We found this neat article by Brian Auer and thought we'd share it with our dear Lomographers! We're all analogue photographers here, but what kind are you? New Age Film Convert, Old School Film Extremist, or somewhere in between? Tell us, we'd love to know! :-)
Categorizing Today’s Film Photographers
by Brian Auer
We live in an exciting time when it comes to photography. Digital revolutionized the market and we’ve had a huge boom of new photographers as a result. Film has also made leaps and bounds in recent history due to a revitalized interest in photography.
Author Brian Auer with a functioning medium-format Graflex Crown Graphic. Sourced from Feeling Negative
I got to thinking about the different types of film photographers out there today, and I think I can narrow them down to seven main categories. Not that I’m trying to draw lines and boundaries, but take this for what it is: my own observations and opinions. So here are the categories and some tips for spotting these creatures in the wild…
Photo by lighthouseblues
Old School Film Extremist
Pre-digital film shooters that never gave up on film. In fact, they seemingly resent digital photography and refuse to touch the stuff. You can spot them by their comments about digital cameras killing photography, flooding the market with amateurs, reducing the value of a good photo, etc. If you see their comments on a blog or forum, you’ll instantly be reminded of Ebenezer Scrooge (bah humbug!). To avoid provoking the old school extremist, refrain from using the word “digital” or speaking of new cameras.
Photo by dreadlockboy
Old School Film Hater
Pre-digital film shooters that completely gave up on film. These folks are nearly opposite from the old school film extremist and they have a deep hatred for film photography. You can pick them out in a crowd by identifying comments like “I’ll never go back”, “film was such a waste of time and money”, or “I’m an old geezer, but digital is the only way to go!” These photographers usually don’t have the “bah humbug” sense about them, but they might stand on a very high pedestal… so high, in fact, that they won’t hear any good arguments for returning to film for any reason. Shout all you want, but they probably won’t hear you.
Photo by ucinz
Old School Film Revert
Pre-digital film shooters that shot film, then digital, then film again. This is a large (and growing) category of film photographers, so there’s a good chance that some of them never stopped shooting film during the digital craze. Others packed away or sold their film cameras, only to return to it some years later. Most of these creatures continue to shoot digital, but a few renegades cast off completely from the world of digital after a while. Of all the old schoolers, this breed is the most open-minded. They’re also a major source of education and inspiration since they haven’t shut out the film photography communities. If you find an old school revert, make it your friend!
Photo by life_on_mars
New Age Film Extremist
Post-digital film shooters that have never shot digital. These are rare creatures indeed, and highly prized among collectors! For some reason, these folks started into film photography after the digital boom. Some of them might have taken a few shots on a friend’s camera, but they never bought one themselves. Most of them also listen to music on vinyl and use an abacus for complex math. They are relatively harmless, but they can sometimes be aggressive toward digital photographers.
Photo by ryszardl70
New Age Film Hater
Post-digital photographers who tried film and hated it. Hey, at least they gave it a shot, right? These ones are certainly more open-minded than digital extremists, but film just didn’t do it for them. Some new age film haters will attack the analog medium, while others accept that it has merits.
Photo by mikeydavies
New Age Film Convert
Post-digital photographers that got into film after being introduced by digital. This is probably the fastest growing category of film photographer, and it’s the group that I fall into myself. Introduced to photography by the digital revolution, we started reaching for something more interesting or challenging. Once drawn into film, some of us became obsessed and let our digital equipment gather dust… others are more casual film shooters.
Photo by thesterlingczar
Digital Extremist
Digital photographers that have never shot film. These animals are the polar opposite of the old school film extremist. They grew up on digital and they refuse to even think of shooting film (why would they? it’s evil!). There are actually a few sub-groups within this category: those that hate film for some reason and those who are impartial toward it. The hateful ones can be quite entertaining with their arguments against a medium they’ve never tried. (Feeling Negative)
Kind of makes you think, right? Since I used to shoot film in my youth (see above haha), I guess that makes me an Old School Film Revert. I generally enjoy shooting—whether it’s digital or analogue, pinhole or camera phone—but find the most amusement, charm and knowledge in the creative and technical processes behind film photography!
So what kind of film photographer are you? :-)
27 comments
sirio174
I'm an Old School Film Revert!
sirio174
I'm an Old School Film Revert!
sirio174
I'm an Old School Film Revert!
sirio174
I'm an Old School Film Revert!
sweetyyydreams
Old school film revert! But in my mind, I think of myself as an old school film convert: before the digital, I would shoot lots of films just for the souvenirs of places I traveled to, and moments with friends and family. But back to analogue after a few years with digital, now I'm really starting enjoying real photography, the one that pushes my view on things, my creativity, that makes me think of my subjects, environments etc. So in this sense, I'm definitely an old school film convert!
dreadlockboy
i think am a Old School Film Revert :)
guanatos
I'm such an Old School Film Revert!!!! I started shooting film at school then changed to digital for the job then pretty much gave up on digital and came running back to analogue!!!
lucklik
I'm an old school film revert. Like all the people who left a comment before me. When it is unimportant or when I really need fast results I shoot digital. But most of the time it is film. It is just more fun.
chib3h
Old School Film Revert here... haha :D Should never have left film
denisesanjose
@lighthouseblues @dreadlockboy @ucinz @life_on_mars @ryszardl70 @mikeydavies @thesterlingczar Thanks for the photos, btw :-)
makarov
new age film extremist I think :D
soulsberry
tall_bastard
new age film extremist :D
b0m
Old School Film Revert here. But it's only now that i'm back with film that i started to care about real photography. My usage of digital cameras and the film before that were only for tourist-like stuff. I think this community has a great part in this.
vickstar79
timrathbone
antibiotyx
i fall into the old school film revert group. i've always had penchant for analogue stuff (vinyl, cassettes, famicon, etc.) ever since i was a kid. i occasionally used point-and-shoot cameras when i was in highschool, then got hooked on digital photography in college. now i'm back to shooting analogue and expanding my film camera collection. i don't own a digicam anymore. :)
shafiqsamat
ariannapaloma
Proud New Age Film Extremist!
lighthouseblues
Yepp, old school film revert! I was mourning film for almost a decade until I found that film was not dead!!! Happily back again and never leaving film again, ever! :-D
@denisesanjose Thanks for using my pict! :-)
natalieerachel
New Age Film Convert!
jodimeetdiana76
Old School Film Revert! Used film before digital came along and the early adopter that I am switched to digital. That's when I really got into photography and in my quest to be a better photographer, I added film back to my camera bag (along with my digital and iPhone)
fash_on
Old school film revert. Got my first D-SLR in 2002, discovered lomography about 5 years later and have slowly reverted to the smallest and simplest of film cameras, UWS & LCA. Digital definitely renewed my interest in photography, but I got bored with it eventually.
jesalonen
welland
You have forgotten about the hipsters who have seen film cameras in high street shops and want one to look cool but have no interest in learning its art.
I have seen more of them then any others, and they are the worse type.
ALL THE GEAR AND NO IDEA
karo_mini
Im a New Age Film Extremist - i really appreciate digital photography but i just never got myself digital camera and i just shot few shots from other's cameras but i didnt really like the results and thought i just dont have an eye for photography... it appeared i have no digital soul and that's why they werent good :)
casperxd
New Age Film Extremist:)