Like the appeal of vinyl records, classic video games, and even the early Internet, the fascination with older photographic standards, such as point-and-shoot cameras or 35-millimeter film, persists, even in people too young. to remember when that equipment was cutting-edge. The appeal of “vintage” photography goes beyond nostalgia and Instagram filters, judging by the huge number of apps designed to emulate film, lenses, and the visual quirks of pre-digital photographs and films.
Despite the irony of using a high-end smartphone camera to produce imperfect images that look oversaturated, jittery, low-contrast, unfiltered, or analog, opting for a retro look can help you practice your composition skills. If you are not ready to buy original equipment, you can still evoke the creative sensibility of a different period. Here is an overview.
Starting
Before you dive in, here are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure you can reverse any edits to an original image; Making duplicates for your experiments is a safe backup. Second, keep in mind that some apps capture content with built-in effects, leaving you with a photo or video that permanently looks old.
You may not need additional software, depending on the visual effect you want to achieve. Apple, Google and Samsung They all include a variety of filters in their default photography apps, as well as built-in editing tools. You can get satisfactory results by manually adjusting color saturation, tint, and other elements to make the photo look as if it were taken by an old film camera.
For specific historical looks (like a Polaroid from the 70sfor example), there are apps with filters and algorithms designed to emulate certain analog film stocks, camera lenses and other factors, such as simulated light leaks and dust bunnies. Simply enter “vintage” or “retro” when searching the app store for camera or photography programs. Some apps charge for additional filters, require a subscription, or have technical requirements, so read the specifications.
hypstamatic for iPhone is one of the most well-known retro camera apps, and can be considered an antique in itself, having first been released in 2009. Its original incarnation, now called classic camera (free trial; $2.99 with in-app purchases), still exists and uses filter combinations to mimic the look of prints taken with a cheap plastic camera from the '80s. Times photographer Damon Winter even I used the app for a 2010 assignment. in Afghanistan. Last year, the company launched Hypstamatic Xan update with hundreds of filters and tools and its own online photo-sharing community (free trial; subscription $29.99/year).
Similar software, Nexvio old 8mm camera ($9.99 per year) for iPhone, lets you record clips in the style of a black-and-white film noir, a grainy '70s art film, and more.
Modernize old photos
Just as you can make new photos look old, you can make old photos look newer by colorizing them. If you want to experiment, color (free trial; $18.99/year) uses artificial intelligence to convert monochrome images, just like the Coloring pictures app (free trial; $9.99/year); Both apps are available for Android and iOS.
Some genealogical services, including My inheritance and Ancestry — offer a free photo colorizing tool for subscribers to use on files uploaded to the site.
Depending on the original, the results can be extremely striking or, at best, difficult to distinguish from a genuine color image. This may be considered sacrilege to historians and fans of black-and-white photography, but for projects like compiling a family tree, modernization could make the people in the photographs feel more identifiable.
Images that move time to the past or present aren't for everyone, but for those who are curious, the apps are generally less expensive than trawling eBay's used camera section or developing film. Just remember, light leaks and dust bunnies are features (and not bugs) these days.
