 Cara Farnell |
Digital Photography taking over I am surprised and saddened to see almost all of the winners of the photography contests are digital camera images. What is happening to traditional photography? My grandfather, an experienced photographer, swears by film cameras, and I, myself, am torn, so I was wondering if you could give me your opinion on the matter, just out of curiousity. Thanks!
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Damian P. Gadal |
Film is going the way of the buggy whip....
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doug Nelson |
I am 57. Should my grandchildren put Grandpa's F-1 in the casket with him, or use it as a paperweight? The folks who hang out here tend to be younger. A few of us have been around taking photo for 35+ years. We're into digital, too, because there's no better way to share our work. We just use scanners to scan what we have already done. Digital cameras I can afford can't give me the image quality I get with my 20 year old Canon and Leica lenses. A digital SLR with top quality lenses CAN come close or even equal most film. First generation digital (shooting with a digital camera) has two advantages. Shadow detail is easier to get right, and color is easier to manipulate. Often a white balance tweak is all that is needed. More and more people will start photography with digital and never experience film. Like film, digital is easy to do badly. Some users will never know how sharp an image can be. No doubt many will never have a need for a truly sharp image. If we depend solely on the internet for transmission and viewing of photographs as too many of us do for our information, the result will be a tolerance for minimal information photos, just as many of us can't read and retain anything longer than a web page. I like to think that there are young photographers who care about sharpness, a full range of tones, especially in black-and-white. These things can be done with digital. It is just as possible to do digital well as to do it badly.
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Damian P. Gadal |
Keep in mind that digital equipment is still in its infancy and will only get better.
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RoxAnne E. Franklin |
At the risk of sounding like a smart you know what, I have to say, yes, digital will get better, however, photographs are only as good as the photographer. All the money in the world wont make great photos. I'm a film fan and have to agree with everything Doug said so well.
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Jef Franklin |
In the world of art the purist is the majority. However, this site will tend to attract more digital photographers than film purist. I have lived on both sides of that coin and agree with allot of what Doug said. Especially the point about having a traditional base to be a better digital photographer. I do assure you, however, that there are many contests and venues out there that frown heavily on digital photography. Some even to the point of banning it. But as with any new media of art it will someday be accepted by the majority.
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Bob Cammarata |
I puzzles me how someone can justify plunking down thousands of dollars on technology "in its infancy". A few years from now, where will this technology we have now be buried. If you want to keep film alive..keep buying it,...keep using it, and keep processing it. As long as there is a demand for film, there will be someone willing to keep selling it.
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Jef Franklin |
My digital has more than paid for the differnce in proccessing and film cost. Also, the lenses for digital SLR's work with manual so extra expence was in the body only.
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Justify having a website and see if you don't find your answer.
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Maverick Creatives |
When you consider the cost of the camera, computer, scanners, photo programs, server charges, web site fees ect. ect. it becomes obvious that those that choose digital are just as determined to produce quality works as grandpa was when he skipped his lunches to save for his first camera all those years ago. Gary
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Damian P. Gadal |
According to the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Kodak is winning the battle to ditch film with more people taking and printing digital images with its products. Sales of digital cameras, printers, and accessories nearly doubled during April, May and June, while traditional film sales fell by 8%. The decline of film has been quicker than expected and its plans to cut 15,000 jobs by 2007 are ahead of schedule. Looks to me like film is going the way of the turn table.
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Diane Dupuis |
For a film photographer to post on the web - buy film, process film, scan photo then upload. For a digital photographer all you need is the camera and your computer (although a photo adjusting program can be very handy). I love digital because I can shoot 100 pictures and keep my favorite 10 or 20 at no extra cost. The instant feedback keeps me hooked - and I won't leave my subject until I know I've captured it the way I want. I believe I've become a better photographer due to digital (I can try different things and see right away if it worked, and I don't have to wait for the film to come back to figure out if I "got" it or not. Just my 2 cents... :-)
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RoxAnne E. Franklin |
You are so right about the advantages of digital. The only thing is though, the better the digital camera, the better the photo quality, and the better the digital camera the higher the price. I just cant justify putting my already expensive pro film camera on the shelf. (sigh) And, I met a photographer that told me he would never shoot a wedding in digital cause he got burned really bad by it. CAn someone tell me the disadvantages of digital and what he meant?
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Kevin Scott |
This debate over analog vs. digital photography sounds oh so familiar to the debate about analog vs. digital audio that started more than 20 years ago (and still goes on today). The clear winner, at this point, is digital. Ease of manipulation and cost issues (lower) overpowered the quality issues. I see the same thing happening (for better or worse) to photography. Digital will over take analog film, if it hasn't already. But film will live on in niches with the die-hard professionals, archiveists and hobbyists. I say, embrace the future (digital) while, at the same time, keeping the past (analog film) alive through knowledge, education and practice.
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RoxAnne E. Franklin |
There's a great article in Photo Graphic Mag, July issue written by Jack Reznicki addressing this very subject. Worth the read.
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