Is it embarassing to shoot film?

[Photo Engineer]

And, since government sponsored health care is so good elsewhere, everyone who can pay is rushing to the US for treatment. Hmmm! It is not who pays, but quality that counts. The Mayo Clinic still gets more than its share of wealthy clients. Sorry, them that pays gets. But this is a side argument to the issue at hand and diverts us.

PE

 

[tomalophicon]

And, since government sponsored health care is so good elsewhere, everyone who can pay is rushing to the US for treatment. Hmmm! It is not who pays, but quality that counts. The Mayo Clinic still gets more than its share of wealthy clients. Sorry, them that pays gets. But this is a side argument to the issue at hand and diverts us.

PE

Probably the same people buying digital cameras...

 

[dreamingartemis]

I think if you're not into the process of photography, or the developing, and are an every day "take photos at birthdays" type of person. Film does not really make much sense, the freedom to take 1000 photos and not pay for any of them, and to chimp is worth more to most people than the look or pleasure of film.

But also, I think some people (a lot of people) are embarrassed to be different, and if shooting film singles them out as someone who fails to follow the pack, then they're not going to do it.

That's not to say all digital shooter care about that, but it's amazes me how many times I hear as a defence "most people would do it", or "everyone else does it" even from grown adults.

My sentiments exactly!

 

[dreamingartemis]

I've noticed this behaviour where peoples' preception that film photography to be inferior to be only found in the Western world, paritcularly the USA. Though I have seen this behaviour also widespread in countries that try to mimic USA mentality (btw, I live in Malaysia so I'm not being racist).

Though in countries such as Taiwan, Korea and Japan, film photography is still held in high regard as a mark of skill rather than a reluctance to newer technology

 

[cfclark]

A few years ago, I might have felt a little odd, though maybe not embarrassed, to shoot film. But as I've approached middle age, I am no longer embarrassed at many things I might have found embarrassing a few years ago. I'm not embarrassed to drive an eight-year-old but perfectly adequate car, I'm not embarrassed that I don't keep up with what's hip and trendy even in trend-obsessed LA, I'm not embarrassed at the few gray hairs that have started to crop up at my temples, and I sure as hell am not embarrassed to shoot film. The other film shooters I see give me knowing smiles, a few people will ask questions and learn something (even something they may have forgotten), and most younger people with digital P&S's ignore me as I ignore them.

If I feel depressed about the state of film photography, I can always go eyeball this:
http://tokyocamerastyle.com/
--and feel much better.

 

[Steve Smith]

Yes, the USA has the best medicine, and is further on the arrow of progress.

I recall a recent thread that showed the USA to be ranked around ninth in the world rather than first.


Steve.

 

[tomalophicon]

USA! USA! USA!

 

[BrianShaw]

USA! USA! USA!

FILM! FILM! FILM!

 

[Diapositivo]

http://www.photius.com/rankings/healthranks.html

And I'm not embarrassed to drive a May 1995 Fiat Punto which still goes very strong, by the way.

 

[threemilesfinal]

I don't find it embarassing. Different strokes for different folks right?

This is a lot like operating CW in Amateur Radio... sure it's dead but there's still a steadfast crowd of folks that can and do use it frequently mainly because of their love for the mode. Heck, it's still a very effective method of communication and is amazing in high noise situations. I've been able to send 12wpm on a hand key and copy about the same with a pen and paper since I was 13 and will probably pass that skill along to my kid if it shows interest.

 

[Hikari]

This has been going on for a long time. When the world was film, I got a similar reaction when shooting a 4x5 field camera--SLRs with a motor drive was superior. Naturally, this cuts both ways as evidence of the snotty remarks about our digital cousins.

Why can't photographers get along because we all love pictures...

 

[Michel Hardy-Vallée]

And, since government sponsored health care is so good elsewhere, everyone who can pay is rushing to the US for treatment. Hmmm! It is not who pays, but quality that counts. The Mayo Clinic still gets more than its share of wealthy clients. Sorry, them that pays gets. But this is a side argument to the issue at hand and diverts us.

PE

The people who live outside of the US and who travel there for healthcare are but a small minority, unrepresentative of the population of their own country. Hence the reason why the average life expectancy in Canada is higher.

In related comments, thanks to the person who pointed out that USA was 9th, not 1st.

 

[cfclark]

The people who live outside of the US and who travel there for healthcare are but a small minority, unrepresentative of the population of their own country. Hence the reason why the average life expectancy in Canada is higher.

In related comments, thanks to the person who pointed out that USA was 9th, not 1st.

We in the US have top-notch healthcare technology, what we don't have sorted out is a top-notch healthcare delivery system, at least from an access and financing standpoint. But that's a different discussion for a different forum.

 

[Steve Smith]

In related comments, thanks to the person who pointed out that USA was 9th, not 1st.

That was me. 9th was a guess. In the link Diapositivo posted, the US actually came out 37th.


Steve.

