Why Abu Dhabi’s Young Creators Are Rediscovering the Charm of Vintage Cameras.
Abu Dhabi: In a city known for its rapid development, constantly changing skyline and fast-paced lifestyle, a growing number of young residents are embracing a slower, more traditional approach to photography.
While smartphones allow people to capture, edit and share pictures instantly, these young photography enthusiasts are rediscovering the appeal of analogue cameras, where every photograph requires patience and the results may take days to appear.
For many, their fascination with film photography began not through social media but through personal memories, family photo albums and unexpected encounters.
Emirati inventor and entrepreneur Fatima Al Kaabi, an Abu Dhabi-based photography enthusiast, first developed an interest in analogue photography during middle school. She began experimenting with an Instax Mini camera, capturing memorable moments with her friends.
Her passion for vintage photography was further inspired by her grandfather’s extensive collection of old photographs.
Another Abu Dhabi-based Emirati, Fatima Al Marar, described film photography as a delicate and fascinating process. She recalled watching her uncle, an enthusiastic film photographer, develop photographs at home.
Seeing freshly developed pictures hanging up to dry left a lasting impression on her and sparked her appreciation for traditional photographic techniques.
Family Memories Inspire a Love for Film Photography
For Al Kaabi, her grandfather’s treasured photo albums remain an important source of creative inspiration.
The collection includes portraits captured using Polaroid and vintage film cameras, preserving family memories across generations.
Whenever she searches for fresh inspiration, Al Kaabi returns to these albums, appreciating not only the photographs themselves but also the meaningful experiences surrounding them.
She particularly values the way family members once gathered around a camera, posed for photographs and shared the excitement of viewing the results together.
According to Al Kaabi, modern smartphones have gradually reduced these shared experiences, making photography more individual and less connected to the moment.
Meanwhile, Zoha Taqi, an Abu Dhabi resident who works as a social media manager, traces her earliest fascination with film photography to childhood discoveries in her mother’s wardrobe.
She remembers searching through old family photo books, uncovering photographs that offered glimpses into treasured moments from the past.
The Special Appeal of Printed Photographs
For Taqi, the experience of handling physical photographs created a connection that digital images could not easily reproduce.
She recalled spending hours carefully removing pictures from their protective sleeves, holding them in her hands and imagining the moments in which they had originally been taken.
The ability to physically touch a photograph and reconnect with the memories captured within it made the experience feel almost magical.
Her childhood fascination reflects a broader trend among Abu Dhabi’s younger generation, who are increasingly drawn to the nostalgia, authenticity and emotional value of traditional film photography.
Al Kaabi explained that her interest in film photography was revived during her college years when a friend introduced her to the medium again. She began experimenting with disposable cameras while studying in the United States, where she developed a deeper appreciation for analogue photography.
Initially attracted to vintage cameras as an environmentally conscious alternative, she eventually made them her preferred photography equipment. After returning to the UAE, she continued practising film photography and began exploring ways to introduce its unique appeal to younger generations.
For Prabhjot Singh, an operations manager based in Abu Dhabi, the fascination lies in the traditional photographic process itself. He described how light interacts with the tiny grains of photographic film, gradually creating an image that becomes visible after development.
Singh believes this process offers a refreshing experience for a generation accustomed to capturing and viewing photographs instantly on digital devices.
He finds analogue photographs more natural, warm and authentic, while Taqi similarly describes film cameras as meaningful objects that bring a special sense of wonder to photography.
Capturing Abu Dhabi’s Heritage Through Film
For many young photographers, analogue photography is not simply about creating vintage-looking images. It also offers a meaningful connection to Abu Dhabi’s cultural identity and history.
Taqi recalled reading a book about Abu Dhabi’s past and noticing that almost all the historical photographs had been captured using film cameras.
She was particularly fascinated by the intricate details preserved in those images, from sunlight falling across desert dunes to the reflection of light on a soldier’s sword and the textures associated with traditional Arabic coffee.
Such photographs, she believes, provide a vivid connection to the emirate’s history and everyday life in earlier generations.
Marwa Waheed Eldemerdash, Art Director for Fine Art Portrait Photography in Abu Dhabi, explained that vintage-style photography can help document the UAE’s cultural traditions, historic occupations and social customs.
She highlighted subjects such as traditional fishing, weaving, Arabic coffee ceremonies and community celebrations as valuable elements of Emirati heritage that can be preserved through photography.
Eldemerdash recalled exploring this approach during an Eid Al Etihad photography project in 2024 at the residence of Emirati Ahmed Al Mazrouei, who had transformed his home into a museum showcasing traditional Emirati culture.
For Al Kaabi, using film cameras today represents more than a creative preference. She considers it a way of preserving the photographic traditions followed by previous generations.
Rather than simply recreating a vintage aesthetic, she views analogue photography as a continuation of the methods through which older generations documented their lives and memories.
Al Marar also highlighted the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Founding Father, noting that historical photographs frequently show him holding different cameras.
She said his enthusiasm for photography reflected his appreciation for preserving important moments through images.
Why Gen Z Values Tangible Photographic Memories
Despite Abu Dhabi’s rapid technological progress, younger photography enthusiasts are increasingly embracing traditional cameras, instant photographs and family albums as meaningful ways to preserve memories.
Singh, who uses an older Pentax single-lens reflex camera, said the photographs he captures may not always be technically perfect, but their imperfections make them feel more genuine and emotionally significant.
For Al Marar, film photography demands greater physical involvement, patience and emotional investment than modern digital photography.
She believes the effort required to capture and develop analogue photographs makes the experience more rewarding than taking numerous digital pictures that may eventually be forgotten.
Singh shares a similar perspective, explaining that film photography has encouraged him to become more attentive to the moments unfolding around him.
Instead of focusing only on capturing an image, he has learned to appreciate the experience itself.
Challenges Facing Abu Dhabi’s Film Photography Enthusiasts
Although interest in analogue photography is growing, enthusiasts continue to face practical challenges, particularly limited processing facilities and rising costs.
Al Kaabi pointed out that only a small number of studios offer film development services, making the process increasingly expensive for photographers.
She also highlighted the limited availability of second-hand film cameras in Abu Dhabi, which can make it difficult for newcomers to find affordable equipment.
According to Al Kaabi, photographers frequently need to send their film rolls to Dubai or other parts of the UAE for processing because local development services remain limited.
She hopes Abu Dhabi will eventually establish more accessible facilities and resources to support the growing community of film photography enthusiasts.
For these young creators, the renewed interest in analogue photography reflects a desire to slow down, reconnect with meaningful experiences and preserve memories in a form that can be physically treasured for generations.
