First of all, I have to tell you, that I was dragged into digital photography kicking and screaming. But the truth was, film was getting harder and harder to find, and I had more than one store clerk tell me that it was "obsolete."
So, in October 2006, just before a four day excursion to the great Smoky Mountains National Park, I purchased a Nikon D80 camera body as a secondary camera to my trusty 8088 film camera.
I was not surprised that my twenty year old lenses fit the camera body. After all, Nikon's bayonet mount has been a standard for years, and so the glass snapped right into place!
What did surprise me was the fact that the auto-focus and auto-exposure worked perfectly! The modern digital body was fully compatible with my 1985 era lens and that was awesome.
The fist sign of trouble occurred when I put in a 2 GB memory card. The counter indicated 500 photos were available at full resolution. 500 photos? Wow, with film, I would shoot 6-8 thirty-six exposure transparency rolls on a good trip. If I came back with 250 photos the trip was a success.
But as I began using the digital, a thought occurred to me:
"There is no penalty for taking a bad shot!"
With film, every time you opened the shutter, you spent money. Every shot was properly set up, properly composed, and hopefully, properly lit. If the image in the viewfinder didn't look interesting, you didn't waste the money to pull the trigger.
The digital camera however, does not penalize you for a bad shot. As a matter of fact, you can indiscriminately shoot away, and if you don't like the results, you can simply delete the image. No harm, no foul.
The upshot of all of this is: There are plenty of poor quality photos everywhere. The art of the shot has eroded to a simple game of chance. As a matter of fact, after much research and experimentation, I have come up with a corollary:
"The digital camera has transformed photography from an art to a lottery."
The prevailing school of thought is that if you take enough images, one of them has to be good. And that is essentially true, it's no longer a skill, it's a numbers game.
For an old picture-taker, that's quite an adjustment. But I will keep taking shots when I get the chance.
After all, if I take enough shots, one of them is bound to be good!
Note: Film photographs were used to illustrate this post!
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All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Coweta Fayette Real Estate, Inc., and may not be used without the expressed written permission of Coweta Fayette Real Estate Better Homes and Gardens Metro Brokers, Newnan Georgia. All information is believed to be accurate but is not warranted, Copyright 2003-2009. Richard Weisser REOS, E-Pro. licensed Auctioneer. 770-827-6225.
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Richard, The thought that comes to mind is, "even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while." The incremental cost of digital photography has opened up the world to so many more users, it has to be a good thing. Rich
I can see how the fun of taking pictures is lessened with a digital camera. I posted some of my National Zoo pics last night that I took with my digital - and I didn't take a bunch of pics to get just the right ones ; ). For me, a digital camera is perfect for my pics on a listing. I can see right away if the picture is too dark, etc...
I love the digital cameras ... endless pictures and instant review. There still is an art of the film and even developing your photos but it is more and more like 8 track tapes ... what the heck are those? Also with digital you can colorize and crop, correct your photos to enhance your pictures. Truly a wonderful compliment to photographers!
Richard, photography is a new thing for me, lets say in the last 8 years or so my passion has been growing, since my first digital camera. I never thought that this would go anywhere, never thought they were for anyone but me. Last winter I tried to give a photograph of mine to what I perceived as a worthy cause, and they asked me to participate in their show. I was shocked. I saw my work as for my own pleasure for the most part. I gave a few key photos I had away as gifts, and they were greatly appreciated (I think, LOL). AR provides me with the opportunity to share what I think is fun stuff.
My work pales in comparison to someone like you and a few others here on AR. I hope to learn more and more by studying the work of those I admire.
I have a long way to go. Seeing your work and the work of others makes me wonder if I should even bother to share my own work.
Have a great day, great post.
Rich...
But it also has propagated a plethora of poor pictures which are prominently promulgated via the Internet! (How's that for alliteration!) lol
Linda...
Too true,but taking photos of listing is not an art, it's a technique. I LOVE the digital camera for it's ability to get listing photos online quickly ... a fine tool and just perfect for that task! But we don't normally hand a photo of someone else's living room on our wall! lol and THX
Richard - it is only a little bit, well maybe a lot, removed from bracketing images with transparency film. I do miss the dark room more. I enjoyed the manipulations, pushing Tri-X to 2000, etc.
That is what I love about digital cameras ---I take one keeper out of about 24 and now I only have to pay for one.
Shelton
Connie...
Ah...but that's my point. There is no need to do your homework BEFORE you open the shutter! I can't explain it, but I could visualize the light hitting the film and the molecules reacting in my mind. Don't get me wrong, I've taken THOUSANDS of bad photos in my time, but since there was a price to pay, I learned from every bad shot. With digital, there's no mandate to improve.
Does that make sense?
Andrea...
