Film Photography Photo Walks Cambodia
Back to Film Photography in Phnom Penh
This article is part of the Cambodia Photo Tours and workshops experience.
We are happy to inspire you and help you in re discovering the power and joy of film photography.
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“It was raining heavily that early oktober morning in Phnom Penh.
Next to our home is the famous temple Wat Botum located. An enormous walled Buddhist temple complex with dozens of villas for the higher-ranking monks. Many smaller rooms and simpler living quarters for the novice monks in training.”
A small group of monks were preparing their afternoon lunch under the shelter of some trees.
Friendly young faces, with an open look, eager to test their English skills on me. With my very limited khmer language I posses I first asked for permission to take a few portraits while they were busy cooking.
This is a timeless image for me, in Cambodia.
Direct subdued light on his handsome face, the colourless dark background against the bright orange monk work shirt. Shot on 100 Kodak Pro image film with a decent organic grain structure.
That morning I walked focused on taking some portraits and some street photography with my Nikon F90x, loaded with a roll of Kodak Pro Image 100 and an 85mm portrait lens.
I am always looking for images in the now, the reality but also keeping in mind the ancient, deeper silence and beauty of mystical Cambodia.
The images collection here is from my latest stay in Cambodia.
Cambodia is our home away from the Netherlands since 2012.
Once arrived back in Phnom Penh I went in the mornings on a few casual walks, some good coffee and open for surprises.
Together with me my Nikon FE a beautiful analog film camera from the 70s or the more modern design 80s Nikon F90x camera.
Some Kodak color or Kentmere black and white films loaded.
For film photography we are confronted with all the unique film camera and film issues that makes this a challenge and fun to use.
Because of costs and dedicated focus I tend to shoot very disciplined only 1-2 exposures per encounter.
Staying focused on the subject matter.
For Phnom Penh and Cambodia that means the people, the vibe in the streets and of course the magic of the Angkor Wat Temples and it’s surroundings.
I find that the my latest film black and white’s have a strong graphic element.
The film grain, the black tones makes them even more contrasty and very graphic.
Why analog?
I myself photograph digitally and analogue, and I am since 2019 back in the middle of the process film photography rediscovery.
I do carry either film or digital and don’t like to mix it up unless sometimes adding my Huawei P30 phone/camera.
Looking for a way to better understand analog photography and see what and how I can express myself different with it and to find out how the analog process works best for me.
Why not digital?
Digital feels often too easy and too fast. Analog shooting on 35mm at first glance is delivering technically inferior results. In short the digital process tends to be too clean and too predictable.
Yes, I am often in doubt about the final film image quality but then try to stay open and inspired to where this is going.
For now I can see that filling the frame and making close ups, and intimate portraits are most suitable for my kind of film photography. The magic of the silver grainy image adding a sense of imperfection into my photography.
In addition to the experience of not using electronic digital cameras, but a piece of older mechanical-optical equipment.
Film photography shifts the attention from electronics-menus and into real pressing physical buttons and dials. After developing my own films, holding a perforated film strip with negatives is just the beginning.
In the meantime, analogue photography appears to have become a true ‘cult’ and many people who have never worked with a film camera before and grew up with digital are now experimenting with the analogue way of making images.
With thiswe at Cambodia Photo Tours can share our years of experience.
On the other hand, the availability of films has become increasingly scarce, and that drives up prices enormously in 2025. Kodak and Fuji film have always been the brand leaders in the field of color and black and white films. Prices are now between €13 and €17 for 36 shots of black and white Kodak films. For color film, you pay just €18 to €22 for 36 shots. I use the cheaaper film offerings and you can see here what a $6 roll of film can do.
Working with such expensive film versus “free” infinite digital clicks is very different and a good challenge in experimentation.
Photographing on film again is an experiment and costs more effort and money.
With no ‘instant’ insight or instant exposure and composition conformation.
Only the pleasure of the act in taking the pictures.
With analog photography you still have to wait a while.
But for me that’s part of the experience and learning curve.
The focus and handling of an analog photo camera is an adventure.
The meatal weight of the camera, the feel of the dials and moving the aperture ring, the mechanical sound of a ‘click’ or speedy ‘click-whuzz’ of the motor winderadvancement is pure joy.
Cameras that want you to take another shot with.
So here we are! Enjoy what you see and perhaps join me next time in Cambodia or Holland. For more information or advise you are free to contact me.
Analog and digital photography courses and tours in Holland-Thailand-Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam.
