17 year-old Vanessa Chan from San Francisco, California mostly shoots film often choosing simple compositions, giving room for her subject to shine and wonderful visual effects to convey the emotion and message of her work.

For more indie vintage photography inspiration from Vanessa Chan, you can drop by her blog here or check out her flickr photostream right here.

Myself (40 years) educated with a Bachelor in finance, and a Master of Business Administration, has had several other administrative jobs in the past. Where landscape photography has been a major hobby the later years of my life. In particular I am fascinated by the northern lights as a phenomena, and love being out in the cold at nights watching her different shapes and colors, and try to capture to best of my ability and describe what my eyes are seeing.

I consider myself being lucky living in Tromsø which is located just under the auroral oval during even low activity. So you very often can see the auroras in Tromsø.

Last year I produced a video about the northern lights which sort of changed my life: (http://vimeo.com/21419634)

After this I have enjoyed a great deal of success with my work being featured both in IMAX films, National Geographic Documentaries, and national and local tourist industry. I also was a finalist and runner up in the Astronomy Photographer of The Year 2011 contest, category earth and space, which made me really proud! The image I had in the contest was the ‘Divine Presence’ – Two times I have also been featured on NASA’s Astronomy Picture of The Day latest 12monts.

Currently I am working on the sequel to my first video, which I hopefully will be able to release this winter.

I am lucky to have a fantastic girlfriend who helps me take care of my two small children (Victor 1yr, and Oscar 2.5yr). You need that to be able to do this job, since it is so time consuming, being out both at night shooting, and editing during daytime.

What fascinates me about photography is how you can work with light. In other words, in my opinion, light is what photography is all about. And living where I am, with northern lights during the winter, and midnight sun during the summer, and with these awesome transition periods between summer and winter makes a perfect foundation for a landscape photographer. Right now just when the sun is starting to come back up here, we have what is called Arctic Light, which is a very special pink/cyan color appearing in white snow covered mountains. For many, arctic light also is the northern lights. Hence my company is called Arctic Light Photo. www.arcticlightphoto.no

I’ve had so much to do that I have not had time to finish my webpage 100%, but it will be finished soon.

I hope to be able to work in photography for a long time, because it is THE passion in my life. I consider myself being extremely lucky and privileged being able to do so at the moment! ” ~ Ole C. Salomonsen

For more long exposure arctic light photography by Ole C. Salomonsen, please visit his website here or check out his flickr photostream right here.

For more creative photography by Alice Gao, please visit her website right here.

Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Pokhara, Nepal

Marina Bay, Singapore

Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Masjid Selat Melaka, Malaysia

Eagle’s Nest, Bavarian mountains, Austrian & German border

Pokhara, Nepal

Brooklyn Bridge, New York

Symphony of Lights, Hong Kong

Singapore

Singapore

Singapore

Greek Island Santorini

Singapore Chinese Garden

Koh Rang Yai, Phuket, Thailand

Singapore

Gitgit Waterfalls, Bali, Indonesia

Golden Lane, Prague, Czech Republic

Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

Hallstatt, Upper Austria

Keukenhof Tulip Garden, Netherlands

Maya Bay, Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

Angkor, Cambodia

Oia, Greece

Boat Quay, Central Business District, Singapore

Oia, Santorini, Greece

Bali, Indonesia

Nagarkot, Nepal

Brooklyn Bridge, New York City

Singapore

Budapest, Hungary

Temple of Preah Khan, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Singapore

Singapore

Bali, Indonesia

For more travel photography inspiration from Souvik Bhattacharya, please visit his flickr photostream right here.

For more amazing film photography by Aleksandra Urbanowicz, please visit her flickr photostream right here.

For more creative photography by Violet Kashi, make sure you visit her flickr photostream right here.

For more creative photography & inspiration from Kevin Corrado, you can drop by his flickr photostream here.

For more beautiful film photography by Geneviève Bjargardóttir, please check out her flickr photostream right here.

For more black and white street photography from Andrea Taurisano, please visit his blog right here.

There is no limit imposed on how many photos a member can add, so head over there right now and start sharing your best stuff. If it’s interesting in the eyes of other fellow photographers, it will be featured here!

For now, I will leave you with the eleventh collection of Best of The D-Photo flickr group post series. Hope you enjoy…

Photo by *Emmy*Lee

Photo by Greg Booher

Photo by TheFella

Photo by Steven Dempsey

Photo by fedora365

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by paul mezzer

Photo by TheFella

Photo by czarnobialykwadrat!

