Film or Filmish?

Analog 35mm film or digital images that sort of look like film? Yes, please.

A number of years ago, I found that there wasn’t a film stock that I could shoot which generated colors like those from the ‘50s and ‘60s. There are a few other stocks which have me enamoured with their colors, contrasts, and grain. But, none are being produced anymore.

I’ve heard, “Well, you aren’t using current film stocks to make something similar”. I wholeheartedly disagree and I just can’t stand it when the argument arises. And with that, I pretty much stopped shooting color film (sort of). I have about ten rolls waiting to be developed from last year sitting on the shelf, collecting dust, and hoping to deliver some aesthetic joy in a pixellated world.

Enter, my digital images and film-inspired edits.

After a ton of research into film stocks that are impressionable to me, such as AGFA Ultra 100, Eastman Color Negative 5254 (100T), Kodachrome-X ISO 64, just to name a few, I decided to replicate them in some way. It boils down to is this: what do I think is compelling for the scene? This also depends on what time of day I’m editing, how much booze/coffee has been consumed, etc.

I want grain, contrast, color, vibrancy, that “vintage glow from the whites”, and whatnot. Is there a stock that I want to produce exactly? Not really, but I have crafted a few in a way that might resemble them.

Here’s the other side of the coin: monochrome film — I love shooting film, and b&w is my choice. For years, I dabbled in stocks fit my style the most. I tried to get on the HP5+ train, but I didn’t like the outcome. Same goes with a few eastern European films and a couple Kodak stocks. I found that Ilford film delivered what I was looking for — FP4 Plus (ISO 125), XP2 Super (ISO 400), and now Kentmere Pan 200 (ISO 200). FYI, Kentmere films are manufactured and distributed by HARMAN technology Ltd, the same company that produces ILFORD Photo products. Now, more often than not, I reach for Kentmere Pan 200.

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Now back to this whole filmish thing. 🫩 I wanted to create a certain look and feel, one that took me back to a time that just isn’t around anymore. I found it after looking through too many photo books and then spending an absurd amount of time trying to craft what I was missing. I finally created it.

I keep thinking about this image by Saul Leiter.

Saul Leiter photograph from sometime in the ‘50s or ‘60s.

Am I trying to achieve what Saul created? I’m not, but I love the mood. I need that mood. I crafted my own style based on what I was feeling at that particular time. Oh, and I added a ton of grain and that “glowy white” and I’m happy with what I’ve done. This, to me, is my creative outlet. I’ve been shooting for over 35 years, and only until a few years ago, have I truly been stoked on what I’m creating. My filmish images are feeding my hunger for those vintage vibes.

“Vintage Warm” film preset - photograph by Jason Garcia

And even though, I’m one to shoot a ton of b&w film, it couldn’t deliver the mood I wanted in this same scene. Sure, it looks nice in monochrome, but it’s not enough.

So this is where I’m at. I’m sticking to b&w film images when I feel it’s contextually right, say for architecture. Same goes with digital color imagery. The scene has to hit me a certain way and provide me creepy, moody, silent, dark, and sometime sinister-looking scenes.

If you’d like to try your hand at this filmish look, I have a preset pack available for download. These are excellent “as-is” and you can also build upon them; a great foundation. This also means you’re supporting my creativity and helping pay for my equipment and tools I use to craft my work.

If you have any questions about the presets, feel free to drop me a line. I’m happy to help. Also, if you’re coming to Tokyo and need an insider’s take on where to go, I’m definitely not going to gatekeep anything. The world’s big enough for us all. また後で！