www.andreastimm.com

Andreas Timm s Blog

Why I Love Shooting Film: The Challenge, the Grain, and the Deep Fulfillment of Analog Photography

·

,
Andreas Avatar
Andreas
Close-up of a tagged cow with flies on its face, standing in a herd, captured in black and white.

November 27, 2025

Over the past two years, I carried my analog cameras—an old Agfa like the one my father once used, along with my Leica M-A and Leica MP—on family vacations and day trips. Every roll of Kodak Gold 200 and Portra 800 demanded more from me: slower decisions, more careful framing, and a deeper awareness of the moment. Shooting analog is never effortless. It’s deliberate. It asks for patience, confidence, and the willingness to commit without the safety net of a screen.

I let the films sit for a long time before finally sending them to Safelight Berlin (https://safelightberlin.com/), a lab I can warmly recommend. When I opened the scans, it felt like unlocking a time capsule—memories of forest walks, beach sunsets, quiet dinners, spontaneous laughs. All captured without the temptation to check, repeat, or refine.

The beauty that unfolded wasn’t digital sharpness or clinical perfection. It was the softness of film grain, the gentle transitions of color, the texture that seems to breathe. That grain carries emotion. It gives every image a sense of depth and presence that feels almost physical, almost tactile. Film doesn’t just record a moment; it holds it.

And this is exactly why analog photography gives me so much joy and fulfillment. It’s challenging. It forces me to slow down, trust my decisions, and accept that not every frame will be perfect. The limited number of shots on a roll makes each click meaningful. The delayed development builds anticipation. And the final images—rich in grain, warmth, and authenticity—reward the effort in a way digital rarely does.

Shooting with the old Agfa reconnects me with my father’s way of seeing the world. The Leicas remind me that intention matters more than megapixels. And film itself teaches me something valuable: the more challenging the process, the more rewarding the result. Analog photography is a craft, a practice, and ultimately a source of deep creative satisfaction.

📸 Photo Gallery – Impressions from My Analog Adventures

  • Blurry train passing through a crossing with trees in the background, creating a sense of speed and motion in black and white.
  • Black and white photo of three cows with ear tags in a grassy field with trees in the background.
  • Close-up of a tagged cow with flies on its face, standing in a herd, captured in black and white.
  • Black and white photo of old farm equipment with large spoked wheels in a grassy area.
  • Black and white photo of dense forest with tall, straight tree trunks and dappled sunlight on the forest floor.
  • Looking up at tall trees in a dense forest, black and white perspective.
  • Silver number five balloon floating against a cloudy sky.
  • Sunflowers in full bloom under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
  • Vintage canal boat moored beside historic brick buildings with tiled roofs in a European cityscape.
  • Boat docked by canal with lifebuoys labeled Makkum, surrounded by rustic buildings and trees under a clear sky.
  • Wooden building with colorful graffiti, bicycle parked in front, and solar panels visible on adjacent structure.
  • Modern architectural structure with angled beams against a clear blue sky.
  • Red train passing a crossing with a closed barrier and a red traffic light under a clear blue sky.
  • Two rusty grinding wheels leaning against overgrown bushes beside a gravel path under a clear blue sky.
  • Vintage windmill in a lush, grassy field under a cloudy sky.
  • Historic red windmill with sails under a bright blue sky, surrounded by greenery.
  • Sculpture of teapot made from zippers against a bright blue sky with scattered clouds.
  • Stacks of red and blue beverage crates behind a metal fence under a clear blue sky with scattered clouds.
  • Golden hay bale in a harvested field under a cloudy sky, bordered by a line of distant trees.
  • Wide farmland with brown and yellow fields, power lines, and a cloudy sky in the background.
  • Golden wheat field under a cloudy blue sky with a red-roofed barn in the distance, bordered by lush green trees.
  • Red ice cream kiosk with a closed shutter, featuring Langnese logo and images of chocolate and vanilla ice cream.

Useful links

Related Posts:

Other Posts

Categories

Archives

Tag Cloud

adventure aerial photography architecture Bavaria Beach Black and White cityscape coral reef Cruise culture diving El Quseir Europe fashion Germany Harbor Island island life Landscape Leica Light model Munich nature Netherlands Norway People Photography portrait Red Sea scuba diving Sea SSI Street Photography Texel TFP Travel Travel Blog travel diary travel photography underwater Urban urban photography USA vacation

Comments

Leave a Reply