If you're into creative hobbies or just curious about older technology, you, an ESL learner, may come across the topic of “film photography.” While digital photos are everywhere today, many people still enjoy using film cameras for their unique look and process. Mastering today’s vocabulary will help you understand gear, explain your shots, and appreciate the photo world even more. Let’s jump right in!

5 Vocabulary Words

1. Film photography (Noun): The process of taking pictures with a camera that uses photographic film instead of digital memory.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. I’ve been learning film photography as a weekend hobby.

     2. Film photography requires more patience than using a phone.

     3. She loves the vintage look of film photography.

2. Roll of film (Noun): A small cylinder that contains the light-sensitive material used in film cameras.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. I bought a roll of film to load into my camera.

     2. Each roll of film usually gives you 24 or 36 photos.

     3. Don’t open the roll of film in sunlight—it will ruin the photos!

3. Develop (Verb): To turn exposed film into visible photos through a chemical process.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. I can’t wait to develop my photos and see how they turned out.

     2. She learned how to develop film in a darkroom.

     3. You can send your film to a lab to have it developed.

4. Negative (Noun): The strip of developed film that shows the image in reverse (light and dark are switched).

   • Example Sentences:

     1. The negatives are used to make printed photos.

     2. I keep my negatives in a special folder for safekeeping.

     3. Each negative shows the full photo in light and shadow.

5. Grainy (Adjective): A visual texture that makes a photo look rough or speckled—common in film photos.

   • Example Sentences:

     1. I like how grainy this old photo looks—it feels nostalgic.

     2. Some people prefer a grainy look for artistic effect.

     3. This picture turned out a little grainy, but I still love it.

I started getting into film photography last month and just finished shooting my first roll of film. I dropped it off to be developed, and I finally got the photos back yesterday! Some shots were a bit grainy, but I love the vintage feel. I even saved the negatives in a special folder so I can make more prints later.