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Nest of Worms.
I really must apologise for stirring up a nest of worms in the Film sub forum yesterday.
Film Photography is not under attack by me, nor anyone else. It as as legitimate a field of interest as any other photographic pursuit.
I had no idea at all, that it had become supersensitive to debate or perceived criticism.
What I had also not realised, was that for a number of people, that interest had now become centred on the process, materials techniques and equipment rather than on the creation of images. That concept was alien to my way of thinking about photography.
I grew up alongside much of the development of Film photograph as we know it today.
I progressed from using glass plates, to cut film, to roll film and 35mm. From the availability of lantern slides, Ordinary, Ortho and panchromatic films. And a vast array of printing papers in numerous base colours, image tints, and surfaces and weights, grades and later variable contrast, and an equally wide range of printing techniques. Including Colour printing from Dye transfer. Ciba colour, to mainstream neg positive.
To me these things were never more than tools to be mastered. They never became important in them selves. It was simply a matter of using the best tool available for the purpose in hand. New developments became new tools in that toolbox.
When Digital came on the scene it was difficult to take it seriously. It demonstrated great potential. but almost no practical purpose. From my point of view it did not become a practical proposition till the advent of the Canon 40D and the Nikon D300. at that point It could match in many ways, the film photography of that time, and added the massive advantages of speed of processing and cost per frame. From that moment I have not touched film again.
From all the above it is easy to see that the process itself was never the be all and end all of Photography for me. It was never more than a necessary step in producing an image. I have no more affection or loyalty for Digital Photography, than I will have for what ever comes next.
On reflection, While I have always understood the attraction of collecting photographic equipment . The same can not be said for continuing to use obsolescent technologies. I had not realised film Photography had passed the hurdle of becoming, like even more ancient processes. An interest and hobby in its own right.
Like Bromoil, collotypes, and dozens of other unique processes, it is being kept alive, and some of the knowledge and skills passed on by loyal practitioners.
Unfortunately so much has been lost of this knowledge base, and in such a short time. That people are having to rely on the web for their information. And like all other fields of interest, much of that information is badly corrupted and passed on as being factual, and in the way only the web knows how.
It would be nice to think that a data base of all such knowledge would be built up and substantiated before it it lost for ever. But I fear that is already a lost cause.
It is certain that analogue Photography will continue to be practised, in some form, even after factory made materials are no longer available.
I do not expect people to necessarily agree with these views. they come with the perspective of my own life and experience. and little to no loyalty to the past.
New young Photographers are coming to Film Photography with new eyes and new expectations.
Older traditionalists are perhaps feeling under siege from the inevitable change Digital photography has brought to their lives.
Change is inevitable whether welcomed or not.
I really must apologise for stirring up a nest of worms in the Film sub forum yesterday.
Film Photography is not under attack by me, nor anyone else. It as as legitimate a field of interest as any other photographic pursuit.
I had no idea at all, that it had become supersensitive to debate or perceived criticism.
What I had also not realised, was that for a number of people, that interest had now become centred on the process, materials techniques and equipment rather than on the creation of images. That concept was alien to my way of thinking about photography.
I grew up alongside much of the development of Film photograph as we know it today.
I progressed from using glass plates, to cut film, to roll film and 35mm. From the availability of lantern slides, Ordinary, Ortho and panchromatic films. And a vast array of printing papers in numerous base colours, image tints, and surfaces and weights, grades and later variable contrast, and an equally wide range of printing techniques. Including Colour printing from Dye transfer. Ciba colour, to mainstream neg positive.
To me these things were never more than tools to be mastered. They never became important in them selves. It was simply a matter of using the best tool available for the purpose in hand. New developments became new tools in that toolbox.
When Digital came on the scene it was difficult to take it seriously. It demonstrated great potential. but almost no practical purpose. From my point of view it did not become a practical proposition till the advent of the Canon 40D and the Nikon D300. at that point It could match in many ways, the film photography of that time, and added the massive advantages of speed of processing and cost per frame. From that moment I have not touched film again.
From all the above it is easy to see that the process itself was never the be all and end all of Photography for me. It was never more than a necessary step in producing an image. I have no more affection or loyalty for Digital Photography, than I will have for what ever comes next.
On reflection, While I have always understood the attraction of collecting photographic equipment . The same can not be said for continuing to use obsolescent technologies. I had not realised film Photography had passed the hurdle of becoming, like even more ancient processes. An interest and hobby in its own right.
Like Bromoil, collotypes, and dozens of other unique processes, it is being kept alive, and some of the knowledge and skills passed on by loyal practitioners.
Unfortunately so much has been lost of this knowledge base, and in such a short time. That people are having to rely on the web for their information. And like all other fields of interest, much of that information is badly corrupted and passed on as being factual, and in the way only the web knows how.
It would be nice to think that a data base of all such knowledge would be built up and substantiated before it it lost for ever. But I fear that is already a lost cause.
It is certain that analogue Photography will continue to be practised, in some form, even after factory made materials are no longer available.
I do not expect people to necessarily agree with these views. they come with the perspective of my own life and experience. and little to no loyalty to the past.
New young Photographers are coming to Film Photography with new eyes and new expectations.
Older traditionalists are perhaps feeling under siege from the inevitable change Digital photography has brought to their lives.
Change is inevitable whether welcomed or not.