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Most photographers shoot digital because of the speed it offers and the very low cost. Travis Cobb photographs with film exactly because it is slow and expensive.
If Cobb’s portfolio is anything to go by, it works! You can see it for yourself at traviscobb.photography, where he shares some of his amazing work with the world.
Full disclosure: This article was sponsored by Identity Digital.
Why film?
“I love film photography because it slows me down,” Travis Cobb says. “The cost to buy one roll of film, mail it off and process it works out to US$40.”
Cobb says he shoots in medium format, so one roll yields just 10 images. “Every time I press the shutter, I hear ‘four dollars’ in my head.”
“Nobody is paying for that, other than myself, so I have to be very conscious of what I’m dedicating each frame of film to.”
With a collection of 20 medium-format cameras in his closet, Cobb says the one that always finds its way into his camera bag is a Mamiya RZ67 Pro II, which he bought through eBay many years ago.
He describes finding that camera as a bit like finding your favorite shoe.
“The camera is an extension of myself now,” he says.
“I know exactly how to use it to get what I want. It’s a unique camera, and it takes pictures like nothing I’ve ever used before.”
“It’s definitely worth four dollars every time I press the button.”
Film photography has had a resurgence in recent years, and camera prices have skyrocketed since Cobb bought his Mamiya.
“Seeing what that camera sells for now, there are times I’m hard pressed not to list it for sale. But I’m going to shoot with it until it dies.”
“It’s like having a dog. You wouldn’t give up your best friend.”
Looking for a connection
Travis Cobb started taking black-and-white shots in high school and studied photography as part of a fine arts degree at university.
After this, Cobb says he was mainly photographing to document his newborn son.
But, it wasn’t long…
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