Why did you neither move from film to digital or digital to film, but you use both

removed account4 · Aug 19, 2019

There seems to be some sort of idea that one can only do film or only do digital but one can't do both simultaneously or one with the other to create meaningful and expressive photographs.

Why is it that you use both film and digital technologies, to help you with your final images. Do you believe the final image is everything? or do you think that using one technique with the other ( either way film to be printed or manipulated and printed digitally, or digitally to be manipulated and printed chemically ) somehow ruins the other process?

Me? I'm an equal opportunity image maker, and while I understand why some people might be cranky im not at all.

I hope this thread doesn't become some sort of soapbox for people making negative comments because that was not its intent.

faberryman · Aug 19, 2019

When I want to make gelatin silver prints, I shoot film. When I want to make alt process prints, I shoot digital.

mgb74 · Aug 19, 2019

I disagree with the premise of your comment: that "there seems to be some sort of idea that one can only do film or only do digital but one can't do both simultaneously". I know many who shoot both digital and film. I do believe we discuss our film photography more than we do our digital photography.

winger · Aug 19, 2019

I know a few people who don't even believe in having more than one camera of any type at one time. They'll sell their old digital when they get a new one.

I use anything that records an image and frequently carry multiple types at once. I use digital more for color and film more for B&W, but not always. I like film for anything I might want to do in the darkroom because I don't have the capability of making my own enlarged inkjet negatives.

Luckless · Aug 19, 2019

I use film and digital for the same reason I use both hammers and screwdrivers: They're different tools for different tasks, even if they achieve somewhat similar things.

Andrew O'Neill · Aug 19, 2019

I work straight analogue and/or hybrid. Hybrid by scanning in my negatives to produce a digitised negative. My phone is capable of taking pretty decent pics, and is what I have on my possession everyday. Got some nice images on it that I'd like to print in the darkroom. We live in great times!

Eric Rose · Aug 19, 2019

I do all my colour in digital. B&W is 50/50 digi/analog.

Colour because it's better, cheaper, less hassle and quick. B&W because I have way more creative control over the finished product by using digi.

The analog I do because I enjoy the process.

Alan9940 · Aug 19, 2019

I shoot both, but something funny has been happening these past few years... I began what I'd call my "serious commitment" to film photography when I started shooting 4x5 in 1979. I started shooting digital cameras starting about 2001 and during those early years I hardly ever touched my film cameras. Then, about 5 or so years ago I started shooting a lot of film, again, because I was growing dissatisfied with the look of digital images. Which brings us around to...nowadays I shoot my film cameras more than digital. I would say that film work is for my "serious" work, while digital is more for family, vacation, snapshot, etc.

BradS · Aug 19, 2019

I only use digital when I don't really care much about the aesthetics...when I just want a (temporary) record of some fact....you know, take a photo of the license plate on the back of my car so that I can remember it when the clerk at the Motel asks for it. Take a photo of the trail marker and a screen grab of the GPS when I'm out in the back country. Photograph the numbers on the IC that are too small for me to read and that I want to be able to refer to when I get back to my desk...Stuff like that.

When I want the results to look good, then I use film.

TheFlyingCamera · Aug 19, 2019

Use the right tool for the job. If I've got the hankering to photograph wildlife, for example, I'll definitely be bringing my Fuji digital. If I'm shooting on the street, in an environment I'm comfortable with, medium format film. If I'm shooting street somewhere new to me, then it's the Fuji. If I'm doing studio stuff, then large format.

timmct · Aug 19, 2019

Earlier...

https://www.photrio.com/forum/threa...om-film-to-digital.165657/page-8#post-2204192

Pieter12 · Aug 19, 2019

I do not shoot color film, but for black and white I shoot both, usually depending on the purpose of the image. Digital is great, giving me instant feedback on lighting and composition, allowing me to fire off hundreds of shots when necessary without worrying about running out, being able to change the ISO at will, giving me color and black and white simultaneously. I will often shoot digital as a lead-up to a film shot just as I would have used a polaroid. However, the care and involvement in making a film photo, from choosing the emulsion, developer and making the final print is very satisfying. Although I don't think process alone is enough merit, I value a great silver print over an equivalent digital one because It is hands-on almost every step of the way.

pentaxuser · Aug 19, 2019

Isn't there a third option which is: "Why have you never moved from film to digital" or is this section of Photrio so small that it can hold its Annual General Meeting in a phone booth?

pentaxuser

jim10219 · Aug 19, 2019

For me, it's usually 35mm film for making slides, 4x5 B&W for making silver gelatin prints, digital for making color inkjet prints, and any of the above for making alternative process prints.

