A Guide to Capturing Your Summer... the Analog Way

Seems like it was just yesterday that I was bundled up like a warm piece of burrito in the winter, and now summer is already fast approaching! While I'm not exactly the biggest fan of the heat and the sun (Weird, I know), I am excited about taking out my film cameras to capture some of that magical summer moments. Not that you can't do this in any other season, of course, but I'm talking about magical summer moments like this....

And this.....

And this....

Moments that are so sacred to this season!

If you're only now thinking of starting with film photography, I'd say you've chosen just the right time for it. With plenty of summer activities, events, and street life to capture, you're definitely going to have loads of fun with film. But before you get started, make sure to check out our top tips for capturing summer... the analog way.

1. Color film all the way!

If you're debating whether to load your camera with a color or black and white film, you're probably better off with the former. The sun will be plentiful during the summer, which will add richness to the colors you'll see on the trees, buildings, and of course, the sea, if you're so lucky to be spending the summer at the seaside, that is. For a beginner, it may be quite challenging to capture this with a black and white film. But a color film will definitely serve you right during the season.

2. Never underestimate the power of disposables

It definitely helps to have a top SLR film camera to capture your summer, but don't be mistaken, disposable cameras can also take you a long way. Highly affordable and simple to use, there's not much to think of and contemplate before you shoot with a disposable camera, which is one of its greatest beauty. Summertime calls for spontaneous moments and adventures - if you're a beginner, you don't want to be left thinking of which setting to use and which button to press to shoot. Not to mention, the resulting photos would also look distinct and full of characteristics.

Disposable cameras can be a great tool to capture your summer

3. When they go low, we go high

Allow me to translate. Low amount of light calls for high ISO, and vice versa. Since we're talking summer now, the sun will be shining most of the day every day for a few months, so you should not have to worry about a lack of light. This means you should focus on taking pictures with film rolls that are lower in ISO. That is, to avoid overexposure in your photos.

An ISO 200 film should do the trick in this case. It would give you better photo quality when compared to an ISO 400 film, and yet you wouldn't need such steady hands to avoid blurring images as you would with an ISO 100 film. With rich and vivid colors, golden highlights, and high reliability, my pick for the best film roll for the summer goes to the Kodak Gold 200. Although, the Fujicolor c200 is also up there.

One way to experiment in film is by trying out different film rolls

4. Don't be afraid to experiment

There isn't a one-size-fits-all when it comes to film photography, so you shouldn't be afraid to experiment. There are plenty of ways for a beginner to go about this. One of the easiest ways is by trying out different film stocks. And I don't just mean the "regular" ones, but also the ones that are less traditional. PsychBlues produces film rolls that are psychedelic and bubblegum-looking, while Lomography produces some that are monochromatic in purple. Other than that, you can also try to experiment with the ways you capture your photos, and what you capture.

Well, there you have it. Your top tips to capturing the summer... the analog way! However you decide to capture it, the most important part of all is to have fun. So here's to a summer filled with plenty of fun and plenty of film *cheers*.