Analog photography refers to the practice of using a film camera to capture and produce photographs on film. The process involves exposing a roll of film to light, which creates a chemical reaction that produces a image of the subject. The more popular photographic film that most of us know is with a dry plate emulsion and only entered mass use in the early 20th century. Over 100 years before that, so-called wet plates were used, whose emulsion was prepared by the photographer immediately before shooting it because the chemical compound necessary for sealing the image was extremely perishable.

Silver plays a critical role in the process. Photographic film is typically made up of several layers of materials, including a light-sensitive emulsion layer that contains silver halide crystals. When light enters the camera lens and strikes the film, it interacts with the silver halide crystals in the emulsion layer. This interaction causes a chemical reaction that produces a latent image of the subject on the film. The latent image is not visible to the naked eye, but it can be developed into a visible image using a series of chemical processes.

A nalog photography was the primary method of capturing and producing photographs for many years before digital photography became popular. It has a unique aesthetic quality that is different from digital photography, with characteristics such as graininess, color saturation and dynamic range that can give images a distinctive look.

Different films, based on the size

There are several types and sizes of photographic film available, each with its own characteristics and uses. Depending on the film size there are several common types:

35mm film: This is the most common type of film. It comes in a cartridge and is used in 35mm cameras. The image size is typically 24mm x 36mm.

Medium format film: This type of film is larger than 35mm film. The image size varies depending on the specific medium format camera used, such as 6cm x 4.5cm, 6cm x 6 cm and 6cm x 9cm.

Large format film: This type of film is the largest format available for still photography and is used in large format cameras. The most common sizes are 4×5 inches, 5×7 inches, and 8×10 inches.

Different films, based on the emulsion:

Black and white film: This type of film is sensitive to all wavelengths of light and produces a black and white image. It comes in various sizes, including 35mm, medium format, and large format.

Color film: This type of film is sensitive to specific wavelengths of light and produces a color image. It comes in various sizes, including 35mm, medium format, and large format.

Instant film: Instant film is a type of film that produces a physical print immediately after being exposed to light. The most well-known brand is Polaroid, but there are other types of instant film cameras as Fujifilm Instax.

The specific type and size of film used depends on the photographer’s needs and preferences, as well as the camera and equipment being used.

Analog photography has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years, with many photographers and enthusiasts embracing the medium for its unique qualities and tactile nature. While digital photography has largely replaced analog photography for commercial and professional applications, many people continue to use film cameras for personal and artistic projects.

Since day number one RadLab Studio has focused on creating conditions that preserve and promote analog, alternative photography and non-conventional photographic processes as artistic and educational tools. If you’re interested in developing your skills in emulsion photography, you can learn more about our facilities and the services we offer.