Hey, guys! So for a while now I’ve been thinking about picking up film photography as a hobby. I think it started with a film look that I’ve been drawn to in post-processing lately, and now it’s spiraled into an itch to pick up actual film. Like actual old film rolls. So why not give it a whirl? It might also be a bit of a nostalgia thing. Was anyone else obsessed with film cameras when they were little (raise your hand)? I know I was.

I mostly remember having those disposable film cameras that were a staple of the 90’s. You know, before digital point-and-shoots became the thing. I loved the click and whirl of real film. I loved loading them and filling up the old cartridges. And I actually still have old, film photographs from when my family lived in El Salvador (keep reading to see some of those images!). My parents did eventually buy a digital camera (because it was cheaper than film) and I don’t think I’ve taken a film photograph since. Which is kind of sad.

“Once I decided that I wanted to get started with film photography, I had to find a camera body and buy some film.”

Once I decided that I wanted to get started with film, I had to do some research into film SLR camera bodies (you can find them cheap on Ebay) and buy some film (thank you, Amazon Prime).  Both of my packages came in the mail today, and I’m thinking this will be the perfect opportunity for a new series of blog posts. I’m thinking I’ll do a blog for each roll of film and call the series “The Film Files”! I’m so excited, and I can’t wait to get started! It’s always nice to kick off the New Year with an adventure or project. So this is the perfect one!

Here are some film photographs from the archives of when my family lived in El Salvador:

This first image is from a beach that we used to go to in Sonsonate, El Salvador. This was always a treat for us, because we didn’t get to go to the ocean a lot. Look at those colors!? This picture just makes me happy, and it also makes me really want to go the beach (as I look outside at 6 inches of fluffy, white snow). I’m ready for winter to be over!

These next couple of images are from Monte Cristo National Park, the first protected national park in El Salvador. One of the coolest facts about this national park is that at it’s highest point (2418m or 7,933ft) the borders of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras all converge in a spot known as El Trifinio. This was one of my favorite parks in El Salvador and if you ever get a chance to go, you should. It’s breathtaking! It’s home to 100ft trees, the Jardín de los Cien Años (The Garden of 100 Years), a cloud forest and much more.

This picture is an image of my mom crossing one of the wooden suspension bridges in the park. These were always terrifying to cross. More so when you have 4 brothers who like to play a game called “How Much Can We Make the Bridge Swing?”

And lastly, an image of a sunset at the Lago do Coatepeque, a lake formed from a volcanic crater. This is one of my favorites! That puple sunset is stunning!