In the era of instant digital photography, where nearly everyone carries a high-quality camera in their pocket, the idea of using film for casual photography might seem outdated or unnecessarily complicated. Yet, for many, film photography offers something digital cannot replicate—a tangible excitement and emotional connection to the process of taking pictures. There’s a certain allure in the anticipation, the physicality, and the imperfection of film that digital cameras, with their instant gratification, can’t match.

Film photography, once a dominant medium, has been largely eclipsed by digital technology in recent decades. But recently, it has made a remarkable comeback, especially among younger generations who weren’t around when film cameras were the norm. This revival is not just about nostalgia or a desire for vintage aesthetics, but about rediscovering the raw excitement of casual photography—the thrill of each shot, the sense of permanence in every frame, and the beauty of unpredictability.

A Different Approach to Photography

For most of the digital age, photography has been synonymous with instant gratification. You take a photo, you see it immediately, and if you don’t like it, you delete it and try again. The feedback loop is quick, and the ability to instantly view and edit your images has made photography increasingly fast-paced and often, impersonal. This instant feedback, while incredibly useful in certain situations, removes much of the excitement that used to come with taking a photo.

Film photography, on the other hand, offers an entirely different experience. When you load a roll of film into a camera, you’re stepping into a world where patience, thoughtfulness, and anticipation reign. Unlike digital, you can’t just snap away and check your results instantly. You are limited by the number of frames on the roll, and each frame carries weight because once it’s taken, it can’t be undone or deleted.

This constraint often forces photographers to slow down and carefully consider their composition, lighting, and subject. While it can be tempting to take 50 shots with a digital camera, film requires you to be more deliberate. This aspect of film photography can lead to more thoughtful and meaningful shots. Every shot feels significant, not just in terms of the image you’re capturing, but because you’re more engaged in the process of making it happen.

The Magic of Uncertainty

One of the most exciting elements of film photography is the element of surprise. Unlike digital, where you can immediately see and adjust your images, the film leaves you in suspense until your role is developed. Whether you’re shooting on a high-end camera or using an old point-and-shoot, there’s always a bit of uncertainty about how the images will turn out. This unpredictability is something digital photography can’t match.

Sometimes, those unexpected results can be the most rewarding part of film photography. The grain, the slight overexposure, the unexpected light leaks or color shifts—these imperfections are often what gives a film photograph its unique character. They inject life and personality into the picture in a way that digital images, which tend to be sharp and clean, often can’t. You may take a shot thinking it won’t turn out well, only to develop the film and discover a beautiful image that surprises you in all the right ways. These little surprises are part of the joy of casual film photography, adding a level of excitement and mystery that digital photography often lacks.

The unpredictability of film is especially pronounced when working with different types of film stocks. Each type of film—be it black and white, color negative, or slide film—has its own unique look and behavior. The color palette of a specific film stock, how it handles contrast, or how it reacts to light is something you can’t easily replicate in a digital file. The serendipity that comes with using different films is part of what makes shooting with film so exciting. You’re constantly learning and adapting to the nuances of the medium, and each roll of film feels like a new adventure.

A Tactile and Engaging Process

Another aspect of casual film photography that is often overlooked in today’s digital-first world is the physicality of the process. While digital photography is mostly a screen-based activity—shooting, reviewing, editing, and sharing images all happen in the digital space—film photography requires you to engage in a more hands-on way.

Loading the film, advancing it between shots, and manually setting exposure are tactile experiences that digital photography can’t replicate. There’s something incredibly satisfying about the physical process of using a film camera, especially if it’s a mechanical camera that requires manual adjustments. Each click of the shutter, the winding of the film after each shot, and the feeling of the camera in your hands connects you to the process in a way that modern digital cameras often don’t.

The act of developing film, even if it’s only sending it out to be processed, adds another level of involvement. Many film photographers enjoy the ritual of picking up developed prints from the lab, holding the physical images in their hands, and feeling a sense of accomplishment in having created something tangible. Digital photography can be just as rewarding, but the lack of a physical product, unless printed, can leave some people feeling disconnected from their work. With film, there’s always something physical to hold onto—the negatives, the prints, the entire roll of film that’s a record of your photographic journey.

The Excitement of Discovery

There’s an undeniable joy in shooting with the film that comes from delayed gratification. You might go on a walk, take a trip, or attend an event, and only weeks later will you see the photos from that outing. The delay between taking the pictures and seeing the results means you’re not bogged down by second-guessing or trying to perfect every shot. Instead, you let go of the obsessive editing that many digital photographers indulge in, and simply trust that the film will capture what you experienced in the moment.

This delay can also create a sense of discovery. You may have forgotten some of the moments you captured, and upon getting your film back, you experience the memories again, sometimes with fresh eyes. It’s a more rewarding form of nostalgia because you’ve had time to forget the details. Digital photography, in contrast, can create a cycle of immediate consumption and instant sharing. The joy of discovery is often lost in the need to post or edit photos as soon as they’re taken.

Another aspect of the discovery process is seeing how different types of film respond to various environments. For example, you might shoot outdoors on a sunny day with one type of film and notice how it captures the warmth of the light differently than another type of film would. Or, you might experiment with shooting at night and find that the results are more dramatic and unpredictable. The excitement of film is in those moments of experimentation, when the outcome is unknown, and the joy is in the journey rather than the result.

The Sense of Community and Shared Experience

Film photography, despite being a personal and introspective art form, has always thrived on community. In today’s digital age, there are countless online forums, social media groups, and workshops dedicated to the love of film. The shared experience of shooting with film creates bonds among people who appreciate the medium’s qualities.

For many, film photography also has a more grassroots, DIY vibe. From the instant camera culture to the revival of older camera models, there’s an element of exploration and experimentation that encourages photographers to try different things—old film stocks, new cameras, or even home development methods. The sharing of tips, tricks, and results helps build a community of like-minded enthusiasts who enjoy celebrating the quirks of film photography.

This sense of community is also present in the analog-inspired resurgence of Polaroid-style instant photography and the rise of film festivals and exhibitions. More and more, photographers are coming together to appreciate the unique charm and imperfections of analog photography. The excitement of these communities reflects a collective acknowledgment that, despite its age, film photography is not only relevant but also offers something deeply satisfying that digital photography sometimes lacks.

Rediscovering the Joy of Film

Casual film photography is a process rooted in patience, discovery, and excitement that digital photography has forgotten in its rush to produce perfection. In a world of instant gratification, film photography offers something rare: the chance to slow down, embrace uncertainty, and savor the tactile process of creating images. It’s the excitement of not knowing exactly how your photos will turn out and the thrill of discovering something beautiful and unexpected when the film is developed.

For those willing to step away from the instant feedback and limitless shooting capacity of digital, casual film photography offers a refreshing and emotionally engaging experience. It reminds us of the joy of waiting, of experimenting, and of appreciating the imperfections that make each image unique. In 2023, the forgotten excitement of film photography is not just being rediscovered—it’s thriving, and it’s more accessible than ever.