 

[MattKing]

All of the world has better health care because of the US healthcare market. The profit motive there has helped fuel tremendous discoveries and improvements, and those have travelled.

On a percentage basis, those in the developed world outside of the US have better access (including issues of affordability) to health care where they live than, again on a percentage basis, those who live in the US.

All the surveys and reports and lists are percentage or statistically based.

And by the way, many people from the US do travel outside their own country to obtain medical treatment - for reasons of affordability.

 

[Usagi]

I only feel embrassing behalf of the person who see me shooting with Graflex/field/monorail/folder and asks 'Does it really work?'

What should I answer for such a stupid question? 'No, it does not work. I just carry it and practice composition..'?

It is like a driving with a old car and when stopping on the red lights someone comes to ask 'Does your car really work?'

 

[Steve Smith]

It is like a driving with a old car and when stopping on the red lights someone comes to ask 'Does your car really work?'

Can you still get petrol (gas) for it?


Steve.

 

[tomalophicon]

I used to drive a 40 year old Alfa Romeo and people would ask me that all the time. I found it was usually better than most new cars.
Unfortunately I've had to upgrade to a 20 year old Land Rover so I can go hunting in more remote places with my longbow. And yes that works too.

 

[Steve Smith]

Can you still get petrol (gas) for it?

We have a 63 year old Morris Eight but we haven't ever been asked if we can still get petrol for it!


Steve.

 

[tomalophicon]

Do you need to put those crappy lead replacement tubes in it when you fill it?

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

All of the world has better health care because of the US healthcare market. The profit motive there has helped fuel tremendous discoveries and improvements, and those have travelled.

And because it's strictly a for-profit business, if you live in the US and are wealthy you can buy all you need. Heck, hospitals in the US run commercial ads all the time to compete for wealthy customers.

But if you aren't wealthy your wife and kids will have to put on bake sales and neighborhood car washes and mow lawns to pay for your heart transplant, radiation, or chemotherapy. Or out-and-out stand and beg on street corners for the money. I see it all the time.

Has anyone ever calculated how many chocolate chip cookies it takes to pay for a new heart? Or full regimen cancer treatment? A calculus not for the feint of heart, I can assure you.

There is nothing sadder than seeing the pride on a young child's face as he or she announces they have earned $12 from their lemonade stand towards the $850,000 that their Mom or Dad needs to not die.

Think I'm exaggerating? I personally know someone who stumbled in a parking lot one year ago, fell, and broke an elbow. No other significant injuries. Just the elbow. The final bill came to over $100,000. Heck, just the two-night stay in the hospital after a surgical repair procedure came to over $57,000. Just for the room itself. Nothing additional. Medical costs are the single largest cause of personal bankrupcy in the US.

A few days ago I read an article about a brazen bank robbery. Some reading this may have seen the same story. A man walks into a bank in broad daylight and hands the teller a note demanding money. He demands the teller immediately give him $1 and call the police. When he sees the teller is frightened he reassures her that everything is going to be OK, then says he'll just take a seat and wait for the police to arrive. When the police get there they arrest him and take him to jail, where he is fingerprinted, booked, and incarcerated.

His first request is to see a doctor to have the newly discovered lump in his chest examined...

Ken

 

[Steve Smith]

Do you need to put those crappy lead replacement tubes in it when you fill it?

There is a lead replacement liquid to add to the fuel but sixty year old cars are better than newer cars with regard to lead free fuel as the metal used for the cylinder heads was of better quality.


Steve.

 

[Steve Smith]

There is nothing sadder than seeing the pride on a young child's face as he or she announces they have earned $12 from their lemonade stand towards the $850,000 that their Mom or Dad needs to not die.

Think I'm exaggerating? I personally know someone who stumbled in a parking lot one year ago, fell, and broke an elbow. No other significant injuries. Just the elbow. The final bill came to over $100,000. Heck, just the two-night stay in the hospital after a surgical repair procedure came to over $57,000. Just for the room itself. Nothing additional. Medical costs are the single largest cause of personal bankrupcy in the US.

This confirms my realisation of how lucky I am to live in a country with a national health service. Everything you list above would be provided free including consultations with doctors and specialist and after care. The only thing we have to pay for directly is prescription medicines and they are at a fixed price per item.

It seems ridiculous to me that you can suddenly find yourself owing $100,000 just because you tripped and fell and broke a bone.

We do have a tradition of moaning about the NHS in the UK due mainly to long waiting lists for non-essential operations but in reality it is much better than not having it at all.


Steve.

 

[markbarendt]

We do have a tradition of moaning about the NHS in the UK due mainly to long waiting lists for non-essential operations but in reality it is much better than not having it at all.


Steve.

Here in the US having to wait for non-essential operations (well actually wait for anything) is framed as "rationing".

 

[tomalophicon]

There is a lead replacement liquid to add to the fuel but sixty year old cars are better than newer cars with regard to lead free fuel as the metal used for the cylinder heads was of better quality.


Steve.

Got ya!