In an age dominated by fast content and endless scrolls, a growing community of artists, photographers, and collectors is rediscovering the timeless appeal of film photography—and reviving one of its most expressive mediums: the zine.

Film photography zines are small-batch, self-published magazines that showcase analog photography. These aren’t mass-market publications, but rather independent expressions of visual storytelling—raw, honest, and deeply personal. They offer an alternative to digital galleries, allowing the photographer’s vision to live and breathe on paper, untouched by algorithmic compression or filters.

Most zines are printed in limited runs and often feature curated bodies of work shot entirely on 35mm, 120 (medium format), or even instant film. The tactile experience of holding a zine—flipping through pages of grainy textures, vintage hues, and hand-written notes—is something that digital images simply cannot replicate.

Why Film Photography Zines Are Becoming Popular

1. A Return to Authenticity
With the rise of vintage cameras, film stocks, and DIY darkroom processes, many photographers are reconnecting with the roots of photography. Zines offer a physical and emotional depth—a feeling of “realness” that resonates with both creators and viewers.

2. Tactile Storytelling
Unlike scrolling through Instagram, flipping through a zine engages the senses. You feel the paper texture, absorb each frame slowly, and often read the artist’s process or thoughts. This deepens the connection between artist and audience.

3. Creative Freedom & Self-Publishing
Zines allow photographers to bypass traditional gatekeepers. You control every aspect of the creative process—from layout and typography to sequencing and themes. This democratization of publishing has fueled a resurgence in DIY culture and print media.

4. A Growing Collector’s Market
With limited runs and signed editions, film zines have quickly become collectible items. Art collectors, archivists, and photography lovers are preserving these small books as historical records of modern analog photography.

My Journey: Publishing an Analog-Only Zine
As a film photographer deeply inspired by nature, timeless beauty, and storytelling, I decided to publish my own zines not just as a collection of images—but as physical works of art. Every frame in my zines is:

Shot on real film: 120 medium format, 35mm, and Polaroid

Developed by hand: No lab scans. All negatives are developed and curated manually

Printed in small editions: Some in darkroom prints, others in premium digital offset, but every piece remains analog-rooted

Narrative-driven: I follow stories—"Early Morning," "Waiting," and "Doesn’t Matter" are a few of the series I explore

Exclusive Originals: I offer unique collector options like original negatives or single-copy Polaroid prints—no digital copies distributed

This makes my zines exclusive in every sense. Not only are they tangible collections of my work, but they also include personal notes, exposure settings, the films used (like Kodak Gold 200, Portra 160, Vision3, or HP5+), and the emotions behind each frame.

Publishing these zines is a way to honor the very process of photography—the meter reading, the film loading, the waiting, the developing, and finally, the sequencing of images. With each project, I capture fleeting human emotions and environments using tools that are mechanical, deliberate, and historical.

And most importantly, I retain complete creative and legal rights to my work and models. Every project follows legal protocols including model release forms, ethical collaborations, and transparency with collectors. All my models are over 18 and respected as collaborators in the creative process.

I release all my zines through zineoriginal.com and via my nas.io community at nas.io/msourish. You can collect:

Printed Zines (limited editions)

Digital Zines (curated and downloadable)

Original Polaroids (one-copy only)

Darkroom Prints and Fine Art Silver Gelatin Prints

Premium Photo Prints in 11x14" and larger sizes

Workshops & Custom Fine Art Commissions

In a time where every image is instantly viewable and easily forgettable, creating zines brings back intentional photography. It slows the process. It revives storytelling. It preserves the essence of analog.

Whether you're a collector, a fellow artist, or just curious—this movement is about reclaiming photography as an art form. My zines exist as archives of feeling, frozen on celluloid and printed for the world to hold.

If you’ve followed my work even a little, you know I live and breathe film. But this latest project? It pushed me deeper into the soul of analog photography than I’ve ever been. Forty curated images, hundreds of frames, countless decisions and all of them captured on film. Real film. Not simulations, not presets, not filters. Just light, lens, and chemistry.

This artical is about shooting with 120 film—specifically Kodak Gold 200, Portra 160, and Ilford HP5 Plus 400—using my trusty Yashica Mat-124G, a medium format twin-lens reflex (TLR) camera from the golden days of Japanese engineering.

Let’s break it down. 120 film is a medium format film type that produces larger negatives than 35mm. That means more detail, better dynamic range, smoother tones, and a depth that digital sensors (even full-frame) still struggle to match. For my project, that richness of detail was non-negotiable.

Each roll gives you 12 exposures at 6x6 cm on a TLR like the Yashica. And that’s a big deal. You're not snapping mindlessly. Every frame counts. Film photography slows you down—in the best way possible. You become more intentional. You don’t just “take” photos; you make them.

