Matthew Shields Photography

Lessons Learnt

I've learnt more about photography in my short time shooting film then I have in the years owning a digital camera – sometimes the hard way.

These lessons though are amazingly valuable, so I think its worth keeping a record of them. Who knows it might avoid you needing to learn the same way I did.

Expect this list to grow and change as I learn more, and make more mistakes...

Shooting

  1. You will mess up loading a film eventually – face that fact but try and avoid it
  2. No matter your gear – it's not stopping you from great photos and enjoying yourself
  3. Even if your camera has a light meter its useful to start practicing guessing light levels from the start to build up that skill - look up Sunny 16

Gear / Film

  1. Looking at "new" camera gear is extremely addictive – attempt with caution
  2. Look for a second hand point and shoot rather then a new "cheap" fixed focus camera
  3. Sometimes you will spend more money on batteries then you did on the cheap camera you found
  4. Yes colour film is expensive – I don't think that will change though
  5. IMO black and white can be harder to shoot – but make sure you do it!

Developing at home

  1. It is amazingly fun!
  2. It's not as hard to get started with as you may fear, especially with Black and White
  3. Nothing will beat the feeling of the first time you unfurl that first roll of developed film
  4. Being able to develop at home reduces the loop on getting feedback on your photography and can help while learning

Scanning / Converting

  1. There are so many ways to do this so find the way that works for your personality
    • Flatbed Scanner
    • Dedicated Scanner
    • DSLR Scanner
    • Lab scans
  2. No matter which one you go for though at the end of the day you are going to get results which are good enough for what most of us are doing!
  3. Set yourself an organised workflow from the very start – and stick with it
  4. I prefer to do my own Colour Cast Removal rather then the auto version

Editing

  1. "I don't edit film photos" doesn't really even exist, and should it?
    • All steps that you take will effect on your results especially digitising
    • The choice of scanner, software, lab, conversion – all will produce different results so are in fact 'edited'
    • Don't get hung up on this and draw the line yourself
  2. Personally I prefer aiming for a mostly neutral edit using what would be possible to do in a darkroom
  3. When editing you can get in a loop with micro adjustments on the slider – get fresh eyes and come back to it after a break
  4. Turn on and look at your histogram - an absolute must