As read this blog just remember this is just my opinion. I’ve seen so much online about this debate with the few photographers I follow, and to be honest, I can’t believe we’re still having this conversation in 2026.
Lets get started:
Does film still have a place in photography today, in 2026? Of course, it does. Why do photographers shoot with film and not digital? Now, my opinion on this is more than likely going to upset a few people, but it’s just what I see. Also, if it upsets you, ask yourself why.
Most photographers I see shooting with film are doing so because it’s cool, not because they see something in the look of the film. Most are fashion victims, and the camera is part of the outfit. Yes, I said it, and it’s true. The work of these photographers frequently appears unoriginal and predictable, with a tendency to use standard settings such as 35mm lenses at f/8 to f/11 and HP5 film. This suggests a lack of experimentation and innovation. H&M could sell this as a kit for £99.
The other thing I’ve noticed about most film shooters is this: they are very snobbish and look down their noses at those of us that shoot digital. They look and say that “oh, you’re not a real photographer because you shoot digital”. I remember Elliott Erwitt saying that digital manipulation kills photography, and every time I heard this, I laughed. Have a look at the contact sheets that film photographers made, and you’ll see nothing but manipulation. I started photography back in the 80s, and we used to manipulate photos as we made prints. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lot easier to manipulate the photo today, especially with AI, but it’s false to say that film photography can’t be manipulated.
Today, we know that most film shooters don’t have darkrooms, so they send their film off to be developed and then scan it into a computer to edit it. Can you say hypocrite loud enough?
This then leads into another point: if you’re not making prints in a darkroom and instead you’re using a computer to make your photos, what’s the point of shooting film? If it’s for the look, why not just use a digital filter to make it look like film?
I’m going to be just like most film shooters out there— snobbish and tell it like it is: if you’re not using a darkroom, then you’re not a real photographer; simple, really isn’t it?
Now, are all photographers that shoot film like what I’ve said above? Of course not. The truth of it is this: if you like the whole process of shooting with film and you are truly passionate about the format, then I honestly tip my hat at you and say great. If, on the other hand, you’re doing it because you think it makes you look cool, then you are a tit and you need to take a good, hard look at yourself in the mirror.
Shooting on film does not inherently improve the quality of your photographs.
I remember with fondness shooting with film in school: opening a box of film, loading it into the camera, closing the back up and hoping the film was loaded correctly, winding each photo on, being slow and precise as I framed up each moment, winding the finished film back into the canister, and the joy of entering into the darkroom; the smell will never leave me. The enjoyment of developing the film again, hoping everything was ok and then making a contact sheet, picking the photos, and making prints. Trust me when I say there’s nothing like it; digital definitely doesn’t have this feeling; it feels cold sitting in front of a computer screen editing, and yet it’s where we are; we move on.
Being on the streets with my digital camera doesn’t diminish the feeling of photography; it feels the same as it did when I was using a film camera; all that has changed is the final process.
Remember this: at the end of the day, all that matters is the photograph and the moment you were trying to capture; 99% of people looking at your work don’t give a rats’ ass whether the photo was captured with film or digital.
Photo from Macfilos