Since digital cameras have taken over the photography
world, there have emerged two types of photographers. There
are old-school photographers who dismiss everything digital
as fake, inferior, and not the same as 'real' photography.
Then there are the digital photographers who think the film
photographers are living in the dark ages.
For the record, I use film. That is not because I don't
like what digital photography has to offer. My reason for
staying with film is simple; after 20 years of photography,
I have a thousands of images on film that have yet to be
put to good use. If I switched to digital now, those photos
would probably be neglected for another 20 years and
finally be thrown out. That's a lot of memories wasted.
However, as a gallery owner, photography teacher, writer
and club member, I am among digital photographers every
day. Having lived and worked through all the years when
photography has accellerated into the digital age, I have
observed something that will surprise many people; not much
has really changed.
Being good at digital photography requires the same skills
as traditional photography. You need to be able to work
with aperture and shutter speed, understand depth of field
and know how to handle moving subjects. A digital
photographer requires sensitivity to light and contrast,
and must develop a talent for creative composition.
In teaching and writing about photography, I have been
amazed by just how much things have remained the same. In
some instances I have been certain that the new technology
would create new challenges - only to find that for all
practical purposes, nothing has really changed.
Here is one example that is so similar it's spooky. In the
days of film, you could buy film that was rated at
different ISO speeds, relating to how quickly the film
reacted to light. Faster films were great for allowing
quicker shutter speeds in low-light conditions, but there
was a sacrifice in quality. Photos taken on fast films had
a grainy appearance, making them less suitable for printing
big enlargements.
Digital cameras have adopted the same ISO system. You can
adjust the ISO setting on your camera, changing the speed
at which your exposure will react to light. As before, this
can be a great benefit, especially in low light. But here's
the spooky part. When you set a higher ISO rating, your
images become 'grainier.' Some people tell me it is
pixellation, others tell me it is digital 'noise.' I don't
know and don't really care. The point is, here is a whole
new technolgy, recording images in a completely different
way - and the outcome is exactly the same!
Of course there are some major differences. The most
obvious, and possibly the most positive change, is the
elimination of film and developing costs from your
photography budget. Add to that the convenience of being
able to delete your mistakes and print your own photos, and
your hobby just became a lot more cost-effective.
That, however, has nothing to do with the actual skill of
the photographer. Neither does the other revolution in the
photography world. That revolution is software. With the
aid of computers, people can work digital magic on their
photos like never before. This has both positive and
negative elements. Positive because the almost universal
fascination with computers has seen a whole new generation
take a real interest in photography. Negative because
people too often rely on the technology to correct their
mistakes, instead of learning to take better photos.
Software can be wonderful. It can add a little 'zest' to a
slightly flat image, or it can completely trasform a photo
to portray colours and details that never existed in the
real world.
But software cannot overcome all the problems caused by bad
technique. It cannot focus an out-of-focus image. It cannot
correct a blurry photo caused by using the wrong shutter
speed. And while cropping, cutting and pasting can solve
some issues, they are no substitute for developing a real
skill for composition.
So, to return to my original theme: in the migration from
film to digital photography, not much has really changed.
That which is new is largely peripheral. While there are
some advantages in terms of cost and convenience, most of
the changes won't make you a better photographer.
So here is my advice to photographers on both sides of the
divide. Film photographers; don't be suspicious of new
technology. Embrace it, make the most of its advantages,
and you may be surprised just how easy it is to make the
switch.
Digital photographers; don't sneer at your more
old-fashioned counterparts. The skills they have grown up
with are the ones you really should be learning.
----------------------------------------------------
Composition, aperture, shutter speed, depth of field...all
the essentials of good photography seem simple when they
are explained in terms you can understand. Visit
http://www.naturesimage.com.au and check out Andrew
Goodall's ebook "Photography in Plain English" to discover
your own talent for photography. While you are there,
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