Reclaim Your Joy For Photography with Dave Mihaly

Mar 25, 2025

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#548 Dave Mihaly is a passionate advocate of film photography who shares his journey of transforming personal loss into a therapeutic creative outlet. He recounts experiencing a turning point in 2000 following his mother's death, which highlighted for him the importance of photographing loved ones and turned photography into a personal therapy. Despite starting with analog film photography during an era when digital was emerging, Dave explains how the tactile nature and the anticipation of film photography continue to captivate him.

KEY TOPICS COVERED

Therapeutic Role of Photography - Dave shares how photography became a means to cope with grief, helping him process emotions and find a creative outlet during difficult times.
From Grief to Passion - Dave's initial drive to capture family memories evolves into an artistic passion fueled by the characteristics and challenges of film photography.
Embracing Accessibility in Photography - Dave advocates for an enjoyable and accessible approach to photography, favoring spontaneity and creativity over technical perfection.

IMPORTANT DEFINITIONS & CONCEPTS

Film Photography: A process that involves capturing images using a camera with film rather than a digital sensor; Dave appreciates it for its tactile nature and unique aesthetic.
Zone Focus: A technique used with cameras that have no autofocus capability, requiring the photographer to manually estimate the focus distance.

DISCUSSION & REFLECTION QUESTIONS

How can photography serve as a therapeutic tool in dealing with personal loss or trauma?
What are the pros and cons of film versus digital photography in your personal experience or observation?

RESOURCES:
Follow Dave Mihaly on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theoldcameraguy/
Check out The Old Camera Guy on Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@theoldcameraguy

Connect with Raymond!

Join the free Beginner Photography Podcast Community at https://beginnerphotopod.com/group
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Thanks for listening & keep shooting!