Who are the Wisconsin Film Photographers?
The Wisconsin Film Photographers is a private group made up of a diverse range of photography experience, from beginners to professionals, and ages, from young adults to retirees. We gather monthly to exchange knowledge and deepen our love for the art form.
Film photography is experiencing a fresh, new chapter in the 21st century —Film is not an outdated relic, but a modern revival. While photography using roll and sheet film remained largely unchanged for over a hundred years before the digital transition, analog photography’s current resurgence represents a distinct and exciting evolution. It is attracting younger photographers picking up film cameras for the first time as well as older photographers returning to the format.
Authenticity
At its core, film photography is simply light and chemistry. It offers a more authentic and tactile way to create an image, which we prefer over methods relying on software or artificial intelligence.
Vintage film cameras are amazing mechanical devices that simply project light to expose film. Many vintage cameras don’t even have batteries. Making a print in the darkroom with an enlarger only uses light and chemistry. A silver gelatin darkroom print is a handmade image created without a computer.
How a photograph was created matters. The camera and process is part of the story being told by the photographer. An image created using film not only has a special look to it, it has character and soul as well.
Community
The Wisconsin Film Photographers was founded in January, 2025 by Cameron Gillie, with the help of Steve Daubs, John Zimm, Diane Ramthun, Howard Goldman, and many more. We wanted to form a photography community what was more than the usual photography clubs that mostly offer online photo sharing and zoom meetings and rarely interact in person.