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Watch: How film and developing actually work – It’s both magic and science

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This is one of the deepest dives into film photography and the developing process I’ve seen. Not surprisingly, it’s from Destin at Smarter Every Day. He says that he went looking to find a definitive video that explained it all and he couldn’t find one. So, he made one.

Destin begins by talking of the “magic” of film and the unique look and character it has that’s impossible to reproduce digitally. He also mentions film’s resurgence of late (I guess it’s mainstream now – the hipsters will be disappointed). But it’s not magic. There’s actual science behind it and Destin takes us to visit Indie Film Lab to see how the process works.

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This video explains the science behind photographic film

I think many of us agree that there’s still something special about film photography even in the digital age. Film photos have some magic to them, and there’s a lot that comes before we see their final look. In this video, Destin Sandlin of Smarter Every Day shows you the magic and the science behind shooting, developing, and scanning a roll of 35 mm film.

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Is 645 medium format film really better than 35mm? Well, yeah. It is.

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I still shoot quite a bit of film when the opportunity allows, and when I do, I still primarily tend to reach for a 35mm. It’s not that it’s the best, or even just the best suited to what I want to shoot, but it’s convenient. The 35mm film SLRs I use the most are all Nikon F mount bodies, letting me use most of the lenses I also own for my DSLRs. But medium format definitely has it’s benefits.

In this video, photographer Kyle McDougall looks at the overall thought process behind using 645 medium format instead of your standard 3:2 ratio 35mm film, as well as some of the objective benefits and drawbacks to the larger format.

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This video takes you behind the scenes of making Kodak film

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It’s impossible to talk about the history of photography without mentioning Kodak. In its 140 years long history, the company has had many ups and downs. But it remains one of the most iconic names in the industry that has changed and revolutionized photography. This fantastic video from Studio C-41 takes you behind the scenes of making Kodak film. In this factory tour, you’ll see the three phases in making Kodak film, but also learn a bit about its history.

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Here’s how to make your own paper developer from scratch

The George Eastman Museum has already shared some darkroom magic with us. For example, they taught us how to make a 35mm daguerreotype and guided us through the salt printing process. In this video, historic process specialist Nick Brandreth teaches you how to make your own paper developer from scratch in the comfort of your home.

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I turned a 610mm World War II spy lens into a 10ft long large format macro camera

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You didn’t ask to learn about bellows extension factors but we’re going to cover it with the most absurd camera that you may ever see!

Built from over two sheets of plywood, scraps of 2x6s, old drywall screws, and the cheapest 610mm lens that I could find on eBay, literally every expense was spared. I would be surprised if I spent more than $200 out of pocket to create this 10′ behemoth.

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This is the surprisingly true story of Kodak Aerochrome’s origins and ultimate fate

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It’s hard to imagine that a particular film stock, especially something like infrared film, might have an origin story that’s almost as wild as a superhero. But the way Todd Dominey tells it, that’s pretty much how it sounds for Kodak Aerochrome. In this video, he goes over Aerochrome’s origins and its life until its demise in 2009.

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Chroma has launched their new 679 modular medium format camera

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You might remember Chroma from a couple of years ago when they launched the Chroma 4×5 large format camera through Kickstarter. It’s since grown into a family that includes a 4×5 handheld camera and now the new 679 modular medium format camera. It’s designed to allow photographers to shoot medium format film using a camera tailored to their own needs.

Although it’s a completely new design, the Chroma 679 inherits a number of features from its large-format siblings, including a removable lens board and a pinhole lens board. The main body of the camera is 3D printed, available in any depth you wish to account for flange distance and it’s available with four different film back mounting options.

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Why I used one camera, one lens, one film for five months

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Photography is close to impossible to do without a camera, so why do so many of us both love and hate the equipment side of things? For me the hate comes down to distraction – and a little bit of the love as well.

I currently have a paired back collection of cameras and lenses – but anytime I dual-wield, or really carry anything other than one camera with one lens, distraction creeps in.

I start to question what I am going to use for the shot, rather than adapting to the situation. I’ll frame with a 50mm, then maybe try a 35mm, maybe even regret not having a 90mm – by the time I have done that, I’ve missed the shot. 

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Johnny Depp plays photographer W. Eugene Smith in “Minamata”

If you’re into photojournalism, movies, and are a fan of Johnny Depp, a real treat is coming to movies soon. Johnny Depp plays photographer William Eugene Smith in Andrew Levitas movie Minamata. It’s due to premiere in February 2021, and after watching the trailer – I must admit that I’m really looking forward to it.

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