How to Improve Your Analog Photography Skills

Hi there!
Did you find your dad's vintage camera model from the attic?You have loaded the film and ready for clicking pictures,but then you realize that the film camera is quite different from its digital counterparts? So, don't worry and march back to throw the camera because in this instructable I will be suggesting some tips and methods so that you can click better pictures and improve your photography skills.
So, with a few techniques you can click some really cool pictures basking jealousy from your digital only friends!

**I have entered my instrucutable in the Lomography Analog Photography Contest.If you like it then please vote for me.**

Step 1: A Fresh Start !

The first thing you must keep in your mind while shooting film is that it is completely different from shooting digital.Both these things are technically photography  but require different approaches.
You have to forget everything you have learnt in digital photography and try to change your way of shooting.Comparing digital and analog is like comparing computers with typewriters.
Everything including the way you see through the camera,and relate to your subject will be influenced by the change.As you can't delete your shots you try to give every shot your best.
Contrary, to the digital camera where you can fire the shutter as many times as you want in analog every frame counts.

Step 2: Keep It Light

One of the major disadvantages of working you can't simply lighten or darken the parts of a image.So, while clicking pictures you must be aware of how natural(or unnatural lighting affects your image as your ability to edit an image is not going to come as easily.

One thing you must keep in mind is that you're manually lightening and darkening areas as you're developing prints in the darkroom.You need to make sure that you have an optimal lighting experience to start with. Too much strong sunlight can  create shadows or wash out an image,so look for shaded areas or cloudy days. Using reflectors like a light-colored umbrella between the sun and your subject can help you capture an optimal image from the get-go.

Step 3: Choosing a Correct Lens

Digital cameras for sure are very to use, but if you are a dedicated film user or at least trying a hand at them, you must be aware of the fact how different types of lenses can affect the images you click.Choosing a right lens of course will help you to get a better image.When photographing with film, you can scan your pictures to a digital file and then rescan them as technology progresses to get better images, which in turn is an advantage.
A wide-range lens will provide a larger depth of field(which will capture a crisp background). Use wide-angle lenses for capturing a larger scene, like a group photograph from a distance  or a panorama shot; anything where your subject has context within the environment. A telephoto lens -- which has a smaller depth of field, makes the background less clear and the foreground sharp -- which in turn makes your subject the "plot" of the picture.

Image Credits

Step 4: Stay Balanced !

It is obvious that a terrific composition can improve any photograph -- digital or film to a large extent. That is, the subject won't be interesting unless it has been framed and positioned well,no matter how good your photography skills are or how excellent your equipment is.
Positioning and composition are much more important in film photography than it is in digital for a very obvious reason: It is simply that it is much more costlier and expensive to develop a lot of shots.Its a very easy task to experiment with composition by clicking tons of pictures with a digital camera. With a analog camera, you just might find yourself more happier and interested in capturing the "right" shot from the beginning, which also saves you your time and money in development.
Remember that we all are used to seeing the world at our own height --- crouching below a subject or climbing a staircase or a platform to spy the image from another angle can instantly give the viewer a novel way of seeing the subject of the photo.

The Rule of Thirds proposes that an image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines, and that important compositional elements should be placed along these lines or their intersections.Aligning a subject with these points can create more interest and energy in the composition than simply centering the subject would.
The rule is applied by aligning a subject with the guide lines and their intersection points, placing the horizon on the top or bottom line, or allowing linear features in the image to flow from section to section. The main reason for observing the rule of thirds is to discourage placement of the subject at the center, or prevent a horizon from appearing to divide the picture in half.

Source: Wikipedia

Step 5: Developing Your Own Film

If you are truly into photography and really love it,the best way to improve your work is by developing the film on your own. Yes, it can cost you a few bucks for chemicals and paper and at many times can be time consuming,but if you have access to a darkroom (or can easily make one of the rooms in your house light free)), you will  surely be able to control much of what the finished product looks like. When you yourself are the developer, you can manually lighten or darken images or parts of it and even control how the negatives are printed.

Image Credits

Step 6: The End

Analog photography is quite different and difficult as compared to digital,but with some tips and techniques which I have listed and some of your own you can master this art and can even be a professional in this field.
And even if you don't succeed in the very beginning don't get discouraged and demoralized because - Practice makes a man perfect
So, here is my i'ble comes to an end.I hope that it will be of some help to you and that you liked it.
Thanks for your precious time and "Happy Photography!"