Here's a reply i wrote to some one a while back - no film is vegan . . .

This has been a concern of mine for some years now. As you may have guessed, I started on this course of photography long before I discovered veganism. But at the same time this has not made me just give up so easily with the dilemma of still shooting and using film that uses gelatin from animal byproducts. In fact I am very conscious of all the environmental and ethical ramifications of my photography, i have done some things that may interest you:

1) I shoot relatively little compared to most other photographers and always try to make each frame count, as you may have heard me mention in one of many interviews i've done over the years.

2) I once had the opportunity to speak with some people at KODAK who I contacted over this and some other concerns, Kodachrome 200 is my favorite film, and i also love Tri-x 400 and I have used T-max 3200 over the last 8 years or so pretty often, too. When I spoke with them at KODAK, I told them that if they would develop a more environmentally and ethically sound film I would help them to promote it!

They in fact said several interesting things:
a) they are actively working on this already, they promised me and they are totally conscious of Vegans. I was very surprised, but: b) at this same time the representative told me it's not going well, they have made films with other synthetic materials (by the way one must also consider how these synthetic materials being created effects the environment) that DO NOT HOLD for archival purposes as the gelatin, i was told at this point in time and technology that colors and dyes all fade much to quick when synthetic materials are used in the manufacture of photographic film.

I appreciate your concern over this very much, and at this point I must say photography is something I have very little choice about, it's something I love, much more than just a "hobby" it's really in my body in a way that i don't have a choice in the matter. Even if i don't shoot sometimes for up to 6 months at a time (since i have so much respect for the process and the form and the materials used) I love it when i do. So in closing, as a vegan only you can make that decision for yourself, but if it's not in your blood, i'd ask myself why? If it is in your blood just do it sparingly because you NEED to, fun is also important and sharing and communication is one of the greatest things about photography, but just be sure it's what you really want to do.

I HATE SEEING ALL THE FILM AND ABUSE OF THE FORM THAT TAKES PLACE PARTICULARLY IN THE COUNTRY RECENTLY AND IN JAPAN FOR MANY MORE YEARS, PEOPLE WASTE AND USE AND ABUSE WAY TOO MUCH AND I DESPISE THIS. I will do my part and try to encourage others to do the same as often and in any ways that i can.

If you're just doing it for fun go digital...

hope this helps you out a bit

good luck

G>E>F>