Is It Worth It To Shoot Street Photography with Film in 2024?

Is It Worth It To Shoot Street Photography with Film in 2024?

By Michael Ernest Sweet

I’m sure we have all noticed by now that analog photography is experiencing a real renaissance. I say real because it has turned out not to be a mere blip but a sustained resurgence. Not only are more and more people shooting film but the price of film stock is falling (presumably due to increased demand) and new film cameras are entering the market. All of this seems to be indicating a bright future for film photography in 2024. But the question remains, why is anyone bothering? Film is still really expensive when compared to the “free” frames provided by digital cameras. It is unpredictable, at the best of times, and it limits photographers in really obvious ways – 36 shots per roll. The list goes on: you can’t see “chimp” your shots immediately after taking them (who knows what you got), burst mode approach is unwise (so you will have to rely on single shot luck), and developing and scanning requires a whole other truck load of money. So why bother?

There’s no simple answer to this question. Shooting film is not a silver bullet of any kind. It does not make your photography better by any measure, and I think this question has been long settled. The question is no longer film versus digital. One is not going to “win” over the other. Each has settled into its own different and distinct camp. They are different. But the question of why some photographers are so hell bent on sticking with film remains a bit elusive. In a day and age when you can easily replicate the look of film stock on a computer and sidestep the enormous cost and bother of film, the question of why anyone bothers lingers in the balance. Let’s consider some of the possible motivations.

Aesthetics – Although one can achieve a “film look” using digital filters, one might argue that it does not provide the exact same aesthetics. At the very least, knowing how the photo was made will certainly impact how one views the result. Put another way, knowing you faked it is not the same as knowing you didn’t. When it comes to producing the film aesthetic by digital means, it will always be considered “faking” it or “cheating”, as this is a form of reproduction. Digital means naturally produce digital results – not analog results. All of this to say, if someone really wants to create and appreciate a true analog aesthetic they will need to use analog equipment. It is not simply about how the end results look (whether one can make a photo that tricks its viewer), it is about the authenticity of the entire process. Many street photographers love the look of an analog photograph – with its grain, unique tones and colors, and random flaws – and will never be fully satisfied by achieving these results by way of the digital process.

Copyright ⓒ Michael Ernest Sweet

Copyright ⓒ Michael Ernest Sweet

Copyright ⓒ Michael Ernest Sweet

Gear – Good, old fashioned analog gear is another huge reason why people stick with film. Digital cameras are just not the same experience and, for those of us that grew up with analog cameras, not as much fun! Analog gear is special. Nothing beats a brass camera body and the smooth glide and click of manual controls. Some older cameras, like a Leica M6, for example, may even become family heirlooms. People like to still use this gear, especially if they have a special relationship with the camera. This remains one of the principal reasons why street photographers are still shooting film in 2024. The Leica M6 is still king.

Novelty – I think digital cameras are wearing on people like computers and other things electronic and digital. These things don’t excite us. They tire us. We want breaks from them. We want to use something different. Many people sit behind computers for a living, the last thing they then want to do is go out and shoot with another kind of computer. Face it, digital cameras are another kind of computer and there is no escaping that fact. Analog gear is a novelty, it gives us a kind of break from the digital rat race. A Leica M6 still works today the way it did back in 1984 when it was first released. There’s something very satisfying about that fact!

Experience – Shooting film is a totally different experience from shooting digital. I don’t only mean because it gives us a break from the “digital realm” either. It is different in many, many ways. For example, shooting film requires a more deliberative, contemplative approach. You need to think more carefully about what you are shooting. You may even try harder to make that “perfect” shot, as you know you have limited frames. I believe shooting film is much more meditative. As you cannot see what you shoot, immediately, you also process the scene differently too. One needs to live in their imagination a lot more when shooting film. Next, there is the anticipation while we wait for the film to be developed. What did we get? The editing and post workflow may also be significantly different too, unless we relent to the digital post processing of film, which then begs the question of why bother to shoot analog?

In the end, great photography is a numbers game. The more you shoot the more chance you have of getting that perfect shot. When you shoot with film this reduces the total number of shots you are going to make, unless you are independently wealthy. Shooting with film is just more of a gamble, but that too can be fun! In today’s age of “digital perfection” and artificial intelligence etc., I do believe that it will be hard for analog photography to compete with digital photography when it comes to the “average” viewer. Film photography is and will remain a niche artform. Digital photography simply affords more opportunity to get the shot and more opportunity to turn that shot into a winner!

I think many street photographers are obsessed with film in 2024 because it is different – it affords them a unique experience and a different visual aesthetic. It also allows a whole new generation to play with vintage equipment, like the ever-famous Leica M6. Could you make the shot with your iPhone, yes, absolutely. I don’t think this is any longer an actual debate. Basically, the iPhone can be used for all photography at this point – including professional model shoots for magazine layouts or billboards. No other camera is necessary, but that doesn’t mean that no other camera is desired.

As a frequent judge in photography competitions around the world, I can honestly say that most photographs that place today are digital photographs. It is very hard for analog photography to compete. It’s just not perfect enough. That said, is it worth it to shoot film in 2024? Yes, I think so. I think it is also worth it to play records and write using a typewriter too.