There is usually an "epiphany" in every artist's career. I once donated a photo to a charity auction as well, and when it sold for $150 ( in the late 80's) I had the same awakening that you did. But I really don't care, I take them for me, and if someone else happens to like to them, I'm glad!
Mike...
I haven't shot a transparency frame in over a year. I think I have three undeveloped rolls laying around. I'm not against progress, I'm just making an observation! We will never gao back to the "old days!" (Sigh.)
Shelton...
Which I believe is a validation of my corollary, isn't it? Thanks for your candor.
yes, but digital cameras no longer penalize you for "bracketing" your shots, either. In fact you take all three bracket shots, and delete two of them upon viewing, freeing up that extra ram on the spot. Rather than waiting until the film is viewed to determine which one works best.
I, too, was dragged into the digital era kicking and screaming... only to find that my lab skills were no longer required, but my photoshop skills were going to be put to great use.
Richard, If I take enough shots one is bound to be good...has been my motto for years now.
But, I am finding that if I don't get the shot right the first time, the chance may be gone forever. My digital, although a good camera, I can't take photo's fast. I need a few seconds amd up to 5 depending on the shot. I need to upgrade soon!
Alan...
Remember in the "old days" using a Polaroid for test shots? That REALLY added to the expense. And here's an interesting side note ... my own dear wife accused me of "doctoring" the two photos I used in this post in Photoshop ...but they are in fact, as accurate a translation of film to digital as possible.
I still try to do most of the work at the time of the shot ... at least enough to make minimal alterations! Thanks, my friend.
With my old camera I liked the ability to play with fstops and shutter speeds to get different results. But it was an expensive habit!
Richard, I had two polaroid backs: one for my Hasselblad and one for my Mamiya... ahh, those were the days. Dragging a 40 pound studio camera around into the world. Ahhh... how I miss them (not).
Richard, I find that while sometimes I get lucky-----the odds go up if I remember to compose and think about the shot.
Hi Richard,
I was a fan of photography in my younger years. On a whim, I purchased a Ricoh with a telephoto attachment lens as well. I spent a few years taking all my photos with that camera. Never did get use to the F-stop feature...lol. Now Ihave a Canon Powershot 320 digital that is old. I need to upgrade.
Bill...
The newer cameras shoot really fast ... mine does five frames a second. If you are shooting wildlife you definitely need that option! THX.
Laura G...
That's what made it an art ... and you had to pay for your "lessons!" ;)
Alan...
Wow! Sounds like you had some great equipment. The largest format camera I ever used was a Rolleiflex Medium format. It shot great photos, and I think I lost it somewhere!
I'm loving my new Camera, I just point and fire away and what I don't like I erase.
"The digital camera has transformed photography from an art to a lottery."
Boy, you ain't whistling Dixie there my friend. We've come a long way and while I do now sometimes miss film, I'm firmly planted in the digital age. I still do my level best to make every single shot count, but I notice I'm a little more fast and loose with the trigger than I used to be.
That is very true, anyone can seem talented if they get to delete all their bad ones and it is sort of a lottery. But those with experience and talent are going to "get the shot" more often and know how to be at the right place at the right time. It's like getting 100 more lottery tickets than the 1 the standard user has.
Richard,
Your pictures are so professional! We have come a long way in photography and many like yourself with talent and the eye for the shot are able to take more shots to share! Thanks for the post and for sharing your wonderful photos.
Hi Brother Richard !
Well, I can certainly see how the photography purists can be a little melancholy over the extinction of the now hard to find film-style photography. And now that you mentioned it, the time to prepare the shot was probably part of the thrill of photography for so many years - but unfortunately times change my friend, and life gets faster ! - so many people nowadays no longer have the time to correctly compose a shot, so to me, the digital photography age is just a sign of the times.
... oh by the way - for a digital user, your pics are pretty darn sensational !!!!
Cheers Richard !
Sheldon
Richard I have all the cameras and still many times on trips use film cameras and print out the digital version on CDs. Best of both worlds other than checking your pictures as you take them. Don't feel like a dinosaur. I am more one than you.
Richard, I still have my F3. You are right about film v/s digital. Back then, you not only had to know your camera but film as well as different films could produce different results. I liked doing slide film as you could saturate the colors better and create better results...
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Richard - between luck and photoshop even mediocre photographers can aspire to great photos! You post has been featured in the Photography group.
Richard: I come from the film era. I learned to process black and white film in college. I even had a darkroom at home!
I have embraced digital and I love it.
I think one has to remember, it's not the camera (digital or film) that takes great images, it's the person behind the camera.
If the photographer does not have training, the "eye" for composition, etc. It doesn't matter if he/she is shooting a $30,000 Hasselblad or a $5 disposable.
I do agree, digital photography has "made anyone with a camera" a pro (at least they think so) and that is sad.