It seems like we are back in the 1980s all over again. The Ghostbusters have returned to the big screen, slouchy tailored trousers are the fashion rage and vinyl is cool again.
Joining the retro trend are professional photographers who have returned to film to capture it all for posterity.
“The resurgence of analogue photography is very similar to the trend of vinyl,” says Imraan Dudhia, the education manager at Gulf Photo Plus, an institute in Dubai that sells photography gear and hosts exhibitions and workshops.
“There is a renewed interest in film photography and its aesthetics. While digital photography is ubiquitous, the process is so easy, quick and fleeting that there is no tangible result. Photographers are now looking to go back and find that joy of the physical, which comes through the entire process of film photography.”
GPP stocks the widest range of films in the region, including Kodak, Ilford, Lomography Film and Fujifilm Instax.
“We’ve definitely seen a spike in interest with film and have had to up our orders,” says Dudhia. “When we have a fair or meetups and offers, people ask for film. We recently signed off on a Fujifilm order specially from Japan.”
Kodak Alaris, which manages a global still-film business worldwide, has experienced modest sales growth in film within the United States and western Europe since its split from Eastman Kodak in 2013.
“We’ve seen a number of photographers come back to shooting film due to aesthetics, workflow or to differentiate their business and look,” says Therese Corrigan-Bastuk, the company’s worldwide brand director.
“More importantly, we are also seeing a younger, creative crowd that grew up with digital now experiencing film for the first time. So it’s a bit of a resurgence.”
This year, Kodak announced plans to resurrect its Kodak professional Ektachrome film line.
Seeing a demand for variety in photo textures, the company plans to bring back a variety of film known for its fine grain, clean bright colours and tone scale.
Unlike most ranges of professional film on the market – which create negatives – this line generates a positive image. “It can be viewed on a light box or projected after processing,” says Corrigan-Bastuk.
“Because they are sharper and have a higher contrast, Ektachrome slides have a 3-D quality. They display more intense colours than a print, with more snap in the highlights.”
The film, in 123-36x format, is expected to go on sale towards the end of this year. Prices are yet to be announced.
Gulf Photo Plus’s Imraan Dudhia. Clint McLean for The National
All about the process
Dudhia learnt his trade as a teenager by using his father’s Minolta analogue camera.
The gruelling trial and error process with a film camera made him appreciate the meticulous planning that goes into creating a great shot.
For most professional work and photography workshops at GPP, Dudhia sticks to his digital camera and smartphone. But a 32-year-old Leica M6 camera, with a Zeiss 35mm f/2 lens, which he recently invested in at a cost of Dh9,180, comes out for passion projects.
Dudhia says film makes you plan ahead, as you only have 24 or 36 frames to get the perfect picture.
“You tend to take a shot when you know there is a shot there,” he says. “Your brain is engaged to look for a good composition rather than look at the review screen and play with the settings. You only commit to taking a picture when you see something worth capturing and you tend to have a larger number of keepers.”
When Abdallah Mohammed Kroosh decided to pick up an analogue camera two years ago, he set about finding like-minded people in the country.
Unable to locate a dedicated group, the 34-year-old Abu Dhabi engineer founded the Analog Photography group in the UAE on Facebook last year.
With 275 subscribers and more than 25 active members, the group holds meetings to learn the process of film photography, processing and critiquing.
Kroosh had also used film growing up but after using digital cameras for the past five years, he decided to invest in a 35mm Canon AE-1 analogue to experiment. He then added a medium format Mamiya RZ67 and now uses a Shen Hao wooden camera.
“For me, analogue is all about the process,” says the Egyptian national.
“It starts with a few hours drive to my destination, which is generally Ras Al Khaimah for the sunrise, into the desert or even the Sheikh Zayed Mosque. Then I plan the shot, take one to five photos, develop them and print them at home. Of course, coming out with a good result is a bonus.”
The need to improvise
A major challenge when using film is the development process, which can be a time consuming and expensive process.
The Tashkeel Hub art facility in Dubai rents out its darkroom for photographers, but the Dh360 cost for a day’s use (for non-members) may not be an affordable option for many amateurs.
The lack of processing studios in the UAE has forced photographers to improvise, with some setting up their own permanent dark rooms at home, which can cost up to Dh1,000.
Kroosh has been developing his black and white and colour shots in a bathroom that he converted into a darkroom. “There are very few labs that are developing colour negative in Dubai – but sometimes their machines are broken and I’m not always happy with the result,” says the enthusiast, who learnt the developing process on YouTube. He also develops colour-positive films with restricted chemicals, which he has to order from abroad because they are not available in the UAE. Ingrid Nielsen, another professional photographer in Abu Dhabi, faces the same issue and recently learnt how to set up a darkroom in her bathroom from a photographer in her hometown in Estonia.
“Film looks and feels much more alive than digital,” says Nielsen, who also has an analogue Voigtländer and Zeiss Ikon Contina.
“With pixels in digital you get a shot that is a very certain shape. With film, the way it catches light is relatively random, so you can have strips, streaks, dots, blobs or anything it captures at a macro level. At the same time, you also have to accept the fact that you can lose the shot but then there is this element of surprise, as well.”
The future helping the past
Ironically, one of the most modern of inventions has been partly behind the return to film.
Mohamed Somji, co-founder of GPP, says Instagram can be credited in part for the popularity of film, especially among younger photographers.
“It is the filters that mimic the feel of shots taken on film that has attracted the young crowd to film,” he says.
Companies such as Lomogrpahy have capitalised on the trend, with a range of quirky cameras and films that provide artistic and abstract results.
Some photographers find using film as a way to stand out in the clutter of Instagram photos as well.
Luca Lombardi, a professional food and interiors photographer in Dubai, has decided to only use his wife as a subject for his film photography.
He set up MyLoveOnFilm on Instagram to share his pictures on social media.
“I’ve got a successful business in digital photography, but I do film photography for fun,” says the 35-year-old Italian, who was encouraged by his father-in-law who gifted him a Kiev 88 from the 1970s.
“I’m not going to shoot anything but her on film because I want this to remain something between me and my wife.”
Film photography tips
A photo shot by Imraan Dudhia with his analogue camera. Imraan Dudhia / Gulf Photo Plus
Gulf Photo Plus’s education manager, Imraan Dudhia, provides this beginner’s guide to film photography.
What camera should I buy?
Any 35mm or Medium Format analogue camera, such as the Pentax K1000 (from Dh350), Canon AE1 (from Dh470), Nikon FM Series (from Dh550). The selection of available lenses should be the first consideration when choosing a camera system. Lenses can cost from about Dh350.
Where can I buy it from?
KEH.com usually stocks a wide range of film gear, ships fast and can be trusted with their rating system. Adorama.com and bhphotovideo.com are also good places to look at.
What film should I start off with?
Start out with Kodak Portra 400 (from Dh150 for a pack) for colour and Kodak Tri-X (from Dh45) for black and white.
How should I store my film?
In its original sealed packaging in the fridge or freezer. This will extend its shelf life. A film can be used when expired, but will need more exposure to get a good result.
Where can I get film processed?
Photo Fast on Sheikh Zayed Road (04 332 9800). They will develop colour and black and white film in 35mm and medium mormat sizes from Dh35. The lab will do scans and prints at an additional fee.
aahmed@thenational.ae
