Stories that Inform
3 min read
Pre-Exposed “Doodle” Films: Are they worth it?
Join KAMAL SAWLANI as he explores film photography’s roar back to life and the new innovation in the craft that has come along with it.
One of my best, most memorable photos of 2021 was taken on pre-exposed 35mm film, which has been a huge hit amongst the younger generation of film photographers. PHOTO: KAMAL SAWLANI
If you’ve been anywhere on TikTok over the past year, there’s a high chance you’ve seen more and more people capturing their lives on film, and maybe even came across some of these film images with doodles on them.
According to Daniel Ong, founder of local film photography lab Hands on Film, these doodlesare embedded within each film roll, through a process called pre-exposure. He adds that the doodle’s placement can only be seen after the roll is developed. Mr Ong specialises in creating unique handmade film rolls and developing films at his store in Pearl’s Hill Terrace.
“Pre-exposed film rolls have actually been around for a while, usually as experimental creative films for those who want to go out of their comfort zones,” says Mr Ong. “Normally, the film has added light leaks or colour effects, but recently, some have started adapting the process toadd illustrations instead.”
Many “doodle” film rolls come from overseas, such as Thai photo lab A Girl has Film’s space themed film rolls, which retail here for almost $30. That’s triple the price of a regular film roll!
Experimenting with the trend, Mr Ong created a limited-edition Christmas “Doodle” film roll in collaboration with local artist Darren Low. Mr Low also runs his own store, D.atlas studio, at Pearl’s Hill Terrace.
The Christmas roll pictured here is made from recycled film roll canisters and is targeted at a hip young crowd. PHOTO: KAMAL SAWLANI
When asked how the collaboration came about, Mr Low says that he was inspired by Stranger Things Polaroids, which used a similar pre-exposure technique. He found them to be relatable and fun to play with and when the opportunity came to make something similar with his neighbour, Hands On Film, he jumped at it.
As for the doodles, Mr Low says, “Mainly, (I) wanted to introduce my original character, a Japanese spitz that I own.” These rolls also feature candy canes, gingerbread men and Christmas trees, randomly spread out across each image.
Retailing at $18 for 36 exposures, this film roll is markedly cheaper than its counterparts. This makes it a much more appealing entry point for those wanting to try out this experimental typeof film. Despite the added illustrations, the roll can be developed as per usual at any film store. However, considering you can’t see the doodles that will appear on your image and where they’re placed, is it worth it?
Carrying around two film cameras, one loaded up with Hands on Film’s Christmas 400 film and the other with Kodak Gold 400, I set about my week and captured as many photos as I could. Mr Ong says the film works best at night as it lets the illustrations shine through, but I couldn’t resist trying it out in the sun of Coney Island.
The unpredictable nature of the illustration’s positioning can either make or break your image. PHOTO: KAMAL SAWLANI
Turns out, the doodles can still be seen in daylight, but in a landscape environment where I was mostly capturing images of the trail, it felt quite out of place. This is also where the issue of not being able to see where the doodles are causes some issues, covering the subject’s heads.
However, at night, the film really rose to the occasion. If luck’s on your side, the doodles can help add to the atmosphere of your image, without covering anyone’s face.
The film’s ISO 400 level makes it ideal for interior photos at night, with no flash needed. PHOTO: KAMAL SAWLANI
However, some photographers feel strongly against these pre-exposed films. Noah Gan, a veteran film photographer, feels that while the technology is intriguing, the way it was implemented is contrary to the spirit of film. “I would personally not try this film since I feel that it doesn’t add much to the artform and simply seeks to "beautify" pictures through the addition of illustrations,” he says.
Regardless of your preconceived notions about pre-exposed films, I recommend at least trying them out once during your film photography journey, especially when photographing special occasions with friends or family. Film photography to me is all about being creative, and these film rolls are the most creative ones I’ve seen in a while.
Hands On Film | @handsonfilm
In collaboration with d.atlas studio | @d.atlastudio
Address: 195 Pearl's Hill Terrace, #02-35, Singapore 168976
Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday, 2pm to 10pm
Film roll priced at $18, Develop & Scan starting from $8
Available on Shopee, whilst stocks last
Verdict: ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭒