I wonder, can I put the digital aside for a year.

Rob Skeoch · Sep 15, 2012

This Thursday the sun will rise to a fresh start.
I'm going to just shoot film for the next year and see what happens.

I've just finished a large documentary shooting digital, and Wednesday I have a commercial shoot, but after that I'm free.

I'm going to put aside the digital for a year, just shoot black and white film and make prints for the wall. I'm not sure if I can make it... but wont it be fun to try.

And yes I still make my living through photography.

-Rob Skeoch

summicron1 · Sep 15, 2012

good for you. i was going to have a year of pure rolleiflex, but when the granddaughter was born I cracked...

batwister · Sep 15, 2012

Good challenge - almost like trying to live off the land for a year. Does using a digital only as a light meter count I wonder? I've never been able to justify the price of a good light meter when my DSLR gives me a histogram and accurate reading. But I do have to make an image to see the histogram...

cliveh · Sep 15, 2012

Why should using film instead of digital be a challenge for any APUG user?

thegman · Sep 15, 2012

I guess if you're a professional, then the client's wants/needs have to come first. Some will demand digital, or at least get nervous if you insist on film. Or perhaps budget rules out film. But for the hobbyists, sure, I didn't use a digital camera last year.

batwister · Sep 15, 2012

cliveh said:
Why should using film instead of digital be a challenge for any APUG user?

Uh oh. The topic is concerned with shooting just film. I'm sure most people here use at least a camera phone occasionally.

E. von Hoegh · Sep 15, 2012

Don't forget to cycle any rechargeable batteries your digigear might use.

E. von Hoegh · Sep 15, 2012

batwister said:
Uh oh. The topic is concerned with shooting just film. I'm sure most people here use at least a camera phone occasionally.

I don't use any digicams, ever. Don't even own one.

cliveh · Sep 15, 2012

batwister said:
Uh oh. The topic is concerned with shooting just film. I'm sure most people here use at least a camera phone occasionally.

Camera phone! Wash your mouth out with soap and water.

batwister · Sep 15, 2012

E. von Hoegh said:
I don't use any digicams, ever. Don't even own one.

Really? They're quite cheap now...
Oh, you mean by choice. *Awards medal*

E. von Hoegh · Sep 15, 2012

batwister said:
Really? They're quite cheap now...
Oh, you mean by choice. *Awards medal*

Half of my electronics have valves.
I do have a microwave, a computer, and an electronic scientific calculator.

batwister · Sep 15, 2012

E. von Hoegh said:
Half of my electronics have valves.
I do have a microwave, a computer, and an electronic scientific calculator.

I have a digital toothbrush. Has a plaque alarm.

E. von Hoegh · Sep 15, 2012

Dear gods.

BradS · Sep 15, 2012

cliveh said:
Why should using film instead of digital be a challenge for any APUG user?

What I am thinking too.

Rob Skeoch · Sep 15, 2012

I make my living through photography.
The world of commercial photography is mostly digi.

-rob

Worker 11811 · Sep 15, 2012

This is one thing I advise people to try.
Typically, it's students at the college where I work but I tell other people to try it, too.

For the students, I tell them to put the digicam away for the summer and just shoot film until they get back to school in the fall.

In nearly every case, I have seen their photography skills shoot up by orders of magnitude when they return.

I don't know if a whole year of shooting film is needed but you should decide for yourself.
If you would rather shoot only film for a month, six months or for whatever arbitrary amount of time you decide, you should still see benefits from the exercise.

BradS · Sep 15, 2012

Rob Skeoch said:
I make my living through photography.
The world of commercial photography is mostly digi.

-rob

In that case it would seem to be a very difficult and possibly, ill advised challenge to take.

cliveh · Sep 15, 2012

Worker 11811 said:
This is one thing I advise people to try.
Typically, it's students at the college where I work but I tell other people to try it, too.

For the students, I tell them to put the digicam away for the summer and just shoot film until they get back to school in the fall.

In nearly every case, I have seen their photography skills shoot up by orders of magnitude when they return.

I don't know if a whole year of shooting film is needed but you should decide for yourself.
If you would rather shoot only film for a month, six months or for whatever arbitrary amount of time you decide, you should still see benefits from the exercise.

How true. Some will say that taking more shots as with digital will benefit the photographic student. Lets extrapolate that and give the student a movie camera so they can just do a frame grab. Will this improve their photographic practice? No.
For a start by using a still film camera you are more conscious of a finite number of frames, but this aside to take your first shot do you stay in the same position and shoot off the whole film? No, as by changing your distance between you and the subject you control perspective and then by changing your angle by a fraction of a millimetre you obtain a totally different shot, and then, by when you press the shutter you obtain a different shot, or a changing light between cloud and sunlight. Need I go on?

Jeff Kubach · Sep 15, 2012

I do have a digital camera but I rather use my film camera. I haven't used my digital camera in 2 years. I geuss I'm stupid this digital stuff just mess me up! I'm a analog guy in a digital world!

Jeff

Dinesh · Sep 15, 2012

Good luck Rob!

removed account4 · Sep 15, 2012

Rob Skeoch said:
I make my living through photography.
The world of commercial photography is mostly digi.

-rob

most of my clients want film
but lately, even archives want digital ...

good luck rob!
john

Ken Nadvornick · Sep 15, 2012

I liked your photo-a-day for a year challenge better. Since I've never owned or used a digital camera (or cell/smart phone, iPod, iPad, iPoop, etc.), I have nothing to set aside for a year.

But good luck anway!

Ken

AlbertZeroK · Sep 15, 2012

Good luck rob! I shoot almost everything in film now, even though i have a full digital setup, i just get so tired of everything digital.

Enjoy!!!

walbergb · Sep 15, 2012

Rob Skeoch said:
I'm going to put aside the digital for a year, just shoot black and white film and make prints for the wall. I'm not sure if I can make it... but wont it be fun to try.
-Rob Skeoch

When I find myself in times of trouble, APUG members come to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness they are standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

We're here for ya, Rob

redrockcoulee · Sep 15, 2012

Rob

Will that mean that any new products on your web pages or shots from your workshops are going to be from some one else ? And your newsletters as well Good luck on your challenge.

I wonder, can I put the digital aside for a year.

Rob Skeoch

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BradS

Rob Skeoch

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Worker 11811

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I wonder, can I put the digital aside for a year.

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