In the 21st century, many are aware that technology pulls forward, but it is unexpected to witness a comeback of nostalgic things such as for digital and film cameras.
TikTok, as usual, made it known that the 2000s photos are back. By this, they mean the type of images your parents took when you were a child. Many thought phones would provide flawless photographs and convenience because they’re all in one piece of technology, but there’s something about cameras that makes users want to capture those candid and priceless experiences.
“Digital cameras are great. I think they have a different vibe to them and allow us to keep our memories separate from the perfect idea we have of cellphones,” said senior Daniela Quiros.
“I feel like they capture the moment differently. When taking the pictures you know that they are bound to turn great and will add on to the picture. They end up making the moment just perfect,” said senior Francesca Abdo.
Digital cameras such as the Canon GX 7 and FujiFilm disposable film cameras were responsible for popularizing the trend; people fell in love with the distinctive Instagram posts that ignored any filters or editing that would normally be applied to an iPhone or Samsung picture.
The art that goes behind photographing comes from the fact that everyone can do this. It is about authenticity as everyone can show their way of doing it as if it were personalized. Your pictures will be your own and it it’s not about the effort of focusing on that one great shot; it’s about a collection of shots that you know you will be able to look back on.
The simplicity behind this is that it can easily become a passion or a hobby. The accessibility to the pictures has been modernized like the rest of technology. When it’s film, all you have to do is develop them at your local CVS or Walgreens. When it’s digital, it can easily be transferred to your electronic device. It sets a whole new tone to a person’s aesthetic.
In some ways, this might be viewed as therapeutic; many take photographs of things enjoyed, but looking back on them in a few years will be a treasure in disguise, providing a connection to the past. It allows for an openness to view the world through a lens that is very different from a phone; you find a different meaning of control. The act of photographing itself can be contemplative, requiring people to concentrate on the present moment and their surroundings, fostering mindfulness and relaxation.
I love digital cameras because I think it gives pictures a cool and vintage vibe to it, like kind of 2000’s aesthetic. I also think it’s super cool to take pictures on an actual camera rather than a phone, and overall digital cameras are in right now and I love them.”
— Senior Sophia Castillo
Yes, I love film and digital cameras! I think it’s because they always manage to capture moments in such beautiful ways, and I can look back and remember those moments as if I’m in them all over again.”
— Junior Ana Leanez
While some may dismiss the comeback of digital and film cameras as an occasional trend, it could be more than that—a repetitive phenomena that will resurface every few years.
People like the idea of revisiting images because they understand that the instinct to collect and preserve moments can be sparked by the click of a camera. It’s not only about the image quality; it’s about the hidden moments that the cameras disclose. Taking that one image that will personalize your memories maybe worth remembering in the future.