Photo by dawndh

Photo by fedora365

Photo by saik27

Photo by paul downing

Photo by toon_ee

Photo by d o l f i

Photo by Paper Planes from the Aerie

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by Jean-Michel Leclercq

Photo by maximebergeron_photos

Photo by LeftyRodriguez

Photo by *Emmy*Lee

Photo by TheFella

Photo by paul downing

Photo by Mirage44

Photo by Osdog LRPS

Photo by Lomoody

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by thaihoapham

Photo by atliegilsson

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by vulture labs

Photo by jimcrotty.com

Photo by jimcrotty.com

Photo by hilde.wegner …

Photo by fedora365

Photo by Raúl Villalón

Photo by czarnobialykwadrat!

Photo by Lenoirrr

Photo by idlphoto

Photo by Lenoirrr

Photo by Dara Scully

Photo by 0rlando Ferreira

Photo by dawndh

Photo by paul mezzer

Photo by TheFella

Photo by темвuяо

Photo by SóniaGuerreiro

Photo by Dezign Horizon

Photo by miguelcarvalho79

Photo by hilde.wegner …

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by dawndh

Photo by Dara Scully

Photo by TheFella

Photo by atliegilsson

Photo by sergiparra

Photo by Rob_Simpson

Photo by miguelcarvalho79

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by Dara Scully

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by Jean-Michel Leclercq

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by Thamer Al-Hassan

Photo by темвuяо

Photo by Nicolas.M Photographie

Photo by TheFella

Photo by idlphoto

Photo by Paper Planes from the Aerie

Photo by Nicolas.M Photographie

Photo by Lenoirrr

Photo by Paper Planes from the Aerie

Photo by Haaghun

Photo by Haaghun

Photo by Haaghun

Photo by Haaghun

Photo by Haaghun

Photo by Haaghun

Photo by czarnobialykwadrat!

Photo by pretty life photography

Photo by lost in wishful thinking

Photo by Julsoul

Photo by ShaneKtUk

Photo by _ Adèle _

Photo by Mr.Skaune

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by TheFella

Photo by vulture labs

Photo by Amanda Carlsson

Photo by Giles McGarry

Photo by ninocannizzaro

Photo by ninocannizzaro

Photo by d o l f i

Photo by Dara Scully

Photo by Amanda Carlsson

Photo by Amanda Carlsson

Photo by Lucian Marin

Photo by TheFella

Photo by Dezign Horizon

Photo by LoLLi [any way the wind blows]

Photo by Haaghun

Photo by d o l f i

Photo by Haaghun

Photo by LoLLi [any way the wind blows]

Photo by procrastinating●nipples

Photo by KR-Waleed

Photo by Nicolas.M Photographie

Photo by vulture labs

Photo by andyfx

Photo by vulture labs

Photo by fedora365

Photo by TheFella

Photo by Nicolas.M Photographie

Photo by Haaghun

Photo by Lomoody

Photo by Paper Planes from the Aerie

Photo by Raúl Villalón

Photo by Dara Scully

Photo by procrastinating●nipples

Photo by c-loser

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by Giles McGarry

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by Lenoirrr

Photo by fedora365

Photo by btorillo

Photo by Eric Gasca

Photo by Eric Gasca

Photo by Eric Gasca

Photo by dawndh

Photo by bellydnce1103

Photo by paul downing

Photo by Dara Scully

Photo by lazy_lazy_dog

Photo by idlphoto

Photo by e.kristina

Photo by e.kristina

Photo by e.kristina

Photo by e.kristina

Photo by czarnobialykwadrat!

Photo by Amanda Carlsson

Photo by btorillo

Photo by dawndh

Photo by toon_ee

Photo by Leon Ritchie

Photo by ~ Floydian ~

Photo by ~ Floydian ~

Photo by ~ Floydian ~

Photo by Lenoirrr

Photo by e.kristina

Photo by Steven Dempsey

Photo by KiwiPatPhooey

Photo by Lomoody

Photo by paul mezzer

Photo by Lenoirrr

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by vailncourt 

Photo by fedora365

Photo by Lumilyon

Photo by ~ Floydian ~

Photo by Dezign Horizon

Photo by toon_ee

Photo by hilde.wegner …

Photo by hilde.wegner …

Photo by btorillo

Photo by Paul Ruggiero.

