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During my holiday in Hong Kong, I dropped off a roll of film to be processed. Upon asking for the images to be printed out and mailed to Singapore, I was told that it would take up to two months, since the photos would be sent via post. I did not look for one-hour developing services in Hong Kong. After all, this roll of Kodak Portra 400 took me at least two months to finish, so what's the hurry? Besides, between work and weekend errands, the time to shoot is limited. Hence, I decided to finish the roll while I was overseas. I was mentally prepared to only receive the images in late April/early May. To my surprise, they arrived a month early. As I held the weighty brown envelope in my hands, I felt a stack of photos in the middle. (Image: Chase Yi, Unsplash) My pulse quickened. Part of me assumed that I had made a mistake loading the film and that nothing was captured because of it. Or that most of the photos were so blurry, overexposed or underexposed that very few pictures were printable. The thick stack said otherwise. I was excited, but also cautiously optimistic. Once the missus and I opened the envelope, we each took a small pile to look through. All the images were in focus, but many of them had underexposed areas. (Image: Ddddddarya, Unsplash) Lessons to remember As it turns out, my Pentax Spotmatic F gives better exposure when the needle of the light meter is past the halfway mark. If it's just in the centre, the image will be slightly underexposed. After reviewing the photos again, I reflected on what I could have done better. I should be stricter about the lighting conditions and not be afraid to use a slower shutter speed. Some backgrounds could be better, so I should watch my compositions more as well. Following this, I thought, "Damn, film is brutal, isn't it?" Well, poor technique will be magnified, that's for sure. I don't get to preview an image, delete it and try again. Pushing or pulling film has its limits as well, and I'm reliant on the shop to process not as I see fit, but as they see fit. (Image: Immo Wegmann, Unsplash) A smile began to spread across my face. I couldn't blame the film, the camera or my lens. It was all down to me. And that made me feel good. Before every frame, I would picture the composition and see where the light was falling. Then I'd adjust the aperture and shutter speed. In all that time, it never mattered what camera I had or what lens was on it. As for the film stock, that was decided 36 frames ago. It felt so liberating to only think about the picture I wanted. Film isn't brutal. It's not a sentient being that judges you. Film is impartial. It exists as a medium and its only job is to show you what you've accomplished and tell your story. It's not out to stroke your ego or shatter your pride. And for that reason, if I don't control myself, I'll be needing to purchase more photo albums in the future. So, for the next roll of film, I'll keep the negatives and settle for having the photos scanned and kept in Google Drive instead. – Jeremy (Main image: Chase Yi, Unsplash)

Prior to last month, I couldn't even recall the last time I used a film camera. It might have been two decades ago, because sometime in the mid-2000s, digital cameras began to proliferate and before we knew it, film was out, and the 'Megapixel War' had commenced. I still remember how almost everyone I knew suddenly started talking about which camera had how many megapixels and how it that would deliver the best resolution and therefore, the 'best' photos. One-hour photo developing shops in shopping centre basements started disappearing. Nobody wanted to wait for their photos to be developed when they could be viewed and even printed at home. I, too, was enamoured at the speed at which we could produce images. Pictures that were no good could be easily deleted, so there was no more pressure to get your photos right the first time. But I began to miss shooting film a few years ago. Shooting for work is done with a digital camera and there's a rush to just get the shoot over and done with. There's little engagement in the process. The Spotmatic F feels great to hold as it is constructed from mostly metal, with some plastic bits used for the dials After all, we live in an era where everything must happen instantly, which means we're always doing (or trying to do) everything as fast as we can. It's like going on a holiday with such a packed itinerary that instead of immersing yourself in the sights, sounds and flavours, you're just rushing to tick every box on your list in a bid to maximise your time there. Damn, that's WORK, not leisure, and it's also the reason why you come home and declare you need another vacation. Slow your roll I have four film cameras: A Minolta I inherited from my late grandfather, a Yashica from the 1990s, a Mamiya RB67 I bought from Ebay a few years ago (but got 'lost' before I could use it), and my most recent acquisition, a Pentax Spotmatic F. I got that because I wanted a manual 35mm camera. One Saturday, during a few hours of clear skies, I asked my better half to indulge me by playing the role of muse/model in a photo shoot. I then loaded the Pentax with a roll of Kodak Portra 160 and set the film speed to 100. Not having touched film in nearly 20 years made the process of loading the camera, which once upon a time felt so natural, feel tricky. Luckily, I could tell I loaded it right, because the rewind lever turned counterclockwise as I advanced the roll. With a digital camera or even my smartphone, taking snapshots is easy. Once I am satisfied with the light, background and overall composition, I can click away without worry. The 120mm film rolls are expired, but they could still give 'interesting' results With film, the process is slower and more purposeful. Yes, I also imagine the final image I want to see and work backwards from there, while factoring in the available light and background. After this, I asked my missus to practice a few poses. Only after we decided on one did I activate the camera's light meter by uncovering the lens. Aha, and unlike modern camera lenses that have plastic caps, this one is made of metal. Woot. Then I adjusted the exposure by tweaking the aperture and shutter speed. Once these were sorted, I finally cocked the shutter by advancing the film lever. I felt like a sniper of sorts as I held by breath before releasing it. The click that accompanied its opening and closing was most satisfying. This was followed by a long-lost but familiar feeling of not knowing how the images will turn out. I wonder if I focussed correctly and whether my hand shook. From here on, it'll be up to the lab and whoever's processing the film to adjust accordingly, assuming there's enough latitude. The shutter speed is set using the left dial, while the shutter itself has a threaded hole for a cable release. The film counter is above the advancing lever Making each shot count Because each shot is carefully planned, my time is put to better use. Film costs more than it used to, and I recall spending $21 for the 36-exposure roll of Portra 160. The entire shoot lasted 35 minutes and I took either five or six photos. So, I probably have another 30 exposures... and much planning to do. I'm thinking of shooting landscapes in the Botanic Gardens next time. Shooting film feels more shiok than shooting digital. After all, it's something I enjoy, so naturally, it's nicer to spend more time on it as opposed to hurrying through the process. It's also liberating. A digital camera is more convenient, but if you review your shots, you start to feel constrained. With film, I can totally focus on lighting and composition since I won't see my results anytime soon. And yes, I like that feeling of anticipation and eventually, excitement, after I eventually finish the roll and send it to be processed. Aperture is set using this handy dial, while the focus is dialled in using the checkered ring - plenty of engagement for the hobbyist Larger formats? Having 36 exposures is great, but for a hobbyist like me that tries to plan every shot, medium format might be a better option. Apart from better resolution, and smoother tones and colour gradients, I'll have less planning to do, as the 6x7 format may only give me a dozen exposures. Or maybe I'll want to try a large format 4x5 camera in the future. Sheet film might be even more expensive than 120mm film, so I might only take two photos. Two well-planned shots after spending time setting up the camera. Film is outdated for an online portal like ours, but as a hobby, it's immensely more rewarding than shooting digital. I hope it doesn't disappear, because it's not outdated - it's just another format.