My First Rolls of 35mm Color Film

I’ve always loved the simplicity and timelessness of black and white film. The way it strips an image down to just light and shadow - there's so much more emotion in image that isn't distracted by vibrant colors. So shooting 35mm color film for the first time felt like stepping into new territory.

This week, I finally did it! I shot and developed my very first rolls of color film! The negatives are drying as I write this, and I think they came out okay. I’m excited (and only a little nervous) to see the final results once they’re dry enough to scan.

The process itself was a fun learning curve. I used a C-41 developer kit and brought the chemicals up to temperature using my sous vide cooker (a surprisingly perfect setup!). Developing color film is a bit different from black and white. The times are shorter, and unlike black and white, every color film stock follows the same timing for each chemical step. Black and white film development can vary depending on the film type or speed, but color keeps things nice and consistent.

Even with the extra precision needed for temperature, I really enjoyed the process; and it’s fascinating to see how much science and artistry meet in those few minutes of developing.

I’ll be sharing the finished scans and some of my first impressions of shooting color in my next post — so stay tuned!

If you want to get a first look at the images (and maybe a few behind-the-scenes moments), follow along on Instagram @hicksfilmstudio.