Summoning the Vintage Spell: Using Film To Craft Timeless Scenes in a Modern World

And the art of bottling the time, and a proposal to keep the spell alive.

Let’s play the “try to find a connection” game…

Do you see anything in common by looking to these five pictures below? Spend some time looking at them, think about it, and move forward only after concluding something (Ok… the post title may had given you a spoiler 😂).

They were all taken in 2025, but you could easily imagine they were taken in 2012, 1994, or 1989—in other words, they are timeless.

Sometimes, we don’t just want to take a photo—we want to conjure an alternate reality where the clock stopped ticking decades ago. There is a certain thrill in looking at a picture and losing all sense of modern time. It feels like peering into a memory you never actually lived.

But this “vintage spell” is fragile, easily undone by a single flicker of a flat LCD screen, the glint of a shiny and modern car, or our worst nightmare: a mobile phone 💩 .

If you want to create images that truly transcend the present, you must learn to have domain over this spell—and I hope this post gives you some inspiration on doing so.

Why Cast the Vintage Spell?

Let’s admit it: the timeless aesthetic is enchanting. The grainy embrace of film, the warm glow of light on weathered objects—these visuals tug at our emotions in a way crisp modern photos rarely do. We’re conjuring the comfort of old family albums, the intrigue of forgotten Polaroids in a dusty drawer. And it’s not about lying or faking history; it’s about savoring a moment that feels like it could’ve happened yesterday, last year, or half a century ago. The instant we see a modern device or brand-new appliance in the frame, the spell shatters.

A World Without Clock

Here are some personal thoughts:

1. Seek Out Timeless Remnants
   Picture yourself as a wanderer through an urban forest, searching for glimpses of a bygone era in chipped paint, rusted metal, and faded murals. Whether it’s an antique shop window or an old diner sign that flickers unevenly, these traces of yesteryear act like time portals. Study them. Gently frame them in your viewfinder. Try making every element in the composition sing in harmony with the past.

2. Watch for the Present’s Glow

The moment I saw Kimi’s phone on the table (he was developing film and using it as a timer), I saw a spell breaker. I recomposed the shot, got rid of the phone, and did for the below instead…

3. The moment you spot a smartphone gleam in the corner of your shot, or a sleek electric car reflecting sunlight, know that your spell is about to unravel. Reposition, recompose, or find a new angle. If the LED glow of a modern TV or a glimmering microwave edge creeps in, it’ll be like pinching yourself awake from a captivating dream. Don’t let it happen. Abort the shot, turn away, and keep searching. It will come.

4. The Right Props Make it Easy
   Think vinyl records spinning softly on a well-worn turntable, the gentle curves of vintage kitchen utensils, the shadow cast by a tall potted plant next to a battered armchair. These items don’t have to be perfect collectibles; they just need to echo a time before digital took over. A single modern phone screen or conspicuous brand logo can evaporate the entire mood. Because let’s be honest, you’re not going to find this vintage vibe if you’re photographing a data center or an IT office. Be ruthless in your curation.

5. Storytelling is King

   

   Meh…

   Try contextualizing the scene, otherwise there’s no storytelling. Using a macro lens and photographing old objects (like old watches) on film will obviously bring a vintage look, but it would also not have too much storytelling value. In my opinion, the most compelling vintage-looking shots are shots that tell a timeless story, but that’s just my opinion. 😉

Clothing and Context

Clothing can seal the deal or break it without mercy, and that’s the trickiest part because in many times, it is out of our control. A chunky sneaker with reflective stripes or a shirt screaming a contemporary slogan will practically yell, “We’re in the 2020s!”…

Instead, aim for silhouettes that have stood the test of time: a simple coat, neutral fabrics, cotton shirts, or subtle patterns. You don’t need a full vintage wardrobe—just avoid the obvious signs of our tech-centric era. But also, don’t go for the obvious by just photographing a hanger of clothes in a thrift store, as such an approach can look forced.

The same goes for furniture, accessories, and even your choice of lighting. Soft lamplight can echo the glow of a past decade, whereas harsh LEDs can instantly spoil the illusion.

Let’s not Break the Spell

Now for your challenge: spend an afternoon with your camera, fully immersed in the search for a scene free of modern gadgets, try to shoot a roll. Leave your phone behind or bury it at the bottom of your bag—deny it any chance to intrude on your creative hunt. Look for old signage, chipped tiles, and the corners of your city (or town) that haven’t felt a renovation in years. The exercise isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s about daring to see and compose images in a timeless way.

You’ll know when the magic is real when you show the photos to someone else and they ask, “When on earth was this taken?”. In that moment, you’ll feel the triumph of a spell successfully cast. You’ve bottled time.

So, go on. Summon the vintage spell. Keep its fragile illusions safe from the modern glow. After all, in an age where everything moves so fast, it’s a quiet thrill to pretend, for just a moment, that we haven’t moved on at all.

I’m eager to see what you come up with. Feeling ready for the challenge? Use the comments section (or the Chat) to share photos that capture the vintage vibe—and remember: without making it feel forced!

Super tip: Flash 📸, and of course: 🎞️ film.

Curiosity: this post was written by a listening to song in loop, called Time in a Bottle (1973), by Jim Croce.

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