REVIEW: Take a Trip With Psychedelic Blues Film, an Experimental Film Brand
DUSTIN ADAMS HAS CREATED A LINE OF EXPERIMENTAL FILM — that will make you want to rush to buy time and time again. Psychedelic Blues Film sells hand-fogged C41 film, primarily in 35 mm format, and they recently released their first modified version of 120 film. Their products can be difficult to grab your hands on, as they often sell out, but after you try it once you’ll be glad when you can.
For their 35 mm film, Psychedelic Blues Film offers a range of exposure options, from 24 to 36, and ISO options of 200 and 400. They even offer upcycled single-use cameras featuring their range of film stock. For their newest 120 release, they modified Kodak’s Portra 400 ISO film. Each roll has various effects, ranging from spontaneous rainbow light leaks to organized shapes and lines of various assortment. It’s recommended by Adams to shoot at box speed, but he advises to treat the film like the experiment it is — have fun with it!
I first learned of @psychadelic_blues_film in 2019, where I shot my first roll in my Nikon N75. As a photographer, I love working with the unpredictable nature of expired films and double exposures, so I was thrilled upon finding Psychedelic Blues. If you’re looking to introduce a new element to your photography and enjoy the gamble of the unknown, this film can produce some fun results. Below are some of my photos from 2020 using Psych Blues #5.
After trying the film, I noticed that the bright sunlit images had a better turnout than the ones in more dim, shaded areas. I was pleasantly surprised with the results and was eager to try another film stock. I purchased Psych Blues #4 in 2022 and have just recently put it through my new Canon AE-1. They say to expect the unexpected, and that’s what I found to be true with the company’s #4 film.
I had no idea what to expect from this roll — I could only imagine the outcomes based on the example photos on the brand’s website. Almost every photo I had on this roll appeared to be overcome with the bright rainbow effect, which I believe could be due to the film being slightly underexposed. It’s unclear if this was camera error or user error, or just the effect of the film.
My camera had a built-in light meter, so I was basing my exposures on its metering. If I were to purchase #4 again, I probably would intentionally overexpose a few of my images to see if that made the rainbow effect less overpowering.
Overall, I can say without a doubt that I would shoot with Psychedelic Blues Film as many times as I can get my hands on their products. I really enjoy the experimental nature of the film — the unpredictability can yield some really worthwhile results.
If you’re looking for consistency and dependability, I would recommend #5 over #4, as the likelihood of the subject getting overpowered by the rainbow effects is less likely with #5. Although, it’s entirely dependent upon your taste and preference. I have yet to try the other film stocks listed on Psych Blues website, but don’t worry — I already have them in my cart. My bank account is about to be hurting, but my film obsessed heart will be happy.
