"That's how I got into film. At some point over the last decade, reviewing phones morphed more or less into reviewing cameras with touchscreens on the back. For a writer with no photography experience, that started to become a problem, and I realized that I needed to learn enough about cameras to hold my own. I was having to take my own product photos, too, so I needed to get better at the practical side of photography, not just the theory."
"I started by borrowing an old DSLR from my office's photography studio, using it for work photos and the odd bit of weekend practice. I tried to make myself think about framing, to consider camera modes, to learn how to take advantage of light. It helped, but only to a point. The problem with modern cameras, you see, is that everything can be made automatic."
A move to a 50-year-old film camera taught photography fundamentals through hands-on practice. Reviewing phones shifted into evaluating camera performance, exposing a lack of practical shooting experience. Borrowing an office DSLR improved framing, modes, and light use, but modern cameras' automation limited deeper learning. Film requires deliberate manual control, forcing thoughtful setting choices and slower shooting that build understanding of exposure, composition, and technique. The analog workflow enforces careful practice and produces stronger practical skills for product and everyday photography compared with relying on automatic digital systems.
Read at The Verge
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