Why Film ?

As technology advances every year new gear from the fastest digital camera bodies, sharpest lenses, quickest computers, etc. flood the market. The hype in the photography world for each release can best be described as a child anticipating Christmas morning. With new gear comes new trends which means hundreds of photographers releasing new presets to the photography market which are a type of code that is imported into editing software to help achieve a certain look for images ( ex. dark moody, orange colored tones, or bright/bold colors). Though with all the new no matter how impressive something may look one thing is for certain - it is replaceable. Next year there will be new gear and new editing trends and so forth for the trend to only continue on in a loop.

One medium that is not replaceable and has remained consistent is film. Yes film. Those big chunky cameras you may have seen your parents or grandparents carry around with them. The polaroid cameras that captured your 8th birthday party at the skating rink. The list of different times in life that film was present in our upbringing if born in the 90’s or earlier can go on and on. Film is timeless. It has depth to the images that make you truly feel the moment . It freezes time in almost a dream like state. The colors are unique and there is softness to subjects in the frame. Film is not replaceable - no matter how far in time we go it will not become a trend that was replaced with something shiny or new. The images will not be out of style when they hang on the wall. It remains warm and true to what it documented.

Having been raised by my father who had a passion for photography I had a strong appreciation for film from a very early age. When I flip through the countless memories my father photographed of my childhood I am grateful that those moments were snapped in a way that does not distract from the natural beauty of the the landscape or memory it was documenting. The colors are rich and accurate. The photograph allows me to visually remember if I close my eyes the people, the landscape, the cake, etc. of how they were. I feel what I felt in that moment when holding that photograph in my hand. THIS is what I want for my clients. I want your images to remain classic.

All images above were photographed with a Pentax 645 camera

Currently I photograph as a hybrid photographer which means I use both a digital camera AND several types of film cameras for my work. Now this may have you confused since above I am praising film yet admit to still using digital - let me explain further. When I capture a digital image when editing I will apply a profile to it that has been made to mimic the same film stock I used when photographing the session. This way the gallery flows seamlessly and the images if done correctly cannot be told which is which where they all will mimic the look of film.

With photography being an investment I want your images to be in style 25+ years down the road. How sad would it be to have images that do not show the gorgeous colors you saw while here in Hawaii ?

Along with it feeling like my own Christmas morning every time film scans from my lab hit my inbox documenting your moments through this form makes my heart so joyful. Whether you visit Hawaii again year after year or once in a lifetime when your loved ones look at your images of you on a beach here in paradise it will accurately represent what it was like to be there in that moment.

With this said do not be afraid to dive into using film yourself when on vacation here in Hawaii. When going on adventures with my own family along with my heavier film cameras I love to carry a few disposable cameras with me as well. You can purchase underwater Kodak cameras from any local ABC store on island though it is a bit cheaper to purchase those same cameras on the mainland and bring them with you ( though heads up make sure you hand check your film at the airport security where they do not go through the scanners and risk ruing your photos ). Below are a few of my favorite snaps from here on Maui documented on 120mm film + 35mm film.