Photo by procrastinating●nipples

Photo by Giles McGarry

Photo by Giles McGarry

Photo by Lomoody

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by Brian JC Osborne

Photo by Mariana Quevedo

Photo by Lumilyon

Photo by e.kristina

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by thaihoapham

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by Brian JC Osborne

Photo by hilde.wegner …

Photo by ~ Floydian ~

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by maximebergeron_photos

Photo by maximebergeron_photos

Photo by e.kristina

Photo by toon_ee

Photo by ·DTG·

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by Oy*

Photo by Oy*

Photo by Rob-Shanghai

Photo by ALi AL-Qudsi

Photo by EleanorRigby236

Photo by SweetCrisis

Photo by SweetCrisis

Photo by TheFella

Photo by LeftyRodriguez

Photo by Steven Dempsey

Photo by Leon Ritchie

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by Lomoody

Photo by procrastinating●nipples

Photo by ·DTG·

Photo by Jnarin

Photo by {Shelbi} Lynn A.

Photo by {Shelbi} Lynn A.

Photo by {Shelbi} Lynn A.

Photo by piyaphon

Photo by SweetCrisis

Photo by SweetCrisis

Photo by piyaphon

Photo by SweetCrisis

Photo by SweetCrisis

Photo by lsmart

Photo by e.kristina

Photo by piyaphon

Photo by Nicolas.M Photographie

Photo by toon_ee

Photo by ~ Floydian ~

Photo by TheFella

Photo by geezaweezer

Photo by SweetCrisis

Photo by SweetCrisis

Photo by procrastinating●nipples

Photo by piyaphon

Photo by palashmitter

Photo by SweetCrisis

Photo by SweetCrisis

Photo by POSITiv

Photo by POSITiv

Photo by piyaphon

Photo by procrastinating●nipples

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by lifeispixels.com

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by e.kristina

Photo by e.kristina

Photo by Steven Dempsey

Photo by Oy*

Photo by toon_ee

Photo by piyaphon

Photo by procrastinating●nipples

Photo by Oy*

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by procrastinating●nipples

Photo by Dezign Horizon

Photo by Spygle,

Photo by Lomoody

Photo by e.kristina

Photo by Yavuz Karaburun

Photo by ~ Floydian ~

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by dawndh

Photo by Lenoirrr

Photo by seaChange41

Photo by Amanda Carlsson

Photo by piyaphon

Photo by e.kristina

Photo by btorillo

Photo by Phil Kirchmeier

Photo by *Emmy*Lee

Photo by Dezign Horizon

Photo by toon_ee

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by Oy*

Photo by dawndh

Photo by d o l f i

Photo by toon_ee

Photo by ewitsoe

Photo by e.kristina

Photo by Ted Fines (aka: tEdGuY49®)

Photo by piyaphon

Photo by pretty life photography

Photo by d o l f i

For more urban & street photography by Jürgen Bürgin, please visit his website here.

For more inspiring photography by Angeles Peña, please visit her website here or check out her flickr photostream right here.

The mystery and magic of nature is the only thing that really interests me, and I am always wishing to create some kind of make believe world into which I can step. Photography is the place I dream.  “

For more beautiful photography by Misma Andrews, please visit her flickr photostream right here or check out her blog here.

Film emulsions had to go through a process of consecutive evolutions (and still are, so to speak) till various versions that we know today were born.

What is film emulsion?

Emulsion is a light-sensitive coating on paper or film consists of fine grains of silver halide salts (suspended in gelatin) with variable crystal sizes that determine the sensitivity, contrast and resolution of the film. When film emulsion is exposed to light it forms an invisible image, from which a visible one can later be extracted through a series of chemical processes during development.

The size, shape and closeness in position these silver halide salts have directly affects the size of grain and film sensitivity to light, from fine grain (less sensitive to light) to coarse grain (more sensitive to light).

Why film?

Though digital photography seems to be gaining more and more ground over film photography, film remains alive. It is still being used by consumers, professional photographers and artists.

One of the main reasons some people (including myself) still prefer film photography is the higher dynamic range it provides. Dynamic range is the difference in light between the brightest value and the darkest value that the digital sensor or photographic film can capture. The human eye can see 24 different stops of light difference, taking into account the pupil dilation and contraction as a result of variation in light levels from highlights to shadows.

Cameras, however, only make instantaneous exposures, with film and expensive medium format digital cameras being able to capture 12 different stops of light variations, while most other digital cameras can only capture about 5 stops of light variations or even less.

This means that what digital photographers usually strive to achieve (especially HDR photography enthusiasts) is offered with film with no extra effort.

Types of film

• Color Negative film

  Color negative film is the most popular type of film, especially in the 35mm format. Almost everyone, photography enthusiast or not, has tried their hands at those rolls we used to buy before digital photography came along taking the world by a storm.

