Around a year ago I decided to pick up a cheap point and shoot camera while in Tokyo. After 12 months of shooting 35mm on a regular basis, I’d say the experience has made me a better photographer.

Ever since I started photography I was interested in shooting film however, the cost and technical aspects of 35mm always pushed me away - photography was already an expensive endeavour without the need of buying and developing film on a regular basis!

I’ll also note that if you are new to photography, I'd steer clear of shooting film for a couple of years - but more on that in a later post.

So what drew me to film. There is an aspect of nostalgia, I grew up with 35mm cameras and the “film look” so it partially reminds me of the past and looks familiar. I also find myself editing my photos in a “film style” so shooting on the real thing was the next logical step.

Back to around a year ago in Tokyo - I picked up the Fujifilm Cardia Travel Mini Dual-P … Honestly, I didn’t know anything about the camera, I just liked how it looked.

6 months down the line I decided it was time for something a little more serious, but i didnt want to dive in the deep end and buy a Leica - so I came across the Voitlander Bessa series.

These cameras are still relatively new (made in 2002) and have a pretty good reputation for being both durable and reliable - and better yet it cost significantly less than a Leica.

Shooting film changes how you take photos. Having gotten used to digital where I was happy to shoot multiple photos of the same frame, with film - due to the time and cost restrictions - I was forced you to really think about what I was shooting and when I shot it. For me, its made me much more aware and considerate of everything in my frame, the subjects I shoot and the moment I hit the shutter button.

Simply put, you are far more careful about what you shoot when each shot costs nearly £1.

This has also translated back into my digital photography where I now think a little more about what I’m shooting and why - rather than mindlessly firing away.

In all, with digital photography, the why and timing can be lost to the endless nature of capturing digital frames, by shooting film I’ve been able to slow down think a little more about the photos I capture.