They shot a short 35mm film, using the same type of cameras which cinematographers used in 1916. The film forms part of the lecture.

They are re-running the lecture at the Institute of Historical Research, in London, on 4th June, 2025. The lecture is not just about the Battle of the Somme, and the Great War. Andrew gives a short illustrated history of pictorial war reporting, from the earliest days of mass-circulation news magazines in the 1870s, up to 1916. John Adderley explains how a 35mm motion-picture camera works.

The lecture is of interest to historians, social historians, and photographers. Many motion pictures are still shot on 35mm film in 2025. Sir Christopher Nolan, the Oscar-winning director of Opppenheimer, shoots his films on 65mm! The principles are the same, no matter what gauge of film you use.

It’s an in-person lecture, but it’s also being streamed online, so anyone can watch it.

https://www.history.ac.uk/events/where-do-you-put-camera-re-filming-battle-somme