B&W Film or Digital A Vote!?

Question

Who agrees with me that photograpy should not be degital, i think the because automation destroys creativity, with black and whit 35mm it takes creativity , a good "photgraphic eye"and experiance to make a good print, with digital you can take the worst shot ever and make it look amazing using photoshop i personally think this is cheating and i do all my work in a dark room never on a computer.

Answer 1

I'm a graphic design student and I personally use digital as a tool. I need it! I know that I am not a photographer and do not expect to be recognized as one. I do expect to be recognized for my designs though. Any true artist knows what kind of work is credible and what is not. There will always be people looking for the easy way out and calling it art. I can't tell you how many other students I have seen ripping other peoples work off. My advice to you: Worry about your own work and know that it will be recognized by the people who matter.

Answer 2

I still use film and am reluctant to join the digital bandwagon; it's a matter of preference of quality over convenience. I prefer the images from film over digital, there's more depth in the film images and more details in the shadows... BUT, inasmuch as I do not shoot digital (they would like us to believe that it's cheaper for the avid amateur and even semi-pro or pro photographer but as many have sadly discovered, it sure AIN'T cheaper), I admit that I've seen some very, very great imaginative images, and some very well manipulated images, too. Digital photography is a different means to do the same thing film does: capture images. It is just as "real" as the person who chooses to paint and draw over taking a photo... it's a different medium to do the same thing!

Many years ago, the question under debate was whether photography was an art form or not. This was debated for about 60-70 years, and some people are still debating it. The question has now shifted to whether or not digital images are real or not... well, guess what? Those of us that prefer film must learn to accept that it's a new medium, and soon we're all going to be shooting with digital films.

Some people prefer to use scanners rather than digital cameras. The same effects can then be achieved with Photoshop, or the image can be sent via Internet or copied onto a CD... but, the image started out as a film image.

Don't overlook the possibilities. In a few years, you and I may have some difficulties finding film and also finding companies that sell chemicals and photographic papers for the home (wet) darkroom, and we may not find color photo labs to develop and print out films. Unfortunately, film is a dying art form.

Don't think I'm dumping on film; I'm just stating something that was very difficult for me to accept until recently, the inevitable demise of film is near.

Answer 3

They both have their merits and drawbacks. Film is great because, as you said it takes more skill and knowledge of the camera and darkroom to make a good picture - but it costs so much money. Film also allows much better quality large reproductions. Digital is great because you have the freedom to take as many shots as you like and just delete the crap ones instead of ending up with a whole lot of wasted shots on your film. But you have to spend a lot of cash to get one with a big enough sensor to stop pixellation when enlarging an image. As for the automation destroying creativity, you can get digital SLR cameras that are fully manual and offer just as much creative control as a 35mm, and the fact that you can delete stuff you don't like personally offers me a lot more freedom to take risks with my photos because I'm not worrying about wasting a shot.
I disagree with your comments about being able to take 'the worst shot ever' and make it look amazing with photoshop. You still have to have a good eye and take a good photo. No amount of digital tweaking is going to make a bland, boringly composed shot great. You just have the freedom to play around with your shots without spending all that time in the darkroom and making heaps of prints. Using photoshop well also takes skill and knowledge and it is definitely not 'cheating', after all you can manipulate your shots in the darkroom too. This is what photography has turned into, you have to move with the times. I think the line between photography and digital art gets blurred a fair bit though - sometimes people manipulate their photos beyond recognition and still call it photography when it is probably really a different form of art.

Answer 4

You know -- after so many decades using 35mm equipment (and I do have the original Canon A Series Camera with several lenses) .. and NOW, after purchasing and Enjoying the Canon Digital Rebel ...

For me -- I am a LOT more Creative with my Digital Rebel -- and it has a LOT to do with a number of factors -- including the cost of the film that previously limited the times I would take images in the first place.

Being Retired Military -- I've had a lot of opportunities to take images around the world while on Active Duty Military -- and had to be RATHER STINGY on the taking of images because of the cost of 35mm film, the developing solutions, and papers.

NOW .. with the Digital Chips (and being Retired, so I have lots more opportunities to take my time and explore) -- I am so much HAPPIER -- don't have to be as stingy with my image taking, can download and transmit the images in an instant, and can get MORE really great images -- and don't have to think twice about the cost -- because with the Digital Chips -- I can take and take some more -- just have to download them every so often when MY 4gb and 2gb Chips are full.

Answer 5

Hey there permit me tell you of the complete factor of virtual cameras THEY DONT USE FILM - Dah!!!! There is a environment on a few cameras that you'll be able to shoot the DIGITAL (NO FILM) snap shots in sepia tone (that's a brown and white photograph) or black and white as you will have acknowledged. Check out the handbook that got here along with your digicam. If your digicam does no longer shoot snap shots with both a type of offerings then you'll be able to down load the photograph right into a software for manipulating virtual pictures and simply difference the photograph right into a black and white presentation structure. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Photography is about image capture and ALL that it entails. If you want to be a photographer don't limit yourself to the information about photographic processes available only for the last 30 years. The next 30 years will be incredible.
The photographers who mixed their own chemicals, coated glass plates with organic emulsions, and carried around 50 lb. cameras who's top shutter speeds were 5 seconds (if they had a shutter at all) would have gone crazy for the equipment you own today! The modern tools in photography are MUCH better at getting the job done than the old equipment!
Avoid getting wrapped up in the mechanics of imaging and keep your eye on product. Its very much like someone who insists on listening to vinyl records because he thinks they sound better.. You will miss a lot of great music!
"a fireplace is very romantic, but its no way to heat a house..."

Answer 7

There really isn't much difference now. Digital uses pixels and Analog uses grains. In the end, you can project a digital image on photo-paper and scan film into a computer (I've done both). Digital allows the layman access to dark room techniques and much more. In the end, it's not how you accomplished it, but what you accomplished.
If you really want to distinguish yourself artistically, move to a large format camera and use a loop.

Answer 8

It's also higher in quality. DV is 530 - 700 lines while 35mm film is over 1,200 lines of resolution, unless you go high speed.

BUT film is expensive! DV can be done, especially in B&W on any camcorder.

It costs $350 per day to rent 35mm equipment and it's about $1.50 per foot to process and print and ultimately you have to telescine it to video, unless you go theatrical.

1 foot of film is .75 seconds of time so you are talking close to $2 per second to shoot and twice that to make a trial composite. To make a Telecine requires a liquid gate and that is closer to $3 or $5 per foot to transfer!

You might want to also consider Super 16 fine grain b & w, but even that is expensive, but only half the price of 35mm.

Answer 9

Film is true image. Real deal. Digital is just that, pixels arranged on an electronic machine. Its cheaper to shoot digital, and Kodak,Polaroid,Fujitzu are not selling the rolls of film like they once did.
It is an art to take a good Digital Image, but once its viewed its just that.
Hey buddy! got a laptop I wanna show my friend this picture. Or Here is a photograph of that man looking for an electrial source to view the image that is not really there.

Answer 10

film will never die
it is still a great hobby to get into
I still don't believe prints from printers will last 100 years. Prints the old way is proven.