Exploring the Cinematic Allure of Film and Digital Mediums in Photography, and the Necessity of Utilizing Both Formats for My Artistic Endeavors
Sebastian Oakley, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a professional photographer with nearly two decades of experience in the equestrian industry, has chosen to return to shooting film with a focus on becoming a slower, more intentional photographer. This decision is a testament to Oakley's appreciation for the unique qualities that film photography offers.
The Allure of Black-and-White Film
Black-and-white film strips away the distractions of color, leaving only form, emotion, and truth. For Oakley, this monochromatic medium allows him to focus on the essence of his subjects, capturing the raw beauty and emotion that color sometimes obscures.
The Pursuit of Slowness and Intentionality
Oakley's journey with film photography is marked by a deliberate approach. He values the quiet, lasting impact of seeing a developed film negative, in contrast to the immediate dopamine hit of digital photography. Each frame counts, and he wants to work for the image, not have 1,000 throwaways.
The Leica Advantage
Shooting on film, especially with Leica cameras, feels like a conversation rather than a command to Oakley. The manual nature of these cameras forces him to slow down and consider each technical decision carefully. He plans his shots meticulously, uses manual settings, limits his roll of film, and works with natural light and simple compositions.
The Magic of Film Photography
There is no screen to check, no histogram, just instinct, discipline, and trust in one's craft when shooting on film. Oakley finds great thrill when the scan or print emerges from the tray, perfectly exposed and composed. He finds magic in capturing fleeting, spontaneous moments, such as his daughter's grin mid-laugh, and sending them to a grandparent across the country before the moment's even over.
The Balance of Two Worlds
While Oakley will continue to use digital photography due to necessity, his heart remains with film. He acknowledges the usefulness of digital photography for its speed, flexibility, and ability to capture warmth of everyday moments. In those moments, digital photography wins due to its immediacy. However, for intentional, thoughtfully composed images, film photography keeps him grounded and honest, reminding him of why he fell in love with photography in the first place.
[1] Employ slow shutter speeds deliberately to add a sense of movement or timelessness, as can be achieved with tripod support or steady handheld techniques. For example, slow shutter speeds around 1/10 to 1/60 second can capture subtle movement, creating "dreamy" or ethereal effects.
[2] Practice patience in reviewing your work, since film requires development and scanning or printing to see results. This delay encourages reflection on your shooting decisions and growth in your photographic vision.
[3] Focus on the experience of photography itself—the tactile feel of the Leica’s rangefinder, manual advance, and viewfinder focus helps slow your pace, making photography more deliberate and connected.
[4] Together, these approaches foster a slow, mindful photographic style that leverages Leica film cameras’ manual nature to capture intentional, thoughtfully composed images rather than quick snapshots. This practice shifts the photographer’s mindset from volume to quality, enriching the creative process.
[5] Work with natural light and simple compositions, observing how light interacts with your subject rather than overpowering the scene with flash or complicated setups. This intentionality helps create mood and atmosphere.
[6] The individual is a member of Nikon NPS and has been a Nikon user since his film days using a Nikon F5.
- Sebastian Oakley employs slow shutter speeds intentionally to add a sense of movement or timelessness in his film photography, achieving effects like the dreamy or ethereal with techniques like tripod support or steady handheld.
- The delay in reviewing film photography results, due to development and scanning or printing, encourages Oakley to reflect on his shooting decisions and fosters growth in his photographic vision.
- Oakley finds the tactile feel of Leica’s rangefinder, manual advance, and viewfinder focus slows his pace, making his photography more deliberate and connected.
- Oakley's mindful, slow photographic style leverages the manual nature of Leica film cameras to capture intentional, thoughtfully composed images, shifting his focus from quantity to quality and enriching his creative process.
- Oakley prefers working with natural light and simple compositions in his film photography, observing how light interacts with his subjects to create mood and atmosphere.
- Oakley is a member of Nikon NPS and has been a Nikon user since his film days, using a Nikon F5.
- The allure of black-and-white film photography, for Oakley, lies in its ability to capture the raw beauty and emotion of his subjects, stripped of the distractions of color and focus on form, emotion, and truth.
