Uptown | Fivethirty

"It is kind of a mystery," Nick ponders. "You'd expect film not to still be alive, because logic runs fully against the whole process of it." He pauses for a second, as his thoughts come into focus. "But on film," he says, "a photograph means so much more than just one out of a thousand digital shots."

It's certainly true that the majority of professional, hobbyist and amateur photographers have embraced the modern-day convenience of working digitally. But as a photographer, Nick is a true enthusiast, a zealot even, for not just the process of working with film stock over digital, but also for the unique feel of film. And, he points out, "a lot of digital photographers end up trying to emulate the look of film."

In many ways, you can liken film to the panda bear of creative tools: it's expensive, difficult to work with and teetering on the brink of extinction. But damn, if it isn't something special.

"I think people really appreciate film's genuine approach to capturing memories and storytelling," Nick continues. "You become more involved in the photograph because there's a lot more that's gone into it."

Firstly, a photographer has to decide what to capture in the frame and then how best to capture it. To achieve the desired feel, the correct film stock must be selected, and then a decision made on how that film should be processed to bring out the desired look.

Cost is also a significant factor. Film and processing are expensive, with Nick ballparking a figure of around $1 per shot. On a professional shoot that can last hours, that quickly adds up. All of this requires a photographer to fully commit to their creative choices.

"Regardless of what medium you choose, you're all doing the same thing," Nick explains. "But film is special in that it's a more considered approach and the final look is different. There are certain qualities to film that are a big drive for a lot of people: the grain, the colours. It's all very special and unique."

Nick is so immersed in the world of film that as well as being a freelance photographer for fashion, arts and commercial branding, he started his own film processing lab, Fivethirty. After opening around 18 months ago, demand has been so high he had to upgrade from his original premises in Eden Terrace and move into a funky new space on Khyber Pass.

"My head was enveloped in this whole world of film," he smiles when asked why he started Fivethirty, "and I wanted to do my own thing."

As a young photographer, Nick was immediately enamoured with film. To bring his own film and processing costs down he began working at various labs around town. He quickly developed a fascination for the process and, many years later, when a rare opportunity to acquire equipment of his own came up he jumped on it.

"I knew this guy who had the machinery just sitting in his garage. I was texting him for years and every year he was like, 'I'll let you know if I want to get rid of them.' After about three years of nagging, I managed to get them," Nick laughs. "It was all in a pretty sorry shape after being in a garage for so long, but me and my technician brought it back to life."

What's interesting is that the majority of film that he processes isn't from people who he says would identify as a 'photographer'. Instead, they're people who want to capture those special moments of their lives in a more meaningful way than just whipping out their phone and adding another image to their camera roll.

They're generally just people who want to capture small moments in their life. Often spread out in one roll, you can see the difference in time. There's a lot of time that has elapsed between start to finish.

"They want to be able to record memories in a way that feels cherished," he explains. "Film gives their memories a nostalgic lens. It looks timeless and a lot of people appreciate that." Just like vinyl records, photographic film is having a comeback as people look to decouple from the screen and experience the more tangible, experiential aspect that analog provides.

"Yeah, definitely," Nick agrees, before adding, "and it seems to be only growing."

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