Adding film, Nikon f100, Portra 800
Photography has become my passion, and there's something truly magical about capturing the intimate moments and warm emotions that unfold during weddings. In my quest to enhance the emotional depth and evoke a sense of nostalgia in my wedding photography, I picked up a Nikon F100 camera and paired it with Kodak Portra 800 film. This combination has not only delivered exceptional results but also added a unique perspective and charm to my photos. I’ll share my personal experience with this combination and how I feel it’s added to my proverbial bag of camera tricks.
When I first held the Nikon F100 in my hands, I was instantly drawn to its classic design and robust build quality. As a film camera camera newbie, I have been searching for the tactile experience and the ability to slow down and be more deliberate in my compositions. The F100 delivered on all fronts, offering a reliable and familiar interface that seamlessly integrated into my wedding photography workflow. The f100 closely mimics a Nikon dslr in its size and feel. At quick glance most wouldn’t notice the difference, it’s that familiarity that drew me to the camera.
In search of a film stock that would infuse my images with warmth, rich colors, and fine grain, I found my answer in Kodak Portra 800. It’s also a film stock that is referenced almost exclusively when you research film stocks for weddings. This versatile film became my trusted companion, allowing me to capture a wedding in a distinctive and nostalgic manner. With its wide exposure latitude, Portra 800 has excelled in challenging lighting conditions, preserving details in both highlights and shadows with remarkable consistency. In my (very) limited experience I continue to be impressed with films ability to be shot several stops over (overexposed) and still maintain details. This same ability is not true at all of digital photography.
Weddings are filled with intimate moments shared between the couple, their families, and friends. The Nikon F100, with its manual controls and precise metering system, enabled me to embrace the authenticity of these fleeting moments. Through the camera's viewfinder, I could connect with the emotions unfolding in front of me and capture them with utmost care and sensitivity. This connection, coupled with the warm tones of Portra 800, breathed life into my images, encapsulating the essence of love, joy, and togetherness.
In a world dominated by digital photography, the combination of the Nikon F100 and Kodak Portra 800 film have offered me a refreshing departure from the instant gratification of digital. The inherent limitations of shooting film require me to be more intentional and discerning, instilling a sense of anticipation in the creative process. Each click of the shutter feels like capturing a timeless fragment, the moments feel even more fleeting and important than when shooting digital.
Photographing weddings with the Nikon F100 and Kodak Portra 800 film has been a learning curve, one that has enriched both my craft and my connection to my camera, the moment in front of me, and with the couples I have had the pleasure of documenting. The f100’s reliability, combined with the film's warm and nostalgic qualities, has allowed me to create images that evoke emotion and preserve cherished memories. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow with this modality.
