RISE OF THE RETRO
& VINTAGE LOOK IN
PHOTOGRAPHY
In recent years, there’s been a paradox in the world
of photography. The quality of digital cameras
keeps improving, allowing for higher resolution and
super crisp pictures, while at the same time the use
of retro and vintage filters keeps rising. And beyond
using filter apps, many photographers are choosing
to use “point and shoot” cameras and film. Why has
this trend been such a force lately?
One reason could be as simple as the desire to
be different. As digital photography has become
so adept at creating near-perfect photographs in
terms of color balance, resolution, and depth, it
would make sense that many people might begin
to crave the immediate, imperfect, saturated, and
warmer look of retro and vintage photos. We’ve
gotten so used to perfect looking pictures that
perhaps now many are responding more to photos
that celebrate small imperfections, off the cuff
compositions, graininess, and more interesting
colors.
@keikozu
Nostalgia could be another impetus for this trend.
Everything keeps changing so fast these days,
it could be that there’s a widespread desire for
“simpler” times. A time of analog music on vinyl
records or photos taken on film and then developed
in a dark room. Such photos often have a grungier,
less pixelated look and a warmer atmosphere, thus giving the sense of immediacy and
“authenticity” which many people claim have become harder to maintain these days.
Of course, one of the biggest reasons for the explosion of the vintage and retro look
in photography is simply artistic preference. The fact is, photographers now have a
plethora of choices of how to proceed once they’ve actually snapped a photo, and
choice is always a good thing in the creative process. Retro and vintage filters and film
provide a multitude of ways to manipulate, enhance, and play with photos until you get
the result that best suits your mood or what you are trying to convey.
66| PicsArt Monthly