The Artistic Benefits of Traditional Film Photography in Exploring the Vibrant World of Travel
In the age of digital photography, film cameras have experienced a resurgence in popularity, appreciated for their unique visual qualities and tactile experience. For creative travel photography, film cameras and stocks offer a distinctive aesthetic that stands out from digital counterparts.
One such film, the Cinestill 800T, is ideal for night shooting, providing a cinematic glow that handles artificial lighting beautifully. This was demonstrated by the author, who captured a perfect glimpse of the famous towers in Torres del Paine National Park at night with a Contax T2 and Kodak Portra 400 film.
For daylight scenes, Kodak Gold 200 offers a warm, nostalgic feel, while Lomography Color Negative 400 provides punchy colors and high saturation, making it great for casual snapshots and creative experiments. The author tried Kodak Ektachrome E100 for the first time in Kyoto, capturing the colors of autumn, and used a Nikon FM2 with a 24mm f/2.8 lens and Kodak Ektar 100 film to capture three frames at Jan Thiel Beach in Curacao.
The second frame, in particular, captured the sun hovering just above the island's silhouette, casting a sharp beam of light across the sea. Kodak Ektar 100 offers bold color and fine grain, making it a favorite for bright, sunlit scenes.
For travel photography, several film cameras stand out. The Pentax ME Super is a beginner-friendly 35mm film camera offering a balance of manual and electric controls, making it versatile and reliable for travel. The Nikon FE is an iconic advanced semi-pro 35mm SLR, well-built and easy to use, providing excellent control and sturdiness suitable for varied travel conditions. The Pentax 17 is a new half-frame point-and-shoot film camera, compact and consistent, ideal for those wanting a lightweight and easy-to-use option for travel.
When it comes to lenses, standard zoom lenses such as 28-70mm or 24-85mm offer versatility in shooting landscapes, street, and portraits. Prime lenses like a 35mm or 50mm f/1.8 provide sharpness and low-light capability, often preferred for travel to keep gear light. On cameras like the Nikon FE or Pentax ME Super, compatible lenses with autofocus or manual focus offering good optical quality and portability are ideal.
Film choice affects the aesthetic, so travelers often select stocks depending on lighting conditions and desired mood. Popular travel film stocks include Kodak Portra 400, Fujifilm Pro 400H, and Ilford HP5 Plus. Kodak Portra 400 is versatile and perfect for everything from portraits to landscapes, while Fujifilm Pro 400H offers a soft color palette and balanced contrast. Ilford HP5 Plus is a classic black and white film with good latitude and contrast, versatile for different travel light conditions.
In conclusion, film photography encourages intention and observation, as every click becomes a decision. With the right film camera, lens, and film stock, travelers can capture unique, memorable moments that showcase the distinctive visual qualities of film.
- The Contax T2, paired with Kodak Portra 400 film, was used by the author to capture a striking night-time photograph of Torres del Paine National Park, demonstrating the Cinestill 800T's ability to handle artificial lighting beautifully and provide a cinematic glow.
- For daytime travel scenes, the Kodak Gold 200 film offers a warm, nostalgic feel, while the Lomography Color Negative 400 provides punchy colors and high saturation, making it ideal for casual snapshots and creative experiments.
- The compact and consistent Pentax 17, a half-frame point-and-shoot film camera, is an excellent lightweight option for travel photography, ideal for those who want an easy-to-use camera.
