Film Photography

By Jacey Wilson

The Magic & Color of "Real" Photos

Combining color, texture, and a momentary capture unreplicated by modern digital cameras, film provides professional photographers and hobbyists a feeling of "real" in their images. Film is loved for its vintage feel, often praised for its ability to carry and even create greater depth. The cost of film and the limited number of exposures per roll often creates a requirement for greater consideration by users. An additional consideration of choosing film as a medium is the required development; such experiences with delayed gratification are fewer and farther between in the modern world. Thus, film photography tends to demand intention in a way that digital image-taking does not require. The magic of film, therefore, is created and has been maintained by intention and depth.

There are many types of film and film cameras, but all exist in a clear distinction from digital photography. From point-and-shoot to SLR, from black and white to color, from 35mm to 120mm to the instant film of a polaroid camera, this is a medium which allows memory preservation in a unique, true-to-life form. Film functions well to preserve landscape scenes as well as portrait shots. I personally prefer all forms of lifestyle photography, with an innate emphasis on capturing the people closest to me and our memories together. My film feels like a gift to my family and friends, as well as to our future selves.

Jacey Wilson Waters is a hobbyist photographer who enjoys using film, instant film, DSLR, iPhone, and small format digital cameras amongst any other camera she can get her hands on. She is a Family Science student at Utah Valley University student planning to graduate in Spring of 2026. She is a writer, Spanish-speaker, involved family member, lover of rap music, and a documenter above all else.