Four Film Photography Mistakes to Avoid

Summary

Film photographer Jonathan Paragas outlines four key mistakes that detract from the quality of film photographs. These include incorrect exposure metering, selecting film stocks that don't suit the shooting conditions, neglecting the role of texture in adding depth, and misjudging light positioning relative to the subject. Paragas emphasizes that these are fixable errors, not inherent limitations of the camera or film itself, and provides guidance on how to correct them for more polished results.

Key points

• Avoid improper exposure metering; the advice to always overexpose film is situational.
• Research film stock characteristics and match them to shooting conditions.
• Incorporate texture and foreground elements to add depth and dimension.
• Understand how light positioning (backlit vs. front-lit) affects film stock response.