I love film. This is no secret. But what you might not know about me is that I also love expired film. I first started to fall in love with expired film from seeing photos taken with expired 35mm film by the talented Kim Miller (for a peek at her photos, click here and here). Given my affection for surprises and all things unexpected when it comes to shooting with film, I thought I’d buy some expired film for myself and take it out for a spin.
These first three photographs were taken with my Canon AE-1 35mm camera using expired Agfa 100 film. These shots are all from the same roll of film. You can see that the colors have shifted to a yellowish-green, but the shift is more evident in some of the photos compared to the others.
Bike photo — always a classic photo-op for me…
The broken light of a vintage truck…
And the class of a rusting Chevy Bel Air…
These next three photographs were shot with my Diana camera using expired Agfa 120 film. You can see in these images that the color shift to those yellowish-greens doesn’t show up here, but there is still some shift in the hues.
From where I stand…
We’re definitely a Converse household…
A magnificent autumn tree…
I know expired film doesn’t suit everyone, and that perhaps it is an acquired taste. But I do love the unexpected surprises you discover when shooting with it. It’s almost like a double bonus — first you have the surprise of using film AND second you have the surprise of what the expired quality may have given you. If you’d like to check out more photographs shot with expired film, you can see some more of my work here and here or look through the photos in this cool Flickr group.
If you’re unsure about buying some expired film and potentially “wasting your money” if you don’t like it, you just might be in luck today! We’re continuing our December giveaways, and today, I’d like to gift one lucky commenter (selected at random) with some expired film for her to experiment with. To enter, please leave a comment on this post, and let me know if you were to win, if you’d like some 35mm film, some 120 film, or a little of both! We’ll announce all the winners of our giveaways on December 25th.
Meghan of Life Refocused
This post is perfect timing, as I just acquired a new vintage Agfa camera from the 1930s and was scouring eBay for 620/120 film. You’ve given me courage to try it. Your images are lovely.
I have never used expired film, but would love to try both 35 and 120 film. Megan, I would love a post on developing and printing versus developing and scanning the film at home. Of course, with the latter you don’t have a print on hand, but it gets expensive quickly and I’m looking for alternatives. Thanks
Great suggestion, Gabriela!!! I’ll see what I can come up with.
I’d love to win a little of both 35 mm and 120mm. I hope for a Diana for Christmas (fingers crossed) and this would be a great idea to get creative over the holidays.
Sounds lovely, I was just out of 120 film! (cough cough)
These tones are so lovely and so varied! I shoot with lomo film better than half the time because of my affinity for expired film, but I feel it offers a “reliable” unreliable product if that makes any sense. I got burned on some expired 35mm film that yielded blank rolls, and have been gunshy about purchasing and expired 35mm again, but I’d love to give it another try.
i think these shots of yours are fantastic and, yes, i have always been a little leery of buying expired film because i am afraid of blowing my money (like i am not spending it like crazy anyhoo)!! silly me — you have me ready to give it a shot, so to speak! if i were to win i would love a little of both!!! thanks for sharing!!!!
I’d love some expired 35mm film, what an amazing giveaway!
I love the surprise of it – and would love to try some 35mm out in my ae-1! Thanks for hosting this, Meghan!
Oooh, these are beautiful. The first batch is downright painterly. I think I’m in the “little of both crowd.”
A little of both for me! I don’t shoot with my Yashica Mat 124G nearly as much as I should…some expired 120 would be just the ticket! But I also love my Canon A-1…ha!
I have a roll of tri-x film that expired in 1980 waiting to be shot. Picked it up at a estate sale and chances are it wasn’t refrigerated. What kind of effect could that have on the film?
If you pick me i’d love some 120 film. Just got hold of a Bronica ETRS. Only put 1 roll through it so far.
I’d love a little bit of both! 🙂 I love film.
🙂 is it ok if im not a her?
95% of the film i use to date is expired! I buy it fresh but they are stored while I use the old stuff, when I get to the fresh rolls they are expired! I either need to shoot more or cut down on what I buy . . . na i’ll just shoot more 🙂
Nice selection above – the images are beautiful, particularly the first three, the colours are so rich.
If my post is selected I would go for a mix of 135 and 120 to shoot through my Holga 120 pan and my Ricoh TLS401.
A
Totally okay that you aren’t a “her!” It’s nice to have some “hims” come visit 🙂
I love expired film.
Wonderful post Meghan! I’ve shot expired instant film but always hesitate to try expired 35mm/120 film, not sure why. This post makes me want to shot the one roll of 1960 film I have. 🙂
I’d love to try both expire 35mm and 120 film.
Great post Meghan! I would love to pop some 35mm in my Av-1, I think these two would play nicely.
Beautiful post! I’d love some 35mm film pleease!!
I love expired film. Most of the film I shoot has expired. My tri-x for example all expired in 1997.
Haven’t shot much at all with expired colour film though. Would love the chance!
Please don’t include me in the random drawing!
I just wanted to thank you for giving me a shout out, Meghan, and to say that these photos you’ve posted are beautiful. I especially love the rusty Chevy Bel-Air. You’ve also inspired me to pick my Diana back up — I haven’t touched it in over 6 months!
Shooting film is awesome, and shooting expired film it’s an acquired taste as you said. I’ll really like to test some expired 35mm film in my Konica.
Having found my dad’s Pentax k1000 & Argus camera recently, I’ve just began playing with film. I would love a little of both 🙂
Expired film can be fun. I just got a Pentacon Six TL (eee!) and some 120 would be wonderful to play with. 🙂
I have been on the hunt for expired film in my local community… a little surprise is a good thing.
I am partial to 35mm or 120
What a beautiful selection of your photos, I love the colour variations.
Not really experimented with much expired film (always been worried it might be a waste) but it is something I would love to try in 2013.
If I were to be picked, 35mm for my trusty ae-1 would be awesome x
Great post, Meghan! I love your film work, it is truly inspiring. I worked with film for a long time, then gave it up for many years but have rediscovered it in the last couple of years with some “new” cameras bequeathed to me and I’m wondering why I ever left. (should I be picked, I’d take either kinds as I have cameras for both! I’d love to shoot some expired film, I can’t seem to keep any around long enough for it to expire!)
Been thrifting for weeks trying to find some expired film.. Left cards at local thrift shops in case anyone finds any… I would love a little 35mm:)
Umm…120 please! 😉
i’m having such hard times with my analog cameras, no matter how much i study the possibilities. i might need a decent slr, maybe then i’d get some better results. i love my new affair with polaroid though 😀 this is such an encouraging post.
WOW I must say this is wonderful!
I was recently given an AE-1 – it belongs to my husband it was just put away for decades! I never used a camera like this, so I am thrilled to give a go. The expired film is great because I am looking on amazon and people complain abt films being expired… I think I might not care anymore thanks to your post!
Hello and thanks for any answers I get… I have a few old minox 8×11 “spy cameras” and film is pretty scarce right now. Production stopped a couple years ago (2012) and I bought some 1955 vintage ISO100 black and white 50 exp film off eBay. I have no idea how it was stored. What’s my best bet for good exposures? I know the “step rule” but this is b&w. Any advice to my email would be appreciated. Thanks.
Eric
Hearsefan666@yahoo.com