Analogue Portraits – Behind the Viewfinder – by Dila Binkanat

By Dila Binkanat

 My interest in photography started in middle school but I couldn’t buy a camera back then. When I was in high school I’ve had the opportunity to buy a digital one but I ended up getting a film camera. If you ask me, I have no regrets about it. I am still thankful to myself that I decided to buy analog instead of digital. 

Basically my journey started with asking my friends to take their photographs. I ended up taking portraits most of the time. But I rarely ask them to pose or change clothes whatever, I like to shoot the moment I see. And people that I take portraits of are think the results are better than planned portraits. 

Double Exposure, Fuji 200, Canon 500N

Why Film?

Even if I went out to buy a digital when I get a film camera I tried to take everything I see but I’ve enjoyed taking photos of people generally. I believe that I can reflect the hidden beauty in people on my portrait works. I believe many people talk when they are silent. So I am trying to reflect it to photography basically. And I love it. 

Although there isn’t much difference between digital and film I think that film has its own way.  Film is companionable but not wallet friendly if you’re a student. But it won’t stop you anyway.

Kodak Portra 400, Canon 500N
Fuji 200, Canon 500N

Film for me is a style of living, way of being, and means of survival. But if you’ve ever shoot film you’ll understand this feeling: waiting for the films to come from lab to see if there is something wrong with them or if you shot them under or overexposed or even burnt them. This excitement is one of the explanations of film for me. 

And it doesn’t mean that every shot has to be flawless of course. I am not shooting to make them perfect. Even though I’ve said it’s a living it is because I can’t imagine my life without film, I think it would be boring. So it is basically about having fun instead of try to have something perfect in your hand. Even if many people think your work is full of flaws it doesn’t matter if you think you did great job!

Kodak Colorplus 200, Olympus Pen F-T
Kodak Colorplus 200, Olympus Pen F-T
Fuji 200, Minolta XG-1
Expire Kodak Kodacolor 200, Canon 500N

I am also interested in medium format and I can’t wait to try one someday. I currently have Canon 500N in my hand. And I’ve tried many SLRs such as Minolta XG-1, Nikon F4s and a half frame Olympus Pen F-T before. Even though each camera is different from another, the final point is y o u r perspective.

You can check out my other works on here if you’ve made this far: Facebook

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About The Author

By Dila Binkanat
I’m 20 years old and interested in photography since the age of 13. I’m an amateur and in love with film photography.
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Comments

Graeme on Analogue Portraits – Behind the Viewfinder – by Dila Binkanat

Comment posted: 14/11/2020

Photos of friends and family taken when you are young are good investments and grow more valuable over time. How I wish I’d taken more photos like these when I was a student, before we all went in different directions and before we all got old. And film is the perfect medium: In forty or fifty years’ time you’ll still have the negatives when all of the digital photos are lost. Great stuff and lovely photos.
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Kenneth replied:

Comment posted: 14/11/2020

I agree I,m nearly sixty now and have been a photografer since my early teen,s. Who would know that those communitys today would exist? My friends and their children are exited over my photos today.

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Dila Binkanat on Analogue Portraits – Behind the Viewfinder – by Dila Binkanat

Comment posted: 14/11/2020

I agree! And thank you so much!
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Rock replied:

Comment posted: 14/11/2020

I like your style of portraiture, seems to have a natural flow about it. Very nice set of photos.

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Dila Binkanat replied:

Comment posted: 14/11/2020

Thank you!

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Flavio Colker on Analogue Portraits – Behind the Viewfinder – by Dila Binkanat

Comment posted: 14/11/2020

Wonderfull work.
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adrienne nicholls on Analogue Portraits – Behind the Viewfinder – by Dila Binkanat

Comment posted: 14/11/2020

Dila,
This body of work is a fine example of vernacular photography. It doesn't matter what people 'think' about your work because it is an expression of personal individuality. I like the ambiguity of vernacular photography = well represented here. In fact, there is no obligation to even mention the cameras or film used if you want to express total ambiguity. Let the viewer join up the dots. Well done and best wishes.
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Holly on Analogue Portraits – Behind the Viewfinder – by Dila Binkanat

Comment posted: 14/11/2020

I really love your doubles on the half frame. Really gorgeous way to shoot and something you've inspired me to try some day !
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Louis Sousa on Analogue Portraits – Behind the Viewfinder – by Dila Binkanat

Comment posted: 15/11/2020

These are beautiful images. I like the half frames, especially the paired images. Louis.
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Khurt Louis Williams on Analogue Portraits – Behind the Viewfinder – by Dila Binkanat

Comment posted: 15/11/2020

I captured a lot of photos of friends when I started photography with film in the 80’s. I wish I’d had them scanned to digital earlier. Many moves and and 40 years later the negatives and slides are not looking. By the other hand I have every digital photograph I’ve ever made - even the cell phones ones from the 90s.
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Ron Hipwell on Analogue Portraits – Behind the Viewfinder – by Dila Binkanat

Comment posted: 15/11/2020

Really lovely images Dila! Thank you for sharing and inspiring us. Best to you!
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Dila Binkanat replied:

Comment posted: 15/11/2020

Thank you Ron!

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Ted Ayre on Analogue Portraits – Behind the Viewfinder – by Dila Binkanat

Comment posted: 24/12/2022

These are really good portraits Dila! I love the style, I'm looking to make more portraits over the next year, and this is really inspiring - keep up the good work!
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