Mentioning Traditional Photography On The Web

[thetimedissolver]

Digital =

digital = mcdonalds
Analog = Home Cookin'

 

[Andy K]

digital = mcdonalds
Analog = Home Cookin'

But as many digital users will say, it's only the final image that matters, not how you got there. So, homecooked sunday dinner or McDonalds, they're both food, right? (disclaimer for the ironically-challenged: the above was said with heavy sarcasm)

 

[David H. Bebbington]

But as many digital users will say, it's only the final image that matters, not how you got there. So, homecooked sunday dinner or McDonalds, they're both food, right? (disclaimer for the ironically-challenged: the above was said with heavy sarcasm)

Not only many digital users will say that it's only the final image that matters, ALL PROFESSIONALS will as well. I should be used to it after all these years. but I am still amazed by the intensity of the digital versus analog debate, in which bizarrely only amateurs indulge!
I've said it many times, I'll say it again: Good photography, whether traditional or digital, is essentially conceptual, i.e. it is the idea that counts. Both traditional and digital photography are very simple in terms of craft skills - you can go on polishing your craft skills forever, always looking for the perfect film developer or printing paper, the difference this will make once you have reached the level of reasonable competence is minimal, and your efforts are likely to be above all an attempt to divert attention away from the fact that your work is emotionally empty.

 

[Andy K]

It also appears many professionals have lost sight of the joy and satisfaction of the creative process of using film, which is absent from the digital process, blinded by the ££££.

 

[David H. Bebbington]

For me, whatever joy and satisfaction I get from photography (still considerable, even after 50 years) comes from distilling a new idea and thus surprising myself. No criticism of others intended or implied!

 

[jjstafford]

[...] I'll say it again: Good photography, whether traditional or digital, is essentially conceptual, i.e. it is the idea that counts. [...]

Typical bi-media thinking; you double your chances of employment if you go both ways.

Good photography (conceptualization and execution) is, indeed, the fundamental skill however sometimes pixelography cannot hack it regardless. Yesterday I got a great lift when a digital-oriented client almost shouted with joy when I presented some mere medium-format work to him. It got me the job to reshoot some of it in 4x5, which pays very, very well. (Gosh help me if he eventually wants 8x10. I cannot handle the expense right now.)

 

[Helen B]

jjstafford wrote:
"Typical bi-media thinking; you double your chances of employment if you go both ways."

...and, oddly enough, learning about other ways doesn't diminish the knowledge or skills or craft that you already have, or close doors to you - it can only open new ones. That doesn't mean that it will open new ones, or that you need any new ones to be opened.

Best,
Helen

 

[David H. Bebbington]

... however sometimes pixelography cannot hack it regardless.

With you there all the way. To get a 66 MB file with one-pass digital capture would (apparently) cost me £12,000 for a camera back, whereas shooting 4x5 and 5x7" film costs me (almost) £11,999 less and with a £750 scanner I can get the 200 MB files I need for those big expensive prints (and I can go and print the negatives in the darkroom in my very rare free moments!). This without any regard for the questions of long-term readability of digital media, etc. My reasons for shooting film are thus (I think) pragmatic and objective - try as I will, I can't get the least bit emotional about analog photography!

 

[Dimitri]

I find the digital camp usually argues that "the final image" is all that matters. They say the process is only a means to an end. But in reality they are just as concerned with the proccess as we are (they just don't like to admit it).

I'm finding it increasingly hard to mention the word traditional photography on the net anymore. If you do, be prepared to get flamed...

Sean, digi-snapshooters might say that the final image counts, but self respecting digital shooters will never say anything like that. The process counts irrespective of the "medium". It is just that film and digital have different processes.

Each demands attention, if the photographer respects himself and his/her art.

As for the difficulty in mentioning digital, I have to say that I'm hapy to be part of the modeating team of a Greek photography site. The site mainly deals with digital, but there is an analog part it ot, which is on the increase and more and more converts are joining.

So, all is not lost