{"id":99737,"date":"2018-06-29T04:04:00","date_gmt":"2018-06-29T11:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=99737"},"modified":"2018-06-29T04:33:02","modified_gmt":"2018-06-29T11:33:02","slug":"why-do-film-photos-look-better-than-digital-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/29\/why-do-film-photos-look-better-than-digital-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do Film Photos Look Better than Digital Photos?"},"content":{"rendered":"

I like both film and digital photography and welcome both. But, why is it that film aesthetically looks better than digital photos? My theory: it has to do with the randomness of the grain structure of film, the imperfect colors, and the random “beautiful mistakes” that happen when shooting film, as well as the organic nature of film.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\n

New: FILM NOTES MOBILE x PRINT EDITION <\/a><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

New: FILM NOTES: Mobile and Printable Version ><\/a><\/p>\n

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Processed with VSCO with a6 preset <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
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Processed with VSCO with a6 preset <\/div> <\/div>
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Learn more ><\/a><\/p>\n

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Stochastic Resonance<\/a><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Kyoto, 2015. Trix pushed to 1600<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I think with film, the reason why it looks better is that the photos are rougher and have more texture. Digital photos tend to look too clean, unless you apply some gritty presets<\/a> or filters to your digital RAW files.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Prague, 2015. Shot on Kodak trix pushed to 1600 with yellow filter.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stochastic Resonance<\/a>: concept is asking some noise and randomness\/chaos will improve the signal of something! For example, adding random white noise to a phone call improves our audible hearing.<\/p>\n

\"Leica
Selfie with film Leica and trix pushed to 1600<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the Wikipedia page, an interesting thing about stochastic resonance and image processing:<\/p>\n

\n A related phenomenon is dithering applied to analog signals before analog-to-digital conversion. Stochastic resonance can be used to measure transmittance amplitudes below an instrument’s detection limit. If Gaussian noise is added to a subthreshold (i.e., immeasurable) signal, then it can be brought into a detectable region. After detection, the noise is removed. A fourfold improvement in the detection limit can be obtained<\/a>.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"\"
Kodak Portra 400, 35mm.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And seeing the study, the abstract<\/a> is:<\/p>\n

\n We use stochastic resonance to measure weak transmittance amplitudes that are below the instrumental detection limit. Gaussian noise is added to the subthreshold (chopped) transmittance signal () before detection by a crossing detector that uses a dc reference signal >0. Without noise, no measurement is possible because ()<. A fourfold improvement has been obtained in the detection limit, permitting the measurement of amplitudes that are as small as 0.25\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

Stochastic Resonance makes film photos look better!<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Marseille, 2013. Kodak Portra 400, 35mm format.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

My theory:<\/p>\n

\n Film photos also exhibit “stochastic resonance” by adding random film grain to our photos, which improves the aesthetic rendering of the picture!\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Aesthetics are personal to you<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Photo of me by John Golden, shot on 35mm color film. 2009– color tones on skin look awesome.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I’ve experimented a lot over the years, and of course the philosophy of aesthetics is that it ultimately comes down to you. Aesthetics<\/a> is all personally subjective.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Hanoi, 2016 \/ shot digital RICOH GR II. I still like the way the photo looks.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For example, I’ve shot on a smartphone vs medium format film<\/a>, and actually preferred the phone photos processed in VSCO<\/a> A6 preset.<\/p>\n

