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ILFORD PHOTO offer the biggest range of black & white films on the market today. While this is perfect for experienced film photographers who love having a choice, we appreciate that it can be a bit confusing for people new to film photography.
If you are looking to try film photography for the first time and are wondering where to start, then you have come to the right place.
We should start by pointing out that there is no ‘wrong’ choice when it comes to ILFORD films. They are all fantastic,...
Starting Out
As a relative newbie there is a lot I still don’t know or understand the history of photographic film types and the various process do’s & don’ts. I’m OK with this and let me tell you why. There are countless books, articles and resources to help me learn as well as a very supportive film community. It is important that I do my homework but it is also important I don’t let all this information overwhelm me.
Learning
For me the main and only way to learn is time behind t...
Zone focusing is arguably one of the quickest and most effective methods of focusing your camera. With a little forethought, practice and pre-visualisation of your shot, it's a method that can reduce problems like shutter lag. Ensure your images are sharp every time. And help you take photos more surreptitiously.
It doesn't rely on automation and, in most cases can be put into practice before you've brought the camera to your eye. I believe it's a core skill and a method that everyone who takes photograp...
An appreciation of Ilford FP4
The greatest pleasures can be taken from the simplest of things. An appreciation of something old that gets passed by while everyone tries to keep up with the crowd or the relentless progression of technology. For me Ilford’s FP4 is one of those little pleasures.
The RAF
I was a photographer in the Royal Air Force from 1986 -1995. At my RAF unit we had little choice of film stock. It was FP4 and HP5 for black and white. Being stationed at a headquarters unit mean...
Nolton Haven
Technical info
Film Used FP4+
Format 35mm
Camera Nikon F2
Lens 20mm F3.5 AI. 25A red & 2stop ND filters.
Exposure time 30seconds
Other equipment Manfrotto tripod, Weston Lightmeter.
Location
Nolton Haven is a small narrow bay on the Pembrokeshire coast in West Wales. It sits between the two much larger beaches of Druidstone and Newgale. Its characteristic feature are its two almost near symmetrical headlands.
Firstly, tell us the...
We didn't set a theme for our first #ilfordfridayfavourites of this year, instead we've had fun browsing through the huge variety of images that you shoot using our film.
Below are just a small selection of some that caught our attention.
@AdyKerry One of the first pictures I took on my #Pentax67 with 135mm f4 at the Hockey World Cup 2014, using HP5. #believeinfilm
@NavalAirHistory The wonderful Bristol Scout of @ScoutBuilder at @StowAero taken on HP5 with a Voigtlander rangefinder camera
@I...
The Grand Canyon at Plateau Point
Technical info
Film Used: ILFORD FP4+
Format: 4x5
Camera: Wista 45DX
Lens: Rodenstock: 90mm f/4.5
Exposure time: 1/60th
Other equipment: Red filter
Location:
Plateau Point, Grand Canyon National Park
Firstly, tell us the story behind this image. What inspired you to shoot it?
One weekend at the last minute I decided to do a full moon hike to Plateau Point in the Grand Canyon. My plan was to hike down around ...
It's been so much fun this week looking through all of the #fridayfavourites #filtered shots and finding out out what your favourite combinations are. The most popular combinations that we've seen are FP4+ with a yellow filter and HP5+ with and orange. There were also some fantastic shots on SFX with a variety of red filters.
It was a tough choice, but these are this week's favourites.
@Hier_komt_Alex Sailing ship inspired footbridge near Amersfoort train station #ilfordphoto #fridayfavourites #fil...
My love for film is strong, but it wasn’t my first photography love. When I first started out as a landscape photographer my focus was on digital infrared. I was drawn to the unique view that it captures. Last month my two photography loves came together when I was given some SFX200 Extended Red film by ILFORD.
When I shoot film I use a different set of skills to when I shoot infrared. One of the most important elements of shooting infrared digital is the quality of the light - the distribution and o...
Mindtraveller
Technical info
Film Used: ILFORD HP5+ (pushed to 3200)
Format: 120, shot as 6x7
Camera : Mamiya RB67 Pro SD
Lens: Sekor 50mm f4.5
Exposure time: 20 minutes
Other equipment: Tripod
Location: Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, Canada
Tell us the story behind this image. What inspired you to shoot it?
In the Canadian Arctic, we are gifted with the otherwise-evasive Aurora Borealis on almost a nightly basis. On many nights, the spectacle is nothing more than a faint gre...