At the end of February, I played a little game on social media in the form of a film photography “Never Have I Ever…” For a fun little game, the response was nothing short of amazing. It also got me thinking. You see, I didn’t really take into account HOW people would reply – some merely stated their final mark and others posted the question numbers that they hadn’t managed to cross off the list.

What kinds of insights and trends could be discovered if the game was formalised a bit without taking away the fun element? Would it be possible to use some hard data to get a real picture of our global community? Well, I believe it’s worth a shot.

If you missed it the first time round, here it is.

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve extended the original set of 60 questions to nearly 250. With the help of half a dozen or so members of the community who offered their advice, support and sanity checks, the finished survey is now ready for release.

250ish questions might seem long but I assure you, it’s quite straight forward. It will take roughly 10-12 minutes to complete in a single sitting. As with the original image I posted on social media, the updated survey asks you about your experiences in the following areas:

  • Shooting different film stocks and formats.
  • Using different types of cameras, lenses and accessories.
  • Your use of photographic techniques, aides and tools.
  • Working in the darkroom, “daylight developing” film and scanning/digitising.
  • Accidents and screw-ups.

Here’s my ask:

I’d like your help to get as many responses from every corner of our global film and traditional photography community as possible. It’s not a huge request and every single like, comment, share and most importantly, response, is going to help map the film and traditional photography community through the sets of shared experiences you’ll find inside.

What happens once the results are in? The survey is open for the next four weeks (March 20th – April 17th 2020). Once the survey is closed, I’ll collect the data and break out and identify trends based on experiences, age and rough location amongst other things.

The result will be published in a summary report along with a series of visualisations here on EMULSIVE.

Important: the survey includes some really basic demographic questions covering approximate age, location, etc. but survey responses are anonymous by default. You can provide an email address as part of your response if you wish. As explained in the survey below, this will be used for future follow up questions.

The survey itself could have easily been double the size it is now! I fully expect to extend it in the future to cover a broader spread and ask questions specific to certain types of photographers, especially those of you reading this who generate your incomes from photography. For now, let’s get the basics covered.

The form is embedded below but if you have any problems viewing it on your screen, you can open it directly here.

Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for your help in spreading the word, I appreciate it.

~ EM



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42 responses to “Global film photography survey: Your help needed”

  1. After I originally left a comment I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and from now on whenever a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. There has to be a means you can remove me from that service? Many thanks.

    1. I can’t do that on your behalf but you directly manage this by clicking the “unsubscribe” link on the bottom of the email you receive. That will take you to a page where you can unsubscribe from specific comment threads and websites (not just this one). Hope that helps!

  2. Llanero solitario Avatar
    Llanero solitario

    Here’s an interesting idea for a future survey – what discontinued products would film photographers/darkroom users like to see revived? For example, Ars-Imago has revived the daylight loading kit but are there other products? One thing I personally would like to see is something along the lines of the Kodak De Lux Photo Hobby Kit for medium format cameras (it came with a developing tank, tongs, trays & a contact printer)

  3. That was rather fun actually. 🙂
    165/245

  4. 143/245.

    I have:

    • dismantled a lens to clean fungus off it, and damaged an element in the process… https://t.co/MVOI4Ml9YC

  5. Used loads of 14×17, just not in a camera.

    Used 14×14 dry plates, in a Schmidt Telescope.

    I’ve used… https://t.co/zPTr8BAiY0

  6. I just started this while waiting in a cafe, stopped and saved it when my wife arrived, but can see h… https://t.co/mUpHMa66xF

  7. Should Polaroid Spectra film be asked about? It is a different size.

  8. Just like to proposal adding APS in film section and Northen Europe on locations, thx.

  9. Did the survey, not that I’m too bothered but thought you should know the See you score button didn’t… https://t.co/coj1PxRIN7

  10. It was fun! I didn’t see my score. I did leave an email address. I am a bit curious if it isn’t much trouble. 😀

  11. @tmway84 Ok,
    What do you want to know?

  12. 132 and although I couldn’t see my score at first on IOS I found it by pressing and holding the score button.

  13. Scored a 162. Can’t wait to see the analysis of results when the survey is closed.

  14. I just finished the survey but I didn’t get to see my score. Clicked on the button and it didn’t do anything. No biggie

  15. Some of the questions are pretty funny

  16. Nooooo! Got to the last page and it bloody CRASHED on me!!! 😭😭😭

  17. 140.

    I think I’ve lost at least 5 shutter release cables. Does that matter? 😶 (the sand on the beach… https://t.co/iiy8yf77eQ

  18. All done, Em. I scored 143. Thanks for creating this survey; some of the questions gave me a laugh!

  19. My score is 128, whatever that 😀

  20. I made it through at 150. The only question I didn’t like was the age question where I had to check t… https://t.co/f2EzjJ1kbs

  21. 91 for me. Been shooting for over 50 years and still make beginners’ mistakes. No rage film destructi… https://t.co/DpYnMeIGad

  22. Some of these questions are so specific 😀

  23. 160

    God, it’s complicated this photography lark!

    And this; guilty as charged! 😂😂 https://t.co/04D6dSF2tK

  24. New one for you:

    Have you ever cut/punctured your changing bag (from the inside) while loading film?

    (oops) #believeinfilm

  25. @achatainfr Scored 175/250🙏 Don’t know if that’s good or bad🧐😮😁

  26. I’ve no idea what the score represents but mine is 154

  27. “Kill time, not your family” – now I have to do it! 😂

  28. 156 for me. One item that may prod future action – shooting a dream film stock… Velvia 50 for some landscape work!

  29. Perfect!! 132/245 …well perfect for me? Totally average :/

    I hope it helps in some way…Cheers!

  30. Is “using a ____ calculator “ different than just doing the math?

  31. got a 185…. fyi, for me at least two or three would only let me answer one way. “unintentionally ex… https://t.co/MWyw0j9lXI

  32. 147/245… Is a high number good or bad?

  33. for the 60 question game I scored 18… Bad or Good boy?

  34. 131/245. I’m happy with that given my “day job” is not as a photographer. Some other questions to consider in the future: have you ever made colour prints in a
    home darkroom; have you ever made a print from a colour slide with either the Cibachrome or Ilfochrome process. I might have picked up a couple of points there…

 

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