Shocked by the quality of analog photography

[Nicole]

Just wanted to share: A photographer who shoots almost all digital, recently shot a bunch of stuff with an old Rollei TLR, and was (pleasantly) shocked at the quality. Just goes to show, if you don't use it, you lose it.

 

[Dave Miller]

I was recently asked "what ink are you using?" I replied Ilford Multigrade.

 

[blaze-on]

Just goes to show, if you don't use it, you lose it.

I better start dating again...

I've talked with a few local shooters and have heard similar statements.
I hope to see and believe there will be (more of) a resurgence in film in the coming years.

 

[FrankB]

I was recently asked "what ink are you using?" I replied Ilford Multigrade.

...and they probably thought you were talking about an engine oil!

I better start dating again...

Ahem, yes likewise...

 

[Glenn Mathison]

Variation number 1.

When I moved from 35mm to my first MF (A Yashica TLR) I was also (pleasantly) shocked at how big a difference there was. There is no turning back from this journey ...

Glenn

 

[Peter Schrager]

Opportunity Knocks

While out photogrphing in NYC two days ago I was approached by a gentleman who teaches at a local high school. He asked me if I might be interested in teaching a class there. I said yes and he called me back after he spoke to the pricipal;seems we have the green light. This is a great opportunity for me to share my knowledge and my love photography with a new generation.
Best, Peter Schrager

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

That's great Peter!

Variation number 2--

I was at an exhibition of 19th-century photographs a couple of years back and overheard someone say, "boy, with all our fancy electronic cameras, we really aren't doing anything better than they did a hundred years ago."

 

[Peter Schrager]

old cameras+ new technology

The older TLR's and the new films like acros100 +APX100 are just the cats meow. Your right David-but it's always going to be the image; then hopefully printed on fiber paper.
Peter

 

[Nige]

I was recently asked "what ink are you using?" I replied Ilford Multigrade.

and, we can fill the page with 100% black and not have our wallet cringe!

 

[livemoa]

I was recently asked "what ink are you using?" I replied Ilford Multigrade.

Had a similar question recently,

What printer are you using?

Reply, Bessler for that one

Oh, what sort is that, ink jet?

Reply, Na, silver and light

Strange look from questioner

Explained what it was, was told it could not have been as the print was to good.......

Smiled and gave up.

 

[gnashings]

While out photogrphing in NYC two days ago I was approached by a gentleman who teaches at a local high school. He asked me if I might be interested in teaching a class there. I said yes and he called me back after he spoke to the pricipal;seems we have the green light. This is a great opportunity for me to share my knowledge and my love photography with a new generation.
Best, Peter Schrager

I think that's amazing and just wanted to chime in with a big KUDOS! for you, sir!

And Dave... you are a saint, I think I would have lost it after that "printer" conversation...

 

[colrehogan]

Explained what it was, was told it could not have been as the print was to good.......

Smiled and gave up.

LOL!!

 

[luvmydogs]

I just love hearing stories like these.

 

[ksmattfish]

Recently I was asked to come speak and show some prints to a panoramic photography class at my local Arts Center. Most of the work being done in the class was stitched digital files, and printed with ink jet. The teacher wanted me to come to give the class a little taste of how it's done with film. As they viewed my prints (gelatin silver on FB) there were lots of ooohhs and aaahhhs, and questions "Where can I get some of this paper? How do I get my BW panos to look like this?" The teacher and I both turned and pointed at the darkroom. Fortunately the local Arts Center still offers BW darkroom classes; I hope some of the students were inspired to sign up.

 

[ann]

We have a magnetic high school here in town, my dealer told me yesterday that have over 160 photograhy students. All film, no digital.

 

[B-3]

We have a magnetic high school ... All film, no digital.

Those big magnets would erase their memory cards.

Down the street at Death-Ray High School they use all digital because the x-ray machines fog the film.

 

[roteague]

We have a local camera store, Imageworks, that sells only film, darkroom supplies, and photo paper (no ink jet paper). Their business comes from selling to students in the various local colleges.

 

[WarEaglemtn]

"We have a local camera store, Imageworks, that sells only film, darkroom supplies, and photo paper (no ink jet paper). Their business comes from selling to students in the various local colleges."

We used to have one like that in Ogden, UT but he didn't quite keep up as the local college changed to digital stuff and reduced film photo classes for a while & now he is no more.

 

[Ara Ghajanian]

My girlfriend and another model were out shooting with a photographer who had a digital SLR. I figured I'd tag along with my F3 and motodrive. I took a few shots and then turned to the photographer and said "want to see how it looks?" I turned my camera over and he approached to look at my supposed "LCD" at which point I was said "oops, I'm shooting film". Needless to say, he didn't appreciate my humor.

By the way, his shots came out horrible. So flat and emotionless. Some people use digital very well, but most just set their cameras on auto and produce shots that any monkey could take (no offense to monkeys).
Ara

 

[B-3]

By the way, his shots came out horrible. So flat and emotionless. Some people use digital very well, but most just set their cameras on auto and produce shots that any monkey could take (no offense to monkeys).
Ara

You could swap the word "film" for "digital" in that sentence and it would still be true.

Personally I think the stuff between your ears matters far more than the stuff inside your camera. Maybe I'm just strange.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Stuck on a long flight yesterday, I watched a one-hour show on the _Sports Illustrated_ swimsuit issue--of course I was just interested in the cameras. It was all Polaroids, 6x7 (Pentax and RZ) with film backs, and 4x5" (looked like a Toyo, but I wasn't positive), and maybe a little 35mm. I'm sure there must have been some digital somewhere, but it was hard to find if it was there at all.

 

[Dave Wooten]

I might have to check that issue out.....Dave you flew right over my place !

 

[haris]

As I know, majority of serious magazines (I mean class of Vogue, Playboy - OK don't raise yours eyebrows, I am talking about technical quality, not content , etc...), still make theire covers and centerfolds with 6x7cm or LF and scanning.

 

[rfshootist]

As I know, majority of serious magazines (I mean class of Vogue, Playboy - OK don't raise yours eyebrows, I am talking about technical quality, not content , etc...), still make theire covers and centerfolds with 6x7cm or LF and scanning.

That's what I am said too also for travel andnature magazines) and why I do not believe that 120 film will ever die, not to speak of LF. No matter what some of those smart a.... with their digital cristal ball say.
Bertram

 

[gnashings]

As I know, majority of serious magazines (I mean class of Vogue, Playboy - OK don't raise yours eyebrows, I am talking about technical quality, not content , etc...), still make theire covers and centerfolds with 6x7cm or LF and scanning.

You're right - I know Playboy uses LF exclusively for centerfolds - to this day as far as I know.

Came about this knowledge through purely technical curiousity, of course