The popularity of digital photography has all but replaced film photography among consumers and even professionals. As a result, the use of silver-based imaging has been steadily dropping for many years. Oddly enough, though, this scarcity has made fine silver-based film photography something of a commodity and the market for both antique and contemporary works is growing.

Also, a new group of retro photographers are embracing old-style, silver-based instant photographs like those pioneered by Polaroid and sold from 1947 to 1983. Even though large-scale commercial production of instant film ended in 2009, film for these cameras is available from the Impossible Project, which not only produces new instant film but also refurbishes old cameras and manufactures news ones.

Despite the growth in digital photography, silver-based film is still sometimes used for X-Rays, especially in developing countries, because the images are not only extremely accurate, but also cost- effective. Silver-based films are also the medium of choice for some commercial motion pictures because of their vibrant colors and detail.

The George Eastman Museum in Rochester, New York, preserves and develops world-class collections related to photography and cinema. You can view many of exhibitions online, and learn about the rich history of silver-based photography here: George Eastman Museum