Over the past few months, I’ve found myself reaching for my film cameras more and more. In a world where I can review an image instantly, tweak it endlessly, and deliver it the same day, there’s something refreshing—almost grounding—about slowing down and committing to 24 or 36 frames at a time.
So, I’ve set a goal for 2026: one roll of film per month, every month. No excuses. No half-shot rolls sitting on a shelf. Twelve rolls. Twelve sets of results. All shared right here.
Film forces intention. Every frame costs something. There’s no rapid-fire burst mode, no immediate histogram check, no deleting the ones that “almost” worked. You meter carefully. You compose deliberately. You wait for the right moment. And then you trust yourself.
Each month, I’ll post the breakdown:
· Which camera from my collection I used
· The film stock I loaded
· The lens choice
· A frame-by-frame look at the images and what was happening behind the scenes – assuming I remember, that is!
Part of the fun is not knowing what each month will bring. Will it be a sunrise shoot with a classic car? A gritty detail study in black and white? A road trip roll? Maybe a portrait. Maybe something completely unrelated to cars.
Will all the subjects be automotive? Probably not.
While cars are at the core of what I do, film feels like the right medium to explore beyond that. Film has a way of pulling you toward storytelling rather than perfection. Toward mood rather than megapixels. It rewards patience. It embraces flaws. Light leaks, grain, soft focus—sometimes those imperfections are the point.
For my automotive work, film adds another layer of character. Chrome reflects differently. Paint tones shift subtly depending on the film stock. Highlights bloom. Shadows roll off in a way that digital often struggles to replicate. It changes how I see a car—and how I photograph it.
This monthly project is as much about discipline as it is about creativity. One roll. No pressure for it to be groundbreaking. Just honest work. Consistent work. Thoughtful work.
At the end of 2026, I’ll have a year’s worth of film—twelve small chapters that document where my eye, my style, and my curiosity took me.
I hope you’ll follow along. Whether you’re here for the cars, the cameras, or just to see what a few dozen frames can become, this should be a fun ride.
Roll one is already in the can – Let’s see what January was like.
All of January’s roll was photographed using a Canon AE-1 Program camera, manufactured in 1983. This is the first roll of film I’ve ever put through this camera – I recently picked it up online. The film is FujiFilm 400, and the lens of choice for the entire roll was the workhorse, the Canon 50mm.
I started this roll at Buses By the Bridge in Arizona, photographing Buses at the campout, took a few photos at a photoshoot I had with a Bus in Henderson, and finished the roll around downtown Las Vegas. My main focus for this roll was to test the camera in different situations and with different subjects. Since it was my first time using this camera, I wanted to put it through its paces.
Here are the photos, click to view full size and scroll through:
As you can see, I shot a variety of subjects, from VWs to random walls – even a 7-eleven building, where I bought an iced tea and some BBQ pork rinds. It was fun to get out and test the AE-1 Program.
Overall, I am very pleased with both the photos and the how this ‘new-to-me’ camera performed. I hope you like the shots too.
For February, I already have a partial roll of film in my Canon AT-1 camera, so I’ll be finishing that off. Look for results to be posted here on the blog.
Are you ready? I'm ready.
Eric
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