Film photography is gaining new followers, but its basics can feel unfamiliar
Film photography has been making a comeback, especially among younger people drawn to its “analog vibe,” but it can be harder to pick up than the digital cameras many of them learned on, the Associated Press said. In a “One Tech Tip” segment, Associated Press photojournalist George Walker IV walked viewers through several core concepts—what film is, which film to buy, how to load a roll, and how to think about exposure using shutter speed and an f/stop.
Walker, who is based in Nashville and joined the AP in 2023 after 30 years photographing at The Tennessean, described film as a training tool. “Shooting on film is a good way to learn the basics of photography because it ‘forces me to be patient and concentrate to make the pictures that matter.’” He also said film gives photographers a “finite number of frames” on a roll of 35 mm film, typically “24 or 36,” and that photographers should use those frames to “make those pictures count.”
The AP said the difference between film and digital starts at the fundamentals of how images are created. Before digital cameras became common in the early 2000s, photography relied on physical film instead of electronic files stored on memory chips. It described photographic film as a light-sensitive cellulose material that works by exposing a silver-halide coating through the camera lens to create a latent image that is later used to make photographic prints.
The “One Tech Tip” also addressed why people are returning to film in the first place. AP said enthusiasts are attracted to the distinctive grainy or “unfiltered” look and that film is seen as an antidote to digital fatigue and the instant gratification of smartphone cameras. It placed film’s revival within a broader trend of renewed interest in old-school hobbies such as vinyl records, knitting, and writing letters.
Choosing film starts with understanding ISO, the AP said. It said the ISO rating—also described as film speed—indicates how sensitive the film is to light, with higher numbers meaning more sensitivity. The segment gave examples for common lighting situations, saying a low-light scene such as a basketball gym or a night football game may call for film rated ISO 1600 or higher, while scenes in full sun may be handled with ISO 400 or less.
For beginners, the AP said black and white film can be more approachable because it is “more forgiving than color for exposures,” and it also forces photographers to focus on composition and lighting. It then discussed what kind of camera to use, noting that today’s new film cameras are limited to a small set of point-and-shoot, niche or high-end models, while secondhand vintage models are widely available through channels such as camera shops and eBay.
The AP laid out options for camera style as well. Point-and-shoot cameras are described as small, inexpensive, and easy to carry, typically with controls limited to a flash on/off button. By contrast, single-lens reflex cameras—SLRs—allow photographers to go fully manual, with more dials and adjustments and the ability to swap lenses, though the AP said they can be bigger, bulkier, and intimidating for novices. The segment offered a simple decision rule: “the best camera is always the one you have with you.”
After choosing film and a camera, the AP’s “One Tech Tip” turned to loading. For manual cameras, it said to open the back and feed the film leader (the “tip”) into a slot on the spool on the right, then use the winding lever to advance the film so it latches properly and close the camera back. It also said the rewind knob on the left should turn when winding confirms the film is loaded correctly. For point-and-shoot cameras, the AP said automatic winding is common and that a label inside the camera typically shows where to position the film leader; if not done correctly, an error message can appear or the film counter might not advance.
The segment also warned about timing while shooting. Once the film is loaded, AP said to keep the camera back closed until you finish making exposures and the film is fully rewound into the canister, because leaving it open can ruin the entire roll.
Finally, the AP focused on how beginners can practice the mechanics of exposure, especially if they choose a manual camera. It said learning comes down to controlling shutter speed and the aperture (also known as the f/stop), and setting film speed or ISO. The “One Tech Tip” used a faucet analogy, describing f/stops as controlling the “flow of water—or light hitting the film,” and giving example values such as f/16 for a “trickle” and f/2.8 for a “fire hose.” It said shutter speed controls how long the faucet is open, and that faster shutter speeds—examples given included 1/250 or 1/500 of a second—help freeze action.
The AP said manual cameras often include a light meter visible through the viewfinder to indicate whether the photographer has the right exposure, while focusing requires hand control. It added that when photographing people or animals, photographers should concentrate on getting the eyes in focus, and for still lifes and landscapes they should focus on what they want in the foreground, such as a flower petal or a mountain peak. It also told viewers to study professional photographers, naming Gordon Parks, Henri Cartier-Bresson and Ansel Adams.