[pure-silver] Re: New Year Resolution - was: Film vs Digital

Justin F. Knotzke wrote:
> 
> 
> On 31/12/06, *afterswift@xxxxxxx <mailto:afterswift@xxxxxxx>*
> <afterswift@xxxxxxx <mailto:afterswift@xxxxxxx>> wrote:
> 
>     Justin,
> 
>     I don't mind comparing digital to film. There are good reasons for
>     doing it. Mainly to  keep both technologies vital. And remain sharp
>     in use of both. I feel comfortable using both digital and film. 
> 
> 
>    Maybe I am in the minority.. It won't be the first time.
> 
>    The entire subject bores me to no end. It really does. Shoot digital,
> shoot film, shoot geese. The endless debate on this issue has been
> beaten to death. It's been argued, flamed, torched, buried and risen
> again so many times that I cannot begin to explain.
> 
>     ..and after how many years of this debate, what has been concluded?
> That people will shoot with whatever they please.
> 
>     No, really ?

The interesting part of the debate, at least as I see it, is when
users of one technology denigrate the users of another.  *That's* the
problem, as far as I'm concerned.  I've been a licensed ham radio operator
for going on 30 years, and we had our own never-ending debate about the
Morse code licensing requirement - which the FCC recently announced the
end of in the USA.  Many people that learned Morse code had a long list
of reasons why they were superior ham radio operators compared to the
"No-codes", just like many people that shoot film have a long list
of reasons why they're superior photographers.  This is simply
counter-productive.

Mainstream photography today is practiced using digital cameras.
That's a simple fact that we must embrace.

We're concerned about the dwindling options we have for traditional B&W
materials, and we somehow blame digital.  Yet, the real hope for B&W photography
is *more B&W photographers*.  To achieve more B&W photographers, we need to
interest more *photographers*, and that means digital photographers.

Attacking digital photography means we're attacking photography.  It's
just that simple.

The irony is, traditional B&W photographers - us - are the experienced
group that really should be mentoring and training new photographers today.
Nearly 100% of what goes into composing, exposing and taking a photograph,
everything that happens until the shutter opens and closes, is identical
regardless of digital vs. film.  We're experts in that.

Now we're being challenged to understand new methods for achieving a
print.  If we learn those adequately, new photographers will look at us
as the experts we are.  When we show them traditional B&W, they're more
likely to appreciate the difference and perhaps even practice it.

In other words, if we want to maintain options in B&W photography, we
need to be better ambassadors to the beginners.

Happy 2007, y'all.

Dana
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