Appreciating the Permanence of Film Photography

"...there are film photographs that are older than every human being alive on earth today".

 

One of the many things that fascinates me about the art of photography is its connection to the past.  Not just how we can freeze time; but more so the style and feel of using film cameras. I appreciate the craftsmanship and the noises... the quick snap of the shutter, the clink of the timer; I love it all! Film cameras are time machines.

Think about this fact; there are film photographs that are older than every human being alive on earth today.  Most, we can assume, haven't even been preserved with the most precious care either.  As for the equipment, analog cameras don't die.  They may break, but they can be repaired.  Film cameras don't depend on batteries (well, older manual cameras don't) or need to be upgraded for enormously, unnecessarily high megapixels and ISO.  Film cameras don't even have to be expensive to produce superb images.  As long as the lenses are clean and sharp, that is more than enough.

As for what I love most, its the ascetics of film developments…wow!  They are beautiful.  Even the flaws in film photographs have character and creates a mood that I don’t find in my digital images.  I love the cracks, dust, odd colors and soft focus.  I embrace what is on the negative.  Even when I scan to digital, I find myself not editing out dust spots and such.  Film photography for me is about honesty.  

Here are a few 35mm photographs I recently rediscovered in my archives: