Future of Photography (Your Thoughts)

GraphyFotoz

1: Is there a future for 35mm?
2: How many known name Pro's out there have now gone Digital?
3: Can "anyone" take great photo's with a Digital since many are all auto?
4: Has digital helped or hindered photography?
5: Which do you like better Digital or 35mm?

Here is my thoughts:

1: Probably not. 8 out of 10 PPL have a computer now and more than half of them have Digital camera's. So they can print their own photos. Film is made from a petroleum product. We all know what that means.....film is gonna go up in $$.

2: I'd say MANY! Photo journalist have gotta be sending their photo's via the web now instead of smuggling out their photo's or taking at least 24hrs for developing and getting em to their publisher. Camera + laptop = Super quick pics back to their publisher and the public.
I'm sure there are other examples!

3: Maybe for some of the smaller point and shoot camera's? But for higher end camera's that have manual modes..NO. I still say no matter what.....a photo is only as good as the person behind the box!

4: HELPED! Now you can do your OWN PP and have pics the way you want em!
Also as per what I mentioned in #2.

5: Digital hands down! I don't spend a fortune for developing....I can have my pics NOW....I can share em on the web.
Like Burger King I can have my pics MY WAY! I enjoy the PP!!

Interested in your thoughts on this! Feel free to add anything more.

(My thoughts are JUST MY OPINION!)

rahmonster

1. YES. As an art form...especially in black and white. To me....Now matter how good the digital image...No matter how high quality the print....It just does not compare to those silver grains.

2. I have no idea. But last I heard my favourite Pro Darren Heath (Formula 1 photog.) Was still using his EOS 1 and fuji velvia because he didn't feel that the 1ds could compare....yet.

3.In the world of photoshop its very easy to manipulate any image. But you still need to start with a good photo first. Anyone can take a good photo with a point and shoot 35mm if they understand a few basics.

4. I'd say its helped I guess. Although its now made good quality film processing hard to find. Time just changes i guess. I imagine it must be hard o find good slid processing these days huh?

5. At the moment 35mm. Simply because digital is still in its early days of development. It is starting to really take off but I still feel that film is worth the extra effort at the moment. Perhaps when they work out how to stop chromatic abberration and noise I'll change my mind.I guess I just have a passion for my B&W darkroom. It feels so much more special to me the amount of work I put into each print. And of course print quality also.

But thats just me.

Ask me again in 5 years and i may have changed my mind:D

GREAPER

GraphyFotoz wrote:

1: Is there a future for 35mm?
2: How many known name Pro's out there have now gone Digital?
3: Can "anyone" take great photo's with a Digital since many are all auto?
4: Has digital helped or hindered photography?
5: Which do you like better Digital or 35mm?

1) Yes, but in time it will be a practice of very specialised artists, much like blacksmithing today.

2) Many that I know of. Most of them know that if they want to compete it they almost have too. The quality of the top end digital DSLRs now surpass film according to many. When they surpass medium format that will about be the end.

3) No, just like "anyone" cannot take great photos CONSISTANTLY with a 35mm film SLR. A good camera will help you get quality photos if the scene is within the parameters of the programing of the camera. Many times it is not, and the photographer must make a creative choice such as exposure compensation, use of filter, additional lighting etc. A camera cannot give you an eye for composition, the timing to get the defining moment, or the wisdom to recognise a worthwile photo when you are looking right at it.

4) Yes, and No. On a personal level it has helped. My photography has improved at an amazing rate since I purchased my digital. Not because of PS tricks or other shortcuts. Because of PRACTICE. With my digital I can afford to practice. I shoot a LOT. Generally from 300 to 600 shots a week. I go out at least once and often twice a week more if my wife will allow it I could never afford to practice this much with 35mm and It would be a lot more trouble learning from the mistakes.

On an Industry level I dont know that it has helped. The advancments in digital have helped a great many photographer like myself advance to a higher skill level that they would have (at least as fast) and the market is filled with high quality images from advanced amatures. Nature and landscape photographers have a much more difficult time selling their work as there are thousands of quality photos that someone is willing to give them for "photo credit" There are many times more photographer trying to get a chunk of the wedding market as well as the portrait market.

It is harder to make money off of photography than it has been in the past IMHO

5) See above... Digital is for me. my 35mm gear has went down the road on e-bay never to return.

GraphyFotoz

Amen Brother!!

GREAPER wrote:

4) Yes, and No. On a personal level it has helped. My photography has improved at an amazing rate since I purchased my digital. Not because of PS tricks or other shortcuts. Because of PRACTICE. With my digital I can afford to practice. I shoot a LOT. Generally from 300 to 600 shots a week. I go out at least once and often twice a week more if my wife will allow it I could never afford to practice this much with 35mm and It would be a lot more trouble learning from the mistakes.

It is harder to make money off of photography than it has been in the past IMHO

5) See above... Digital is for me. my 35mm gear has went down the road on e-bay never to return.

150%! Practice was costing me a fortune in developing! 5-6 rolls a week for awhile! Eshhhhhh

Photography has become more competive....it was bad nuff before but now....

I'd never go back to 35mm.....altho I miss my Canon A1 and 60-300mm but in time I'll have it back in a DSLR.

thetruth

It is interesting to read this 10 years after it was posted & now that nearly everyone uses digital photography instead of the old 35mm film.. It is amazing how fast things can change

DonRicklin

struth!

Don