Startups and photography
When cameras appeared in every phone, almost all photographic equipment immediately became the preserve of professionals and photography enthusiasts. The number of cameras decreased, and professional film cameras almost disappeared. Now, however, they are experiencing a renaissance. With the advent of 3D printing and cheap, powerful processors, many startups have emerged to replace the giants that have left the market, producing photo enlargers, developing machines, flashes, and exposure meters.
One of the most notable new companies is the Estonian startup Vintage Visual. They have created the AGO film processor for all types of film and even paper. It is based on the idea of monitoring the temperature of solutions, and the development time is adjusted depending on the temperature of the solution. Now your entire film development lab can fit in a single plastic box. So if you want to take a picture of your idol, not a "sugary" one created with artificial intelligence, and not a "telephone" one with a bunch of unnecessary details, but a lively and memorable one, like this photo of David Bowie that I took back in 1996, then you should explore film photography and everything that comes with it – developing, printing, scanning, and archiving. And startups are indispensable helpers here.
On my last visit to Tallinn, I stopped by the guys at Vintage Visual. Here's their website.
