my film photography journey the most.
Thank you to Dexter's Camera for being the best lab I started with, and for developing my first 2 years worth of films which you see a lot across this website and this page.
And a special thank you for Cairo Analog Society (CAS Film Lab) who supported my film photography passion, art & livelihood like no other. Thank you for allowing me and helping me keep film alive ever since my moving back to Cairo. They've been my back bone through all this and I couldn't be more grateful. 4 running years of their emmense supprt. This website & my photography account is of big thanks to them. My go-to film buddies and the lab I've worked with the most over the years. Their developing & scanning is what you get to see most across the website; they're simply amazing.