Video: There's a resurgence of film cameras in Australia – but who will repair them?
In this ABC News report, Kenneth Png explores the vibrant resurgence of film photography. Through interviews with veteran repairers and a new generation of analog enthusiasts, he examines the delicate balance between a booming hobby and the dying art of camera maintenance.
The story begins at The Big Camera museum in Meckering, Western Australia, where curator Charles 'Chic' Wadley oversees a literal treasure trove of photographic history. This unique building houses a private collection of nearly 4,000 film cameras – a profound testament to the evolution of how we capture time.
The archive spans centuries, featuring rarities such as a French camera from 1830 that predates the official invention of photography by eight years. From the prestigious to the playful, the shelves also display novelty icons like the Mickey Mouse camera, featuring a whimsical nose for a lens and a shutter triggered by his ear.
The master of London Court
Since 1978, Clinton Howe has been a fixture of Perth’s picturesque London Court with the business Ambrose Camera Service. For nearly five decades, he has been the surgeon for the city's most beloved mechanical eyes. According to Howe, film photography possesses a 'spark' that digital sensors simply cannot replicate.
"These cameras aren't disposable," Howe insists. "With the right care, many of these vintage pieces will easily last another 50 to 60 years."
However, his expertise is becoming a rare commodity. While Howe is busier than ever thanks to a massive resurgence in film's popularity, he warns that the craft of repair is a dying art. He estimates that fewer than ten specialist vintage camera repairers remain across all of Australia.
A generations dilemma
For 21-year-old music photographer Lizzie Wilkie, film is a "labour of love." Like many of her peers, she finds the tactile process and the delayed gratification of developing a roll of film far more rewarding than digital shooting. But for the 'film kids', a looming crisis remains: where do they go when the gears finally jam?
"If my camera dies after the experts retire, I wouldn't know what to do," she admits. It is a sentiment shared by many in the community who fear that their favourite cameras might become expensive paperweights once the masters hang up their tweezers.
Passing the torch
There is, however, a glimmer of hope for the future of analog. When Mr. Howe eventually shuts his shop, his lifetime’s worth of spare parts won’t be going to a landfill. Instead, they will be passed to Daniel Ward, a technician committed to training a new generation of repairers.
The future of repair may also look quite different than the past:
• 3D Printing: Using modern technology to fabricate discontinued plastic and metal gears.
• International Sourcing: Tapping into global markets to find "donor" cameras for parts.
• Apprenticeships: Focused training to ensure the mechanical knowledge isn't lost.
Despite the dwindling number of shops, the sentiment remains optimistic. The quirkiness and unique soul of film photography have survived the digital revolution; now, it is up to the next generation to ensure the machines – and the skills to fix them – endure for decades to come.
You can read the original article on the ABC News website here.