Film is a four-letter-word. Its a hideous part of our photographic past, and well be better off once its been eliminated from society. Im ashamed to admit that I tried film once, but I quickly learned just how disgusting it really is and Ive been clean ever since that occasion. Just take my word for it FILM IS BAD (mmmkay). Here are ten things I hate about film:
1. DIRTY DIRTY GRAIN
Seriously, this has to be one of the things I hate most about film. That grain you get all over the photos is absolutely terrible! And the worst part is that you cant entirely get rid of it with Photoshop so youre stuck with it. Those awful little specks show up all over the photo and add unwanted texture and inconsistencies. I dont know about you, but if I want grain in my photo for artistic reasons Id like to be able to at least have the choice of adding it in during post processing. Thats why digital is the way to go.
2. FILM CHOICES
You walk into a photography store that carries film and what do you see? About 3 million different types of films hogging all that wall space. I mean, really, who needs 14 different types of black and white films? Whats the difference? And dont even get me started on different film formats. Its confusing as all heck, having to decide between a bunch of different film that supposedly does the same thing. Thats the nice thing about digital you get one sensor, and you know that its going to produce consistent results with each photo.
3. COST OF FILM
Yikes, that stuff is outrageously expensive! The cost per photo skyrockets compared to digital, and the price of film makes you have second thoughts about taking useless photos. I think were definitely better off spending all that money on new digital bodies, super-fast glass, new computers, software licenses, and backup hard drives. Because you know that $3 to $5 per roll can add up really fast especially since we all love to grab about 500 photos each time we go out with the camera.
4. DYNAMIC RANGE
A lot of people will tell you that the broad dynamic range of film is a huge benefit over digital. Theyre just crybabies when it comes to setting the exposure on their camera. If you ask me, those film photographers just need that extra dynamic range because their ancient cameras cant meter the scene correctly. Oh, but what about those really high contrast situations? Hey, silhouettes are always in fashion.
5. DEVELOPING TIME
So not only does film cost money up front, but then you have to get it developed (and likely spend more money) before you can actually see the photos? Sure, there are places out there that can develop your film in under an hour, but who has time for that these days? Not only that, but while youre getting the film developed, you might encounter another human being and be forced into a social situation. Personally, Id much rather spend 10 to 20 minutes watching my photos download onto my computer from my full 8GB Compact Flash card.
6. DEVELOPING CHOICES
This whole developing thing is such a pain! It cost money, it takes time, and get this
more choices that you have to deal with. Theres all these different chemicals that you have to decide on. Plus, you have the option of under-developing and over-developing the film how confusing is that? Then you get these yahoos that think cross processing is some kind of toy to play with. Honestly, I take comfort knowing that once I press the shutter on my digital camera, the exposure is set in stone and the image developed without having to think about it.
7. NO INSTANT REVIEW
I love my LCD on the back of my digital camera. I can check each photo I take for correct exposure and composition. No need to spend the extra 3 seconds getting it right the first time if I screw up, Ill see it on the LCD and just take another 3 or 4 photos of the same scene. I dont know how those film photographers can live without seeing their photos immediately. I mean, what if you mess up an entire roll of film? You wont know it until a few days down the road, and that might be too late.
8. TANGIBLE RESULTS
I pride myself on being able to take more photos than anybody else when I go out with other photographers. If I were shooting film, Id need to have an entire room just to file the negatives, not to mention the prints. I dont know what the old photographers did with all that used film. Some people have this thing about holding and touching the photo, but whats that all about? I think photos look their best on my 22″ widescreen display. Who needs to hold it? Its a piece of paper, not a baby.
9. OLD CAMERAS
Have you ever seen one of those old film cameras? Theyre like metal bricks. Those things will probably be around after the cockroaches go extinct. Its like they never die, and they just end up getting churned back into society through places like eBay. Hey people its old technology! It doesnt belong here anymore! But those digital camera manufacturers got it right build a camera that only lasts 3 or 4 years, and you wont have to worry about outdated technology lingering about.
10. A BAD CROWD
If youve ever encountered those film photographers, you know what Im talking about. They are not the type of people you want to be hanging around. Showing up to photowalks with their old cameras, talking about different films as if they were fine wines, trying to be all artistic, and thinking theyre better than everyone else just because they can take photos without batteries. If you see one of these film photographers walking the streets, hide your camera and walk the other way they might try to talk to you and get you roped in to hanging with the wrong crowd.
By the way, if you havent figured it out yet theres a hint of sarcasm in a few of the points above. But seriously, stay away from those film photographers theyre bad news!
