In the battle between film versus digital photography, a great question to ask is which one looks better? While the ease and immediacy of digital photography is enticing for many, it’s difficult to deny that film has that look. That look is what apps like Instagram and VSCO try so hard to replicate through filters, but never quite master without the organic processes of real film. People often talk about the grain and color of film photographs. This grainy imagery is a result of the silver crystals embedded in the film strips. These crystals, or silver halide, are what react to light and capture the image. Digital photography uses pixels to replicate this process and piece together an image. The problem is, pixels are in a rigid and structured grid, whereas silver halide crystals are randomly sized and placed. The result is that film has a more natural, true-to-life look that is often more appealing.