However, there are other factors to consider, like if I know I'm going to be shooting in low light, need a fast turnaround, or need to keep costs down when I know I'm going to be taking hundreds of shots (like any commercial photography), I'll go digital. If I need movements or a very shallow or long depth of field, or super high resolution, I'll go with my 4x5. And sometimes, I just pick a camera and take it out somewhere just to play around and see what I get. Smaller format film cameras are more fun for this.

They're different tools with different strengths and weaknesses. I view them all as equally useful. I don't feel a particular allegiance to any of them.

Tom Kershaw · Aug 19, 2019

At the moment I'm very much film-centric and multi-format. Medium Format then LF and a small amount of 35mm. I could see myself using digital for sub large format work, but I'm very keen on black & white printing, and the darkroom is the place for this.

Ko.Fe. · Aug 19, 2019

Some have to quit film because no darkroom. Or because clients need no film. I have one like this.
I do film for pleasure and digital for else.

Only film? More like religion to me

David Brown · Aug 20, 2019

Eric Rose said:
I do all my colour in digital. B&W is 50/50 digi/analog.

Colour because it's better, cheaper, less hassle and quick. B&W because I have way more creative control over the finished product by using digi.

The analog I do because I enjoy the process.

Eric wrote mine for me.

F0NZ · Aug 20, 2019

I shoot quite a bit of wildlife, all on digital. Personal situations, family, friends, vacations, etc. on film.

Kino · Aug 20, 2019

Why restrict yourself?

I don't wear a hair shirt for either medium, but I tend to favor film.

dpurdy · Aug 20, 2019

Sometimes you want instant access for whatever reason but you think you would also like to work in the darkroom on it. I do that.
Sometimes shooting a digital camera and then switching to 8x10 film.

bdial · Aug 20, 2019

Recently digital has been very handy for a tabletop project I've been working on. It made it possible to evaluate the lighting elements without going through gobs and gobs of film. The final image will probably be digital as well, but once I had the setup perfected, I did shots on two sizes of film.

Sirius Glass · Aug 20, 2019

F0NZ said:
I shoot quite a bit of wildlife, all on digital. Personal situations, family, friends, vacations, etc. on film.

When I take wildlife photographs I use film. I like the challenge of getting to the decisive moment in the fewest number of photographs. Besides I like to use my anticipation and timing abilities.

Arklatexian · Aug 20, 2019

jnantz said:
There seems to be some sort of idea that one can only do film or only do digital but one can't do both simultaneously or one with the other to create meaningful and expressive photographs.

Why is it that you use both film and digital technologies, to help you with your final images. Do you believe the final image is everything? or do you think that using one technique with the other ( either way film to be printed or manipulated and printed digitally, or digitally to be manipulated and printed chemically ) somehow ruins the other process?

Me? I'm an equal opportunity image maker, and while I understand why some people might be cranky im not at all.

I hope this thread doesn't become some sort of soapbox for people making negative comments because that was not its intent.

Because when we need birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and wedding anniversaries (anytime we need/want color prints, we use the digital camera. For everything else (B&W), I use film cameras and a darkroom. Why? Because I prefer it that way. Don't need any other reason!.........Regards!

F0NZ · Aug 21, 2019

Sirius Glass said:
When I take wildlife photographs I use film. I like the challenge of getting to the decisive moment in the fewest number of photographs. Besides I like to use my anticipation and timing abilities.

My hats off to you. I don't think I have the skill to pull it off. Would love to see some of your wildlife work. Any online portfolios?

Sirius Glass · Aug 21, 2019

F0NZ said:
My hats off to you. I don't think I have the skill to pull it off. Would love to see some of your wildlife work. Any online portfolios?

I do not have any online portfolios. I rarely post anything because I have had photographs stolen.

Why did you neither move from film to digital or digital to film, but you use both

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Why did you neither move from film to digital or digital to film, but you use both

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