World Photography Day Is a Great Chance to Celebrate Cameras, Analog and Digital Alike
Today is World Photography Day, and an excellent opportunity to look at the technology photographers use to capture images. PetaPixel chatted with Retrospekt’s co-founder, Adam Fuerst, about analog and digital photography, the act of taking pictures, and where photography can go from here.
“I started shooting on film 20 years ago as a way to document meaningful life moments that felt more deserving than to end up as digital clutter on a hard drive,” Fuerst tells PetaPixel. “As a result, I have some of the most pivotal moments of my life captured on film — from touring as a musician, my wedding day, the arrival of my two children, and so many other magical moments in-between.”
Digital clutter is a relatively modern problem for photographers, as digital cameras and big hard drives make it so easy to snap thousands of photos quickly. For Fuerst, analog photography’s various logistical challenges make keeping a lean photo catalog much easier.
Fuerst also genuinely loves the process of shooting film and the resulting images, which was part of the impetus for co-founding Retrospekt with his wife, Kori, in 2010.
“At Retrospekt, our focus is on the user experience and image creation,” Adam explains, adding that Retrospekt is also committed to removing barriers to entry to ensure that more people can enjoy film photography, whether they’re beginners or seasoned vets. There’s a strong focus on access, aided by the company’s refurbish and repair services.
“Photography has a lasting appeal simply due to the essential nature of the art form — it meets a deeply human need to record the past,” Fuerst believes. “What makes photography a part of most people’s everyday experience and keeps it relevant to a mass audience is its accessibility.”
Photography has undergone numerous transformative technological shifts throughout its long, storied history. However, at its core, one thing has always stayed the same: photography is about capturing light to record moments and tell stories.
When asked what the most impactful technological evolution in photography’s history is, Fuerst thinks it comes back to accessibility.
“Photography has seen a stream of innovation in its lifetime, each catalyst for growth and widespread appeal has been portability and accessibility. When these two factors come together in an innovative way the demand and appeal increases in orders of magnitude.”
Having been active in the industry since 2008, a couple of years before Retrospekt’s founding, Fuerst has seen some of the most dramatic shifts in camera technology. And while it seemed like film was on the way out, given how the major camera brands continued to shift away from analog camera tech in the 21st century, Fuerst says the passion and love for film has remained.
“There has always been interest, passion, and vibrant communities for film photography.”
However, he admits something has changed in recent years, with an accelerating interest in film.
“What we are seeing today is a group of users disenchanted from the late stage digital transformation and wanting for something real, tangible, and personal. Unlike during the digital revolution, today’s consumers do not see the options as either or; they are looking for tools to meet their needs at a particular moment and are finding out how film can enhance a moment instead of competing with it,” Fuerst explains.
A significant factor keeping some photographers away from film remains the relatively high cost of shooting with it. While all cameras, digital and analog alike, can be expensive, digital doesn’t have the continued cost of operation that a film camera does.
Fuerst hopes that as analog photography becomes more popular, the increased demand for film will help film manufacturers reach economies of scale and afford to sell film at lower prices.
“We do not think this will ever return to the levels seen in the 80s and 90s, but we hope that continuing to create an access point for new users will help keep film produced as a viable consumer product.”
One way to save a bit of money is by not seeking out the latest and greatest equipment. With photography’s rich history, there are so many great old lenses out there that can still capture amazing photos. In the case of cameras, analog or digital alike, it is relatively straightforward to adapt different lenses to various lens mounts.
“We believe it is a false equivalency of money spent on gear and outcomes. The fundamentals of photography live in the photographer and not the gear,” Fuerst says. “A hallmark of a great photographer is someone who can compose and capture the breadth of the human experience regardless if they are taking photos on a disposable camera, a cell phone, or a multi-thousand dollar digital camera.”
Smartphones are, by far, the most used type of camera in the world. Research suggests that nearly 93% of all photos taken annually are captured using a smartphone, which amounts to a massive chunk of the nearly two trillion images captured every year.
However, in the last few years, there has been an exciting swell of interest in older digital cameras, as younger people who have almost exclusively used smartphones for photography yearn for a different camera experience.
“We believe, especially for the younger demographic of users, they want to uncouple the all-in-one phone experience,” Fuerst explains. “It may not be an all or nothing approach, but simply moments of time they want to be present without their cell phones begging for their attention. Couple this with some images that look unique and reflective of a more simple time, there is a lot to like about the digital Y2K photo experience.”
While Retrospekt is known primarily for its analog camera equipment, it does dabble in digital cameras, including the compacts that have become so popular in the last few years.
As for gear, it is an integral part of the photographic experience. The specifics don’t necessarily matter too much — great photographers can capture fantastic shots with just about anything — but you’d be hard-pressed to find a photographer who doesn’t have a favorite camera or lens.
In Fuerst’s case, it’s hard to pin down a favorite camera ever, but “at the moment,” it’s a Leica Mini Zoom.
“A few years ago, after my first child was born, I threw a Leica Mini Zoom in the family diaper bag. This seemed to work best as a family camera since it was light, easy to use for a parent or caregiver/friend, and high quality enough to feel comfortable documenting family moments, but not overly expensive that I lost sleep about it getting dropped.”
No matter how someone takes pictures, whether it’s a top-of-the-line digital camera, a smartphone, a film camera, or even a “nostalgic” digital camera, photography is amazing, and it’s for everyone.
Image credits: Retrospekt unless otherwise noted. Featured image licensed via Depositphotos.
