As a photographer, I often find myself caught between two worlds—one grounded in the past, with the tactile and intentional experience of shooting on film, and the other looking forward, embracing the speed and versatility of digital photography. For me, both mediums have been integral to my growth as an artist, shaping not just how I take pictures, but how I see the world, film vs digital.
In this film vs digital post, I want to share my personal journey with both film and digital photography. Each has its own charm, strengths, and challenges, and they both continue to play significant roles in my work, including my books, such as Paths of Watership Down and Towpath Reflections. Whether it’s the grain of Ilford HP5+ film or the precision of a Canon EOS 5DSR, every photograph I take is part of an ongoing dialogue between these two methods of image-making.
Table of Contents
The Charm of Film Photography
I’ll never forget the moment I loaded my Canon AE-1 Program with a roll of Ilford HP5+ film for the first time. There’s something magical about holding film in your hands, carefully loading it into the camera, hearing the satisfying click as it locks into place. It’s a tactile experience that digital simply can’t replicate, and that initial spark of excitement never fades, no matter how many times I do it.
Film photography forces you to slow down. With only 36 (or 24) shots on a roll, every frame counts. You don’t have the luxury of firing off hundreds of images and picking the best one later. Instead, you find yourself immersed in the moment, carefully considering composition, light, and exposure before pressing the shutter. For me, this process is almost meditative. It heightens my awareness of the scene in front of me, encouraging a level of patience and intentionality that has become central to my photographic practice.
The aesthetic qualities of film are also something that digital has yet to fully capture. The grain of Ilford HP5+, the deep contrasts, and the subtle tones all add a timeless quality to the images. When I was working on Paths of Watership Down, many of the landscapes I captured on film seemed to echo the ancient, untouched beauty of the English countryside. There’s a certain nostalgia to film that aligns perfectly with these landscapes—it’s as if the medium itself is another layer of storytelling.
But film isn’t just about the final image; it’s about the process. There’s a sense of anticipation that comes with film—waiting to finish a roll, sending it off to be developed, and finally seeing the results. Every time I get those negatives back, it feels like Christmas morning. I often find myself rediscovering moments I’d almost forgotten, now rendered in grainy, beautiful detail. The slow, deliberate nature of film gives every photograph weight.
The Precision and Versatility of Digital
Despite my love for film, there’s no denying the incredible power of digital photography. When I made the shift to digital, one of the first things I noticed was the freedom it offered. I didn’t have to worry about running out of shots or waiting for development. I could experiment more freely, trying out different compositions, lighting conditions, or perspectives without the fear of wasting film.
My Canon EOS 5DSR has been a faithful digital camera companion on many of my adventures, including my recent trip to Norway. Digital allows me to capture moments with incredible precision, which is invaluable when I’m photographing landscapes or wildlife. For instance, while in Norway, I was able to quickly adjust settings on the fly to capture the subtle shifts in light as dawn broke over Andalsnes, or the mist as it lifted off the water in Eidfjord. With digital, I have the flexibility to make those split-second decisions that can make or break a shot.
Another advantage of digital is the ability to review my work instantly. While film teaches patience, digital encourages exploration. Being able to immediately see what I’ve captured means I can make adjustments on the spot, fine-tuning compositions or experimenting with new angles. It’s a different kind of creativity—one that’s fast-paced and dynamic.
Post-processing is also where digital truly shines. With programs like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop, I have full control over the final image. I can enhance the colours, bring out the shadows, or soften the highlights to match the vision in my mind. This has been especially useful in my recent projects, like Towpath Reflections, where I wanted to bring out the serene beauty of Aldermaston Wharf’s towpaths and waterways.
Finding Balance – Film vs Digital – Using Both Mediums
For a long time, I felt like I had to choose between film vs digital, but I’ve come to realise that each serves a different purpose in my work. Film is intimate and personal, while digital is expansive and versatile. Together, they create a balanced toolkit that allows me to express myself fully as a photographer.
When working on a project like Echoes of Calleva, I often switch between the two. The ancient landscapes around Silchester, with their rolling hills and quiet solitude, felt perfectly suited to film’s timeless quality. The texture and grain added a layer of history to the images, as if the land itself had been captured in a way that mirrored its own long, storied past. On the other hand, digital allowed me to capture the vibrant colours of the changing seasons with stunning clarity, adding depth to the final sequence of images.
It’s not just about the film vs digital aesthetic differences, though. The process of shooting film is slower and more deliberate, which can be a welcome contrast to the fast-paced nature of digital photography. I find that switching between the two helps keep me grounded. When I’m feeling creatively drained or overwhelmed, going back to film often reignites my passion. It reminds me to slow down, to think more carefully about each shot, and to reconnect with the moment.
Embracing Digital, 35mm and Medium Format
Ultimately, my journey with both film and digital photography has been one of balance. Film reminds me of where I started, of the joy of the craft itself, while digital pushes me to explore new ideas and techniques. I don’t see these two mediums as being in competition with each other. Instead, I see them as complementary tools that each offer something unique to my artistic process.
Whether I’m wandering the towpaths of Aldermaston Wharf or standing at the edge of a fjord in Norway, I’ve learned to appreciate what both film and digital photography bring to the table. Each photograph, whether grainy or razor-sharp, carries with it the lessons I’ve learned from both mediums. And in the end, that’s what makes photography so special for me—it’s not just about the final image, but about the journey of capturing it.
If you’re interested in seeing how I use both film vs digital photography in my work, I invite you to explore my books, like Towpath Reflections or Paths of Watership Down. Each one reflects a different side of my creative process, and I hope you’ll find something in them that speaks to you. Feel free to leave a comment below—do you prefer film or digital? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
