‘Mastering’ 35mm film

I’ve been shooting 35mm film since around the start of the pandemic, and I definitely don’t feel like I’ve mastered it yet. Still, I’ve captured a few images that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I want to continue to practice with it until it feels as comfortable as shooting digitally.

All of my 35mm film is shot on my Canon F-1. I shot my first-ever roll with the AE-1P, which is often recommended for film newbies, but I was unimpressed by the quality and found the F-1 for cheap on Facebook Marketplace.

My Canon F-1

(along with some 35mm film stocks and a disposable camera)

The first roll I shot on the F-1 really surprised me. I shot it on the Fuji Superia 400 film stock, the only 35mm film stock that the CVS behind my dorm carried. Most of the photos were slightly out of focus, but I loved the moodiness the film gave the photos. See some of my favorites from that roll below.

I’m still learning how to choose the best film stock and camera settings for different shooting situations. This is the biggest challenge I’ve faced. For example, I shot the following photos on Cinestill 50D at dawn in the Smoky Mountains. I like the way the colors look, but there’s a little too much grain for my taste. I wish I had used a higher speed film stock to make up for the lack of light caused by the fog that morning.

Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever fully “master” shooting with 35mm film, but I will continue to learn from my mistakes and celebrate my accidental successes as I use it for personal and passion photography.

Another accidental double exposure, this time on 35mm Portra 400