Analogue Street Photography - shoot film for street photography 

I spent many years shooting film and I've just recently began working with a digital camera. Crazy as it sounds, I still count shots and never blast away and hope for the best. I believe this old habit makes me plan more as well.

I started shooting with film decades ago, I only switched to digital about 9 years ago. Working hard on my digital work helped me when I picked up my old film cameras again about 4 years ago, the first roll I shot again after so long, I was literally shaking with excitement. Been shooting film nearly 100% since for personal and I feel I'm overall a better photographer for it. I just love old film cameras, handling film and the whole process. Film means so much more to me than digital however there's nothing wrong with digital it's a personal preference, to each their own. I just love it!

When I was living with my parents I was developing my stuff in the bathroom. We had only 1 bathroom. My parents had to hang on or go next door for a pee heh heh.

Couldn't agree more about the anticipation factor getting film back. Would process my color at a local store that actually sent the Kodachrome away to a Kodak lab. After one trip, the guy came out with my yellow boxes and said "My boy you have some special stuff here." Little did I know, that some of those images helped land my first international assignment as launch me into a practice that has taken me around the world. Still shoot as if there are 36 exposures in the camera; discerning about what I take with composition being the most important factor, regardless of genre. A lesson, a la Cartier-Bresson, I have taught and mentored to students and others innumerable times.

Beautifully said….

Finally! The film episode we've been waiting for. 👍

I’m a huge film of fan, and your channel. Finally a collab! Yes!

I am shooting a film on the street, it is the best, I am definitely paying more attention. The film is the best often I am in fully manual mode which can be sometimes a disadvantage, especially when the best street photography moment will disappear.

Started from a kodak single use camera from the convenience store and then to a Nikon FM2. The journey of film photography can be pricey (especially with film prices constantly on the rise) but it is very charming.

The Yashica Mat 124 G is great, I feel like using it on the street people don't take awareness of you that much and if they do, they have no idea where you are shooting so it just looks cool. Would love to get into my own developing soon!

Thanks, Brian. I started with film when I was 6 years old and never gave it up. I did eventually get a digital camera, but I use it only for snapshots, nothing serious. My current favorite camera is the Pentax 6x7, which I use for street portraits. I've also always had my own home darkroom. I can't begin to describe all the hours of enjoyment film and darkroom have given to me. But what you describe in your video is all true. Thanks again.

I'm a born-again film shooter, darkroom and all. This video is excellent, and motivating. Thank you.

Just discovered your channel and subscribed Film photography has completely transformed me as a photographer. If there was one word that describes the experience I think it might be Anticipation

Polaroid as a medium: intimate, raw, unguarded, it allows a perspective of the classical, correlated to the digital mindset.

I love shooting film for me is aesthetically pleasing I now have more analogue cameras than digital mostly Nikon’s FM2n and F3 and one of my favourite F100 but I just bought a Olympus OM2n and OM 10!

Well presented....the reasoning behind analog and film makes sense to anyone who has shot film. I know I am in constant battle with myself of 'film or digital' today as I go out. Many times it comes down to how many images I have on my plate to look at and view, work on etc. If given a chance and the weather isn't overly humid etc, I will choose film over my Ricoh. I have tried to slow down with my digital and take as many shots as I might with a day of film. That helps, but still not the same thing. I do my own developing and then scan, so feel for many, that is the best of both worlds. I haven't done the rest of the dark room in 'ages', and have forgotten how I suppose. Perhaps someone needs to have workshops on 'after developing, then what?"... I would be in! But shooting film on the streets is by far the best way to shoot the streets. Thanks for the video

Great advice Brian, but some of the prices you state are a bit optimistic - at least if you want something usable without light-leaks and other problems. I do agree that there is nothing quite like the ‘hands-on’ experience of starting from loading a film into your camera through to developing and scanning - even better if you have space for a darkroom.

Glad you covered this, Brian. I shoot both digital and film, using digital to try to improve my street work and every now and then introducing the film into the mix. I shoot 35mm on a Yashica Minister 700 and a Pentax ME Super and medium format on an Agfa Isolette II. I try to apply a film approach to my digital work, thinking about each image and taking my time. It doesn't always work of course. As I improve my street work I will introduce the film cameras more and more. I'm using the digital to train my eye and my mind but I so love capturing images on film.

Pre-order placed, can`t wait to get stuck in! Thank you :)

Great video. Thanks.

You're adorable Sir. Thank you for your videos. I so enjoy your genuineness. Mistakes and all. You makes me smile. Yes! Film photography has had me for 40 some years now. It's all I shoot. I so enjoy the imperfections of expired film the best. Our lives are like a roll of old film, we are battered and used, old and worn down, we just need someone to love us and make something beautiful out of us. 🤍

I enjoyed this video, and it’s coincidental that I’ve just started using 35mm film too. And it’s true, it does make you stop and think about elements such as composition more. You become less ‘trigger happy’. I’ve recently been reunited with my original Praktica BC1. I enjoyed using this (SLR) camera when I was about 19, and I still enjoy taking pictures with it now 30 years later. A word of caution though, while SLR cameras don’t have those annoying audible peeps to contend with, they do, however, have a very solid “Cl-lunk” when you depress the shutter, and that’s more prominent the slower the shutter speed. It certainly punctuates that “Decisive Moment”.

