Amidst the ever-accelerating pace of technological innovation, a curious trend has emerged: a yearning for the analog. From the resurgence of vinyl records to the revival of film photography, there is a tangible nostalgia permeating the digital age, especially prevalent within Woodbridge High’s student body.
Senior Isabella Zandpour’s passion for film photography is as palpable as the grain in her favorite Kodak Gold print. Zandpour traced the origins of her hobby back to familial influence.
“My grandpa mainly got me into film. He gave me my first film camera a while ago, which was really special to me and made me want to shoot more on film,” Zandpour said.
For Zandpour, film photography is simultaneously a connection with her family and a means of capturing the fleeting moments of everyday life. Using either her Olympus XA-2 or her Fujica AX-3, Zandpour chooses to fill her rolls with
pictures of loved ones. Zandpour attributed the comeback of film cameras to their imperfect nature.
“Most of the time, you have a very limited number of exposures so it’s not like your phone where you take hundreds of photos and then pick your favorite. You kind of get what you get and it makes you value the photo more,” Zandpour said.
For instance, some of Zandpour’s favorite film photos are the ones that were taken
spontaneously, moments that cannot be recreated.
“I have a photo of a raw moment where my grandparents were hugging at my grandma’s 80th surprise birthday party. That will always be one of my favorite photos,” Zandpour said.
When it comes to film photography, it’s not just about the final image, but the process.
Zandpour’s ritual of loading film, her anticipation while waiting for prints to develop, and the connections forged with the staff at the local film shop all contribute to her love of shooting film.
“I love going to the [local] film shop, Pro Photo Connection. I love having that interaction and it’s always exciting to get back the prints and see how the photos came out,”
Zandpour said.

Similar to the appeal of film photography, vinyl records and CDs evoke a sense of nostalgia and authenticity with their physical permanence. Vinyl-enthusiast and senior Ella McDaniel
asserted that collecting records gives her a different experience with the music she loves. Akin to Zandpour’s appreciation of unique light leaks in film photographs, McDaniel enjoys the raw, grainy sound of a vinyl.
“I feel more of a connection to the music when it’s on a vinyl. Also, the sound quality is just
different with the record players,” McDaniel said.
The tactile sensation of physically flipping through album sleeves and lifting the needle on to a record adds to the atmosphere of listening to a vinyl. For instance, according to McDaniel, listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s GUTS on her Tranlanin record player is strikingly different from streaming it on Spotify.
“The sound quality is really aesthetically pleasing for the type of music I’m into, such as indie rock. Also, it’s nice to directly support the artists by buying their vinyls,” McDaniel said.
Junior Nazia Suleri, another advocate for physical music, has a record collection spanning many diverse genres.
“It’s really messy. I enjoy a bit of everything, from shoegaze, to blues and jazz, alternative rock, metal and a bit of rap here and there,” Suleri said.
In a world where digital streaming services offer instant access to millions of songs at the click of a button, Suleri’s appreciation for vinyls and CDs serves as a reminder of the value of tangible experiences in an increasingly virtual world. She believes that the comeback of physical music has a lot to do with human connections and relationships. Sharing similar music tastes, whether physically or digitally, can truly bring people together.
“​​I burnt a CD for one of my friends’ birthdays with music I know that we both enjoy. Connection is really what is keeping vinyl and other physical music alive,” Suleri said.
Suleri’s eclectic collection of vinyl records and CDs reflects her appreciation for the unique experience of handling physical media, from cleaning Bjork records to flipping through CD booklets.
“Disregarding quality, it’s just so different taking out the record from its sleeve, cleaning it and playing it. It sounds tedious but I really do enjoy it all,” Suleri said.
Aside from the vinyls themselves, Suleri claimed that the nostalgia associated with collecting physical media plays a big role in her passion for the hobby.
“Just knowing that I’ll be able to look back on certain albums and the memories associated with collecting them is irreplaceable,” Suleri said.
The revival of analog technology such as film cameras, vinyl records and CDs is more than a passing trend at Woodbridge High.
It’s a celebration of nostalgia, authenticity and human connection in an ever-changing modern landscape.