\"Yellow <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Processed <\/a>
Processed with VSCOcam with a6 preset <\/div> <\/div>
\"Processed <\/a>
Processed with VSCO with n1 preset <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Processed <\/a>
Processed with VSCO with a6 preset <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Processed <\/a>
Processed with VSCO with a6 preset <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Processed <\/a>
Processed with VSCO with a6 preset <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Trees, <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Digital medium format<\/a> also looks very good to my eyes. I’m a huge fan of the PENTAX 645Z<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"NYC <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Sunset. <\/a>
Sunset. Fort Lee, New Jersey 2017 <\/div> <\/div>
\"Blue <\/a>
Blue and green urban landscape. Nyc, Pentax 645z <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Eric <\/a>
Selfie in mirror with Pentax 645Z <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Ceiling <\/a>
Yellow tones. Ceiling clouds. New York Public Library. Pentax 645Z <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Cindy <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Woman <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Yellow <\/a>
Yellow tones. Man with hands in prayer. Wisconsin, 2017. Pentax 645Z. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"ERIC <\/a> <\/div>
\"ERIC <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"ERIC <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Airplane. <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Cindy <\/a>
Cindy in Madison, Wisconsin 2017 <\/div> <\/div>
\"Blue <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Blue <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Red <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Red <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Smile. <\/a>
Smile. Downtown LA, 2016 <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Downtown <\/a>
Downtown LA, 2016 \/ PENTAX 645Z <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"ERIC <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"ERIC <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"ERIC <\/a>
ERIC KIM x PENTAX 645z <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"ERIC <\/a>
ERIC KIM x PENTAX 645z <\/div> <\/div>
\"PENTAX <\/a>
PENTAX 645Z <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Downtown <\/a>
Downtown LA, 2016 #pentax645z <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

So once again, ERIC KIM’S opinion is that film looks better than digital photos, but this is my subjective view. You must discover and master your own aesthetics<\/a> for yourself!<\/p>\n

Some film photos:<\/p>\n

\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div>
\"red <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"5 <\/a>
5 rolls of 35mm film <\/div> <\/div>
\"Top <\/a>
Top of Henri Pouch: Fits 5 rolls of 135mm (35mm film) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Film <\/a>
Film Leica MP, f\/8, flash at 1\/8th power, 1.2 meters <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div>
\"Hand <\/a>
Hand gesture of woman. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n
\n

RICOHMAFIA<\/h2>\n
\"Side <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"amsterdam-2015-ricohgr-doll-girl-eric-kim-street-photograpy-black-and-white-monochrome-141911454261.jpg\" <\/a> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"ERIC <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div>
\"Cindy <\/a> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"contact <\/a>
Photograph outlined in red, when the man looks over and notices me.” width=”1200″ height=”713″ \/> Photograph outlined in red, when the man looks over and notices me. <\/div> <\/div>
\"small <\/a> <\/div>
\"happy-ricoh-eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"0 <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"osaka <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"cindy-project-eric-kim-black-and-white-photography-hanoi-monochrome-ricoh-gr-ii-28mm-0010628-3-800x530\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

I ultimately think film will always aesthetically look better than digital. But, I’ve been able to make my digital RAW photos look pretty similar to film! For example, ERIC KIM MONOCHROME preset<\/a> on RICOH GR II<\/a> raw files look great. See more in my street photography starter kit ><\/a><\/p>\n

Some of my favorite digital Ricoh GR II photos:<\/p>\n

\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Berkeley, <\/a>
Berkeley, 2015 #cindyproject <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n
\n

Personal photography on film<\/h2>\n

When I photographed my grandfather’s funeral<\/a>, I shot it on monochrome film, and I am glad I did. The photos still look beautiful to me:<\/p>\n

\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"My <\/a>
My grandfathers funeral. Busan, 2013. <\/div> <\/div>
\"Cherry <\/a>
Cherry Blossoms in Seoul. A week after my Grandfather\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s funeral, 2014 <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"My <\/a>
My mom at my grandfathers funeral <\/div> <\/div>
\"Back <\/a>
Back view of a hearse (death car) <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"My <\/a>
My Mom at the Site of Her Childhood Home, 2013 <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"eric <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Busan, <\/a>
Busan, 2013. Old portrait drawing of my grandfather. <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Some <\/a>
Some chinese calligraphy done by my grandfather in his study <\/div> <\/div>
\"From <\/a>
From the doorway, looking into my grandfather’s study <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

