Film Versus Digital Photography

Despite society’s obsession with speed and convenience, many of today’s youth are rediscovering the slower, tactile beauty of analog. For me, that fascination lives in film photography.

Film is beautiful precisely because of its imperfections; the grain, the contrast, the uneven lighting. Each roll carries its own personality, creating images that feel alive and unrepeatable. There’s something grounding about holding a physical negative or seeing a freshly developed print, knowing each frame was equally deliberate. It forces patience and intentionality, as well as an appreciation for the process itself which feels increasingly rare in a world addicted to instant gratification.

That said, film is not the perfect medium. It is expensive, time-consuming, and sometimes unpredictable in ways that can frustrate even the most patient photographer. Digital photography, by contrast, offers freedom and immediacy. With a Fujifilm camera, I can replicate the warmth, subtle grain, and muted contrasts of film without waiting for development. My first photos on it felt magical: everything I had hoped for in a film camera, captured digitally. It’s a compromise, but one that allows me to create consistently while still honoring the aesthetic I love.

Whether this is “inauthentic” is a question I often return to. I feel like admiring the process of developing film but getting a digital camera to get the same visual effect is insincere. I have often wondered maybe my love for film was more artificial than I had thought.

Film and digital each bring something unique to capturing every day moments. Film reminds me to slow down and appreciate imperfection; digital gives me the flexibility to experiment and refine. Together, they form a balance that keeps me engaged and inspired.

In the end, the tools are secondary to the intention behind them. Whether it’s the hiss of film winding through a camera or the click of a digital shutter, what matters is the story I choose to tell.