Film Photography

Film Photography is the medium in which still images are created on an acetate film base with a gelatin made with silver halide crystals inside. The silver halide interacts with light to create a latent image which is then developed in a series of photographic chemicals (developer, stop bath, and fixer) to create either a positive(slide) or a negative.

Photography via film was the primary avenue of expression from the mid to late 1800’s through the early part of this century or rather until digital imaging became a viable alternative in the early to mid 2000’s.

One was able to extract images or prints from their negatives/ positives in a number of ways including having the films developed professionally at labs or for the more industrious, was printing it in a personal darkroom.

Using an enlarger, an image is projected from the negative/positive onto an emulsion covered sheet of photographic paper, thus creating another latent image which is again developed in a series of photographic chemicals.

Many types of film formats and alternative printing types have come and gone over the years including daguerro type, wetplate collodian and cyanotype to name a few.

Common film sizes are including but not limited to, sheet film (large format) in 11x14, 8x10, 5x7 and 4x5 as well as roll film in 120mm (medium format) and 35mm. Paper and Film brands that are typically carried in stock at Norman Camera are Ilford, Kodak, Fuji and Lomography, along with instant films made by Polaroid Originals, formerly The Impossible Project, Fuji and Leica. Most of these films can be had in color or black and white.

Numerous archival solutions exist including print sleeves, photo albums and frames. Portra, T-Max, Tri-X, HP5, Delta, Ektar, Pan-F, XP-2, Instax, Instax Mini, Instax Square, Ultra Max, Velvia, Acros, Sx-70, 600, Spectra, SFX, Ilfosol 3, Multigrade, Wash Aid.