This is a cult classic for a reason. Fully mechanical, waist-level viewfinder, sharp 80mm f/3.5 lens, and a joy to use. I bought it from Sarbojay Paul—who also developed and scanned all my rolls for this project. The beauty of this camera? It’s not intimidating. No electronics, no distractions. Just you, the light, and your subject.

Using it, I understood something deeper about my craft. The camera becomes invisible. It becomes part of the rhythm of the moment. This simplicity is what led me to capture some of my most emotionally raw portraits and timeless compositions yet.

Most people don’t realize this, but developing film is a whole ritual. A sacred one. Each film stock requires different chemicals and times. I worked with both C-41 process for color negatives and B&W chemistry for Ilford. The moment that image appears on the negative? Magic.

With each negative, I saw stories emerge—stories the digital sensor can’t replicate. The imperfections, the soft grains, the tonality—this is what gives film its unique voice.

Zines, Prints, and Preservation

All of these photos are being published through my independent zine label FOI Studios. I'm not just putting them on Instagram and calling it a day. I'm printing them. Archiving them. Letting people touch the grain, smell the paper, and experience the photographs as they were meant to be.

This zine is shot entirely on film—no digitals, no AI, no nonsense. It’s a preservation of the real history of photography, in your hands.

This project isn’t just about beautiful photos. It’s about reviving a process. A culture. A way of seeing. Through 120 film, I’ve been able to express something honest, slow, and deeply human.

If you’re just getting into film—start small. A roll of 35mm. Or even a disposable. But if you’re ready for that next step? 120 is a whole new world.

Thank you for supporting analog photography.
Support it, collect it, archive it.
And remember: every frame on film is a choice. Make it count.

Want to dive deeper into this journey?
→ Check out my full zine on zineoriginal.com
→ Join my free community on nas.io/msourish

Are you a photographer in India longing to slow down, shoot intentionally, and bring art back into photography?

Or perhaps an art collector looking to own rare analog prints, limited edition zines, and collectible scans?
If yes, welcome to a world where film is not dead – it's reborn.
I'm Sourish Mukherjee, a photographer based in Kolkata, and this is your personal invitation to India’s fastest-growing analog film photography community.

Why Analog Film Photography is Making a Big Comeback in India

Digital is fast, but film is timeless.
In a world saturated with AI-generated visuals and smartphone filters, more and more Indian photographers are rediscovering the craft of shooting on 35mm and 120 film.
What makes film special?


Unique grain, texture & soul – no two frames are a like
Slower, more thoughtful shooting process
Archival quality – perfect for collectors & galleries
Hands-on development and scanning – craft meets science
Pure, unedited emotion in every shot
Whether you're a professional photographer, an art school student, or a creative looking to express yourself more authentically, shooting on film helps you slow down and tell deeper stories.
Learn, Share, and Grow – Inside Our Film Photography Community
At nas.io/msourish, we've built a creative space for Indian film photography enthusiasts – no matter what stage you're in.
Here's what you get as a member:
✅ Access to original film scans – shot on legendary stocks like Portra, Ektar, Fuji Pro, Cinestill, and scanned on the Fujifilm Frontier SP3000
✅ Behind-the-scenes content – learn how I shoot, develop, and scan film
✅ WhatsApp community access – ask questions, share your work, get gear advice
✅ Exclusive art drops – digital zines, printables, and high-resolution scans
✅ Collector prints – limited edition, signed, and beautifully curated for buyers
This is not just about photos. It's about reviving a culture.




For the Art Collectors: Own a Piece of Analog India
If you’re an art collector or a visual arts enthusiast, my analog photography archive is available through limited sales on nas.io/msourish and Foundation.
What you can collect:
Original scans from vintage cameras
Framed & unframed film prints
Digital zines exploring themes like street life, nostalgia, architecture, and human emotion
One-of-one Polaroid originals with physical delivery
All purchases come with artist provenance and are available for both personal and gallery use.
Who Is This For?
Photographers in India – whether you're new to film or experienced with vintage cameras
Photography students & visual arts learners – perfect for hands-on, analog education
Art buyers and collectors – looking for rare, physical work rooted in India’s streets and soul
Creative professionals – filmmakers, designers, illustrators who appreciate true analog texture
Whether you use a Canon AE-1, Nikon FM2, Pentax 645, Leica M6, or even a disposable camera – you’re welcome here.
Let’s Build India’s Analog Archive, Together
There’s a new wave of photographers in India — and it’s not defined by megapixels, but by meaning.
At FOI Studios, I believe in creating timeless work that can live beyond social media trends.
I want to help others learn the craft of film photography, share knowledge, and curate a space for collectors who appreciate real, human-made visuals.

👉 Ready to be part of the revolution?

📍Join now: nas.io/msourish

Let’s keep film alive, one frame at a time.
Follow my journey on Instagram @msourish and don’t forget to bookmark nas.io/msourish to join the movement.