The Big Film Photowalk 2024: UK’s Largest Analogue Photography Event

What was The Big Film Photowalk?

The Big Film Photowalk was an ambitious, nationwide celebration of analogue photography, inspired by the success of Record Store Day. Organized by Analogue Wonderland in partnership with Kodak and a special mystery partner (since revealed to be Pentax 17), it aimed to bring together photographers, shops, labs, darkrooms, galleries, and workshops from across the UK to celebrate film photography.

On 29th June 2024, over 40 photowalks took place simultaneously at midday, making it the biggest coordinated film photography event in the UK to date. For those unable to attend in person, we also hosted an Online Big Film “Photowalk,” giving photographers from all over the world the chance to connect and participate.

The Online Big Film Photowalk: A Virtual Gathering

For anyone unable to join a physical walk, we hosted an online version between 1:00 and 2:00 pm. This allowed participants to shoot, share their work, and discuss film photography in a virtual format. It was a welcoming space for anyone with mobility issues, language barriers, or simply those located too far from one of the in-person walks.

What Happened During the Online Photowalk?

We kicked off the event with introductions—everyone shared how they found out about the event, what gear they were using, and why they loved shooting on film. Although many people signed up, not everyone made it on the day, which initially created some anxiety on my end. It would’ve been helpful to gather more info upfront, and I plan to ask future attendees to submit photos in advance for smoother sharing.

Despite some technical hiccups (more on that later), I had prepared a slideshow of inspiring images, categorised by genre, which people enjoyed seeing . Attendees ranged from beginners trying film for the first time to more experienced photographers, and this gave everyone something to connect over.

The Technical Side: Lessons Learned

One of the main challenges was the platform. We used Google Meet, which, despite upgrading to a better version for the day, wasn’t ideal. Some people had trouble joining, seeing, hearing, and using their cameras. These glitches added unnecessary stress and frustration, so next time I plan to use Zoom Pro. It offers better interactivity and reliability, which would help eliminate these barriers.

Managing the technical side of things while also presenting was tough, so in future large group sessions, I’d love to have a co-host to handle troubleshooting and chat management.

Highlights: A Collaborative Learning Experience

A standout moment during the photowalk was when one participant asked me to review her photos. She had sent me a link to her photos upfront, before the online session. We did a live review using Lightroom, where I demonstrated how to analyse and in some cases, enhance film scans. This impromptu learning session felt like a highlight for many, and others began to share their work, too. The collaborative atmosphere made the session feel much more interactive and rewarding. I realised this was something I really enjoyed and was keen to do more of.

While some attendees were quieter, by the end, most were happily discussing their work and sharing what they loved about film. It was amazing to see how the online format enabled people from different backgrounds to connect—some had mobility challenges, others weren’t native English speakers, but it became a space for everyone to share their passion for analogue photography.

What Would I Change for Future Walks?

Looking back, there are a few things I would do differently:

Collecting Attendee Information in Advance: Next time, I’d ask participants to submit their photos before the event to avoid technical issues during the live call. In some cases, participants hadn’t finished taking their photos on their free roll, but I would have liked to have seen some examples of each person’s photography. This helps me gauge skill levels and tailor the content better.
Platform Choice: I’ve decided to use Zoom Pro in future for its reliability and better control over the session, minimizing glitches. Even with the pro version of Google Meet, it didn’t offer that much interactivity, and it wasn’t that intuitive, in my opinion.
Partnering with a Co-Host: Having someone to handle tech issues and moderate the chat would make a world of difference, especially for large groups. It was tricky balancing both the presentation and tech support on my own.

Future Events: What to Expect…

For future online photowalks or workshops, I’ll be implementing some of these improvements to enhance the experience. Whether you’re interested in street photography, portraiture, or experimental techniques, I’ll be offering more specialised sessions and expanding the event to include photo reviews, live editing demonstrations, and perhaps even some Photogrraphy for English Language learner workshops!

If you missed out on this walk, don’t worry—there will be more to come! Let me know if you’re interested in joining a future workshop, or in personal one-to-one mentoring sessions, and let’s continue to explore the world of film photography together.

What next?

Want to join me for the next photowalk or workshop? You can express interest for future sessions here [TO ADD: Link to a sign-up form or future event page].

If you’re curious about my journey through film photography, or if you’d like to receive mentoring or feedback on your work, follow me on Instagram and TikTok [TO ADD: Links to social media]. Feel free to drop me a message if you’d like to know more about the type of workshops or services I offer.