I visited his grave and shot in digital monochrome, but didn’t have the same aesthetic and feel to me:<\/p>\n

\"Pouring <\/a>
Pouring Soju for my grandfather. Busan, 2016 <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"My <\/a>
My grandfather’s grave \/ Busan, 2016 <\/div> <\/div>
\"My <\/a>
My grandfather’s grave \/ Busan, 2016 <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"My <\/a>
My grandfather’s grave \/ Busan, 2017 <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"seoul <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"seoul <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"seoul <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"seoul <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"seoul <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"seoul <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"My <\/a>
My mom and Cindy \/ Busan, 2017 <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Also, I find shooting your loved ones on film<\/a> is more meaningful, because every click is worth something — we shoot more conscientiously and with more appreciation, like these timeless photos of my umma<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\"anna <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"UMMA <\/a> <\/div>
\"My <\/a>
My mom and Cindy\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s mom, exploring the farmer market of Paris for the first time. 2015 <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"UMMA <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"UMMA <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"UMMA <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"UMMA <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"UMMA <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"UMMA <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Me <\/a>
Me and my mom. UCLA, 2009 <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n
\n

Experiments with film<\/h2>\n
\"Leica
Leica MP and 35mm f\/2 Summicron + SF 20 flash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Tattoo
Flash portra 400<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Shooting with a flash<\/a> saturates the colors and looks way better with color film!<\/p>\n

\"\"
Philly. Portra 400 and flash. Red hair against green background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"
Street portrait with flash. Green shirt, makeup, and blue sky pops out at night.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No flash<\/p>\n

\"\"
Without flash. Portra 400<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With flash<\/p>\n

\"\"
With flash. Portra 400<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More flash shots:<\/p>\n

\"Red
Red hair, greenbackground. Philly, with flash. 2013, Kodak Portra 400<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Eric
Eric Rivera, street portrait with cigar. 1 meters, with flash, Leica M6, Kodak Portra 400, 35mm lens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Under exposed flash (flash power wasn’t strong enough):<\/p>\n

\"Woman
Woman in London on cell phone, and juxtaposition of poster banging against window in background. Leica, flash, and 35mm f\/2 lens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Long range flash:<\/p>\n

\"Man
Man looking at his phone. London, 2014. Portra 400 + flash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Shot
Shot in a restaurant with flash in Michigan, Lansing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Flash through a mirror:<\/p>\n

\"Suit
Portra 400 and flash<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Close range flash with black and white trix film:<\/p>\n

\"\"
Tokyo, 2011. Film Leica M6, flash, f16<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Flash on trix 400 pushed to 1600<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Flash glare (I like it):<\/p>\n

\"America-flash-erickim\"<\/p>\n

Selfie and flash:<\/p>\n

\"cindy<\/p>\n

\n

Conclusion: Cultivate your own taste<\/h2>\n
\"tucson-contact-jpeg
People think this picture is a candid photo. It is not. Portra 400. See photos with flash and without flash.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

With digital, use presets or make presets which suit your own taste.<\/p>\n

\"eric
ERIC KIM x LEICA MP + 35mm Summicron ASPH + SF 20 flash + HENRI NECK STRAP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Film is generally easier for me: I shoot it, get the lab to scan and process it for me, and then move on.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

But ultimately experiment for yourself, and discover what brings you joy in your photography!<\/p>\n

JUST SHOOT IT.
\nERIC<\/p>\n

\n

New: FILM NOTES MOBILE x PRINT EDITION <\/a><\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

New: FILM NOTES: Mobile and Printable Version ><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Processed <\/a>
Processed with VSCO with a6 preset <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Processed <\/a>
Processed with VSCO with a6 preset <\/div> <\/div>
\"film <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"film <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"film <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"film <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"film <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"film <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Learn more ><\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Film Photography Articles<\/h2>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n