Why would anyone want to use film in this exciting new period of digital photography with equipment and technological advances happening seemingly hourly?
I believe it is because one can have an emotional attachment to an older technology like emulsion-based film photography and that a black and white print can evoke an emotion in the viewer that a digital image on a screen does not. I also believe nostalgia will always be in style. Many will argue with this belief. Let them.
Like a still image of a person, event or scene stopped in time, film photography itself has also become stopped in time, with no notable advances being made since the digital revolution tsunami began well over a decade ago.
For a photographer/artist to create meaningful work they have to be emotionally attached, to see the composition, to see the light, to completely concentrate on the subject while shooting and not to think about equipment. Over time this familiarity becomes second nature and a catalyst for creatively fulfilling work. This fulfillment becomes a source of continual renewal and I believe is inherent in film photography and not in digital captures.
How difficult the creative process would become if the new equipment trap became so omnipresent as to hinder the creative flow, something which can easily happen.
The beauty of an older technology is that it allows the photographer to concentrate on older equipment and materials without being sidetracked into the new equipment marketing trap which has many convinced the latest cameras/ lenses/ digital software make the best pictures.
The film photographer has an advantage in that she can cast a blind eye to the industry, not caring about the latest and increasingly more expensive shiny new thing. The film photographer can concentrate on her craft and become familiar with tools and materials, tried and time-tested.
I acquired a Mamiya TLR in 1969 and used it for many years. It still works well after 43 years of service. Will I be able to say that of digital cameras, most of which become obsolete after a few years?
Back in 1969 Kodak Tri-X developed in D-76 was perhaps the most popular film/developer combination in use and hard to beat to this day. Film, chemistry and paper are still relatively cheap and easily available online.
Today the argument is that the computer is the new darkroom, is a lot less smelly and I agree. But I can still easily develop film in the laundry tub without harming the environment, scan negatives and make adjustments in Photoshop and send my image to a modern lab to make a gallery quality silver gelatin print.
And you know what, using film and my old Mamiya TLR makes me feel creative and artistic, a feeling I do not get using digital cameras.
Friday, December 28, 2012
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