Thank you for the video. And yes. The people want to be photographed with my Rolleicord V a bit more than with my digital equipment 😉👍🏻

Right now my new to me Canon FT is my goto Street film camera. FL 50mm 1.4 is a great lens. Going to tackle replacing the light seals very soon not that it has a problem but they are falling apart to the lightest touch. I also find the ability NOT to be able to chimp the pictures taken but having to wait until I develop them to see how I am doing. Wishing you well

I starting shooting film with my Yashica 635 and a Ricoh af5 I love the Yashica.

I recently returned 100% to film (Tri-X) with a "vintage" Yashica Electro35 GS fixed lens rangefinder due to health reasons. I did not want to leave a bunch of equipment behind for my wife to have to get rid of (none of my extended family (kids & grandkids) are into photography). I started out with an Olympus OM-10 and Zuiko 1,8/50mm in 1978. Eventually, I gathered gear progressing to digital in 2003 and spent 1998-2008 as a small town newspaper photographer. The Yashica can be a pain sometimes so I have taken to shooting it w/o batteries (default shutter speed is 1/500 second) and using the Sunny16 rule for exposure. Haven't developed the first rolls yet but I am hopeful. It has been a lot of years since I once shot using the Sunny16 but it will hopefully be a return to simpler times and the documentary/street shooting I did in my early learning days of photography. Wish me luck!Agree w/you on Tri-X! tri-X was the first b/w film that I fell in love with and have used for over 40 years!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on film photography, I really loved shooting film for years; before going to digital. For years I used Olympus OM1. I have to agree using Film will make plan your shots. Using film is fun and more people are going back to it.

Totally agree Brian,,, glad I kept all my film cameras,,, I just knew there would be a resurgent's some day,,,

This is a really interesting video. With the rising popularity of film photography, I got curious and wanted to try it myself. Unfortunately, film cameras are really expensive and I couldn't afford to buy one. So I bought a cheap plastic toy film camera which is the Kodak M35. It's a point and shoot film camera which is perfect for someone like me who never had any experience shooting with film before. I must say that the experience I got from shooting film is really different compared to shooting with my mobile phone which is digital. The feeling is really nostalgic like you mentioned on the video. And it's really fun to use. It also leveled up my confidence at some point because I'm no longer anxious about taking photos on the streets. And the best part is that people never cared about what I was doing 'cause who would really take someone with a toy film camera seriously? It also makes you excited to see your work because you can't really see them real time unlike with digital photography. I haven't received my scans and negatives from the lab yet, so I'm still wondering how my first roll of film is gonna turn out.

For those coming from digital cameras, the Nikon F3 with its aperture priority might be a good access point. With Italian design and styling and durability it’s certainly much more robust and also beautiful than a Xpro3. You’ve forgot to mention viewfinders of certain film cameras like a M3 or a Hasselblad 503 CM are fantastic. Bright, nearly full magnification. Film requires a great deal of investment in time, money and effort. It’s not for everyone. Though Brian, something which is left unsaid my many including you is that film B&W rendition far surpasses digital B&W. I suppose grain distribution and gradation of tones convey a tactile quality to the final image. Of course one needs to expose or creatively expose the negative.

Really enjoyed this Brian. I've just bought an Olympus Trip 35 , don't have it yet, and looking forward to shooting film for the first time in decades.

Well done.

have been shooting film as a detox or a break from digital for some time now !

I love my Nikon F80.

Kodak just killed this video with constant price rises. 😱

Hi, spoke to u at the photography show today, have subscribed to your channel, looking forward to watching, regards Graham.

Hi Brian. This is a bit off topic but, is there a chance that you will do a video on the collection of books that you have on the shelf behind you?

Thanks Brian great video and advice, I would like to pre order your 52 Black and white assignments book so please could you send me a link to do this.

Film Photography makes you photocentric while digital photography nowadays makes you gear centric in most majority people especially youtube and instagram thank you for this video, I hope you do some film photography at rain tips and tricks and night film photography 🤔😅📸🙏

I'm shooting film in the streets on a regular basis. I've been quite disappointed about lab and scan qualities lately. There a labs which complain if you don't use a film stock by a major company like Kodak oder Fujifilm. Or they use the wrong settings for scanning so the scans are absolutely useless. I think some labs need to go with the time and adjust to new film stocks and to the needs of modern film photographers.

I got a TLR on ebay for £10 last year, mainly for decoration at that cost but I did take it out and take some photos. The problem I've found is it's very hard to get B&W 120 film processed at a store - first place took 9 weeks to develop and the second have lost my film

I just took my "new" yashica A out to shoot outside for the first time. People do comment a lot (always positive) when they see you shooting a dinosaur like that. I believe that people don't feel threatened because they know you wouldn't use an old film camera if you had any nefarious intentions.

