In this increasingly digital age, film is now beginning to meet its match. We're seeing improved image sensors on ultra-high end professional camera rigs, and beginning to see quality on the scale of todays medium format and large format cameras. Not to mention the ease of use and convenience of digital. Does this sound the death knell for film photography as we know it?

After reading many articles on the subject and seeing various works in my time here on dA, I'm inclined to say that film photography has its place, and it's definitely here to stay for the foreseeable future. There are many areas of photography where digital is just not up to snuff with film images. Street photography for one, digital point-and-shoot cameras don't come close to delivering what a quality rangefinder can, and good luck trying to capture your close-in street scene with a bulky dSLR. While digital has taken over fashion photography, nature, and especially experimental photography I still see as bastions of film.

As a film photographer myself, albeit one with a limited budget, digital is not something I can afford in the short run, while it may have a lower "cost of ownership" in the long run. I definitely understand why people go digital, you don't have to screw around with film, you don't have to wait for developing or do it yourself, and you can take as many photos as you like, discarding the rest. However, the aforementioned things are what keep me coming back to film, not to mention the investment I've already made in film equipment.

For me, it's the thrill of clicking the shutter and knowing that you've taken a great picture, then waiting for the processed print or negative to confirm that feeling. It's knowing what film will give you the results you want, and what you can get away with before you exceed the limitations of your equipment or yourself. It's about seeing the picture, and taking it, never looking back.

I've gathered some samples of film photography from several participants in a thumbshare post I made specifically for this purpose. Hope you enjoy.