  Color negative film, particularly the 35mm format, is widely manufactured in all types and speeds. From these, you develop color prints and even black and whites at some labs, at generally low costs. You can also make full size prints for hanging your photos. I also ask my lab to scan them straight onto a CD to be easily downloaded on a computer or shared online with friends and on online portfolios.

  
• Black and White film

  Black and white film directly yields monochrome prints of your shots without the distraction of color. Problem with these film though is that a few labs now can process them as the chemicals needed in the development process is different from those used in color negative processing.

  If you don’t know of a lab nearby that can process black and white film for you, you can still get specific types of monochrome negative films like Kodak TMAX-TCN and Ilford XP2, which can be processed with the same chemicals used for developing color negative films giving black and white results.

  
• Color Slide film

  Color slide film is reversal in that the positive image (as opposed to the negative) is formed on the film. This allows you to see your images as slides using a projector.

  Of course you can still get regular colors prints from those but the cost will be higher, so you’re better off getting regular color negative film.

 

Film information

When out shopping for film rolls it’s important to pay attention to what the film box says. On the film box you will find all important information you need to choose your roll, such as film speed, color temperature, expiration date, number of frames, film type and brand, and film size.

Generally speaking, 100 ASA films (ASA is the film synonym for what we now know as ISO) offers the best color saturation and tonal gradation as well as finer grain and least noise. Of course the lower the ASA, the less the film is sensitive to light and the more light needed to register a correct exposure.

Higher ASA film is more sensitive to light which can be useful in low lighting conditions especially if your camera offers a limited variety of shutter speeds to be used. High ASA films are also more expensive. For general shooting, medium-speed film might be most convenient.

 

Film expiration

Film expiration is the date by which you should have used your film. The film expiration date, which can be found on your film box, assumes average storing conditions away from direct sunlight, heat and humidity. To extend their film life, I’ve heard of some people storing their film (sealed) in the fridge to keep it fresh (same as some people do with perfume or smokes).

With time, film sensitivity to light tends to lessen and colors suffer. I personally don’t really put my rolls in the fridge, but I do keep them in a dry place away from direct heat. Plus, expired film can still be used and often gives interesting and unique results!






 

Number of frames

Most widely spread 35mm film format has a dimension of 24mm X 36mm and usually offers 24 or 36 frames, though there are few that come in 12 frame lengths.

 

Film cameras

A camera is basically a box with a lens at the front through which light travels, and some sort of light sensitive material at the back that light hits and in turn registering an exposure. In digital cameras, that light sensitive material is a digital sensor, whereas in film cameras that is called photographic film.

Film cameras nowadays can be one of four basic types: compact cameras, single lens reflex cameras (SLRs), twin lens reflex cameras (TLRs), and view cameras. Film also can be one of three basic types according to picture size: regular 35mm film, medium format, and large format.

Shooting with film cameras is generally straight-forward, and very much like shooting with a digital one. There might be a few minor differences depending on the specific brand of camera you’re using but the most obvious one might be that of setting the ASA value of your film (which is the film speed and can be found on the box as discussed earlier).

Although some film cameras would automatically detect the speed of the film loaded into it by reading a bar code on the cassette via electrical contacts in the film feed compartment, most older film cameras have a knob which you can turn in order to set the speed of the film currently loaded in the back. This of course comes in handy with cameras with built-in electronic light meters, so that once you set the aperture and shutter speed values it would give you some sort of signal notifying you whether or not you need to over-expose or under-expose your current settings for an accurate exposure. This pretty much works the same way as those through the lens (TTL) light metering devices found on current digital cameras these days.

 

Conclusion

Getting into film photography might be a bit overwhelming at first, especially when you hold the camera in your hands for the first time and realize that most of the luxury we’re used to these days, especially in more professional digital cameras, might not be there. Trust me though, if you’re a photographer (digital or not), it won’t take you more than 20 minutes to figure that film SLR all out. In the end, all cameras serve the same purpose and DSLR vs. SLR more or less can be functioned in the same way.

I, for one, have been shooting digital ever since I got into this medium but once I got my first old, dusty, super cheap film SLR I honestly never looked back. You will need to get used to the whole notion of actually paying for film rolls and development costs, but the quality and the mood of these photos you’ll be getting is absolutely invaluable!

You can get a good old SLR camera for less than 20 bucks. Throw in a roll of film and voila! You’re all set to go! Happy clicking =)

Ingard Jensen is an engineering student and photography hobbyist, and he loves doing both. He mostly enjoys taking photos of still life, flowers and landscapes though he also likes portraits as well.

For more creative photography by Ingard Jensen, please visit his website here or check out his flickr photostream right here.