FILM
The allure of analogue photography
Film-based photography is not just alive, it’s thriving. So what’s the attraction?
It was touch and go there for a while. As digital photography rapidly ramped up in terms of quality, simplicity and ubiquity (who now doesn’t have a camera with them at all times, at least in the form of a smartphone?), you’d have been forgiven for thinking that analogue photography would have gone the way of the rotary phone or the typewriter — gone and forgotten by all but the most die-hard ethusiasts.
In fact, typewriter fans such as Tom Hanks, would arguably have a much easier time of it. Aside from having to re-ink old ribbons, you can pretty much get along without an industry to back up your hobby. Fans of film photography, on the other hand, need companies to manufacture film, photographic paper and chemicals.
The good news is that those who like their photography analogue (or analog, if you prefer) have all the support they need. Not only are companies continuing to produce existing products for the market, they’re making the necessary investment to develop and market new products.