And what about maintenance of old film Cameras. I use film don't get me wrong mostly e6. The problem I have if finding someone to fix and or maintain old cameras.

Thanks for making me smile, bad photographers make bad photographs, no matter what they use... I understand that companies need to make money but this is not the way. Film nowadays is just to expensive so no way this will ever comeback. Except for some yuppies with loads of money to spend. This revival will soon pass as a gimmick and when another train passes by people will jump on it. Like your channel so don't be offended, just my humble opinion.

Already got a film camera and shooting. I hope I get a right picture 😅

So my first real camera was a Canon AE-1. Got it at a pawnshop near an Airforce. Some soldier had just came back from Japan where he got a bunch of them at the Tokyo PX dirt cheap and he sold them for twice the price. Still in the unopened box. I loved that camera. Yes got me into the bathroom darkroom. I loved it. So what would be a good film camera to keep an eye out for on the used market? Maybe make a show about that!!!!!! Thanks!!!! Especially maybe something made in Germany.

A roll of 36 costs about 19 quid now for 5x7. I use the Harman Lab. Maybe I need to shop around.

How to despose of the Chemicals, especially colour chemicals?

If you’re on a tight budget and don’t mind something more modern looking the Minolta Dynax 400 and 500 series are real ‘sleepers’ at the moment…I’ve just picked up a mint 404si for lest than a fiver delivered, complete with battery!..crazy money…😘🌈📸🇬🇧

Very nice, thanks for the topic covered. I do love shooting film, as well in the streets. Only caveat, the constantly rising prices for film stock. I would rather say sky-rocketing. Anyways, happy shooting…

Hello there, I have been following your content since the very beginning of this channel also I have been doing street, documentary and humanitarian photography for couple of years. As I have been doing this for a fair bit amount of time, I had to engage with multiple other photographers and photography circles also, I thrive to be able to capture more compelling photographs with each shot that I take. Recently, I have been stumbled upon a issue with my photography which is photo selections. As I have been told by other photographers that, I discard better photographs of mine and keep the less compelling photographs as my final products. Which in essence means, I do shoot good photographs but I fail to select them for my final product. I have looked for a solution to this which I have failed to find. With utmost sincerity, I would love if you could address this issue and make a video on this agenda as I believe there are plenty of other photographers who are also suffering from this problem. They have better and much more compelling photograph but fails to recognize them. I video on this issue will help many to find their photographic journey much more enjoyable. Take Regards, Oni

Probably change the way in which you would shoot on the streets. Much prefer film for the reasons which you have stated. Only problem is with everything else it's cost is rising. Which is a shame really

You forgot to mention Leica- perfect for beginners and almost always at an affordable price.

I don't doubt your points, actually I even agree that analog photography is pretty cool, however... I think this is the new elitist fashion to exclude those with less money (it's VERY expensive to shoot in film), not everyone can be "cool", right? So like everything else in the world... the standard of beauty is no longer just being thin, just being thin was fine when junk food was all that those without money could eat. Now you need to be lean and ripped as not everyone has the time for the gym or the money for supplements. Photography follows this trend like most things. Did digital cameras become affordable? Ok so the cool thing now is to be analogical, "this is the real picture" the cool hipster will claim! . Is music accessible? so what's cool now is listening to vinyl, "that's the real music" the cool hipster will calim. Ah, can you eat a good meal without spending too much? So now it's cool to be gourmet or organic or whatever makes cool hipsters feel different.

Many enthusiasts just wanna stand out and be different. Dont be surprised music cassettes and cassette decks could be become “hot” again😂😂 Silly consumers. The price of ALL such defunct films are grossly over-inflated (same as LP turntables, valve tube amplifiers etc) to exploit these fools.

Mr Brian. why shooting in analogue is "slow art" and shooting in digital is not? This is a completely wrong idea that everyone says without even thinking about it. Why does photographing in digital a photographer think less about what he is doing than a photographer in analogue? It doesn't make sense, a photographer who is a photographer always thinks about what he is doing. Think less about focusing? in composition? at the exposure? A photographer doesn't do that. Do you think less about your art? in your creation? No. If a photographer thinks more and better because he is using film, then it is because he is thinking neither more nor better because he is conditioned in his reasoning because he is using film. Analog photography doesn't help better understand the technical issues of photography. Nor in what they coincide, much less in what they don't. In the same way that we must know the characteristics of a film, we must know those of a digital sensor. In digital we can also have a "consistent look" and develop a personal style. Learn camera raw, have a good calibrated monitor and print your photographs. Number 5 is ridiculous. Buy a digital camera for £1500 and shoot 5000 photos. An Ilford film costs £9 - 5000:36=139; 139X9£=1251£. Add developing and printing, and... I don't need to say more. 6, why is it that with digital I am more obsessed with the equipment than with analog? Wrong. I know more people obsessed with the leica M6 than with any other camera. 7,8, ... Nostalgia