Is There A 12 Step Program?

This is a shot of Clinton Reservoir from back in 2001. This photo was made with a Nikon N80 (that's N, not D), 24-85mm zoom, and Velvia.

I was looking through a box of old pictures last night when I stumbled across several boxes of slides including this shot. I was having so much fun just holding them up to a lamp that I lost track of the time and stayed up past 2:00 am.

And then it hit me: I hate digital. I know all about all the wonderful advantages of digital. I have a D80 and a D300. They're both terrific cameras, make beautiful images, and I hate them.

The great irony here is what I do with these lovely slides. I digitize them, of course.

Is there a 12 step program or a support group for someone like me?

Cheers,

Is there a 12 step program or a support group for someone like me?

For me, it was a 1 step program: scan. Got me off film cold turkey! I love trannies, especially 4x5 sheet film on a light table, but the downsides of scanning far outweighed the benefits for me. There is very much something to be said for the experience of holding a tangible piece of film - as there is for the intimate process of operating a 4x5 - it's far more personal than bits and bytes, reviewing histograms and sorting through digital folders looking for images.

But, in the end, the cost of buying and processing film was the final straw (so maybe it was a 2-step program), and I'm now all digital and love it. Still miss film, but...

Just now making the transition from medium format film to digital, I feel your pain.

I have tried to focus on the positive aspects of digital and tried to convince myself that they outweigh the things I love about film. If you were to organize a Society of Photographic Luddites you'd find me in your support group looking for ways to ease the pain and cure the affliction.

I know that the photo industry itself is proceeding inexorably, rapidly, and enthusiastically toward a complete shift to digital imaging. However, coming to grip with this realization doesn't mean that as I am dragged along the path that I won't go kicking and screaming the whole damn way.

Fight the Power!

I love trannies...

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

There is no reason you can't do both.

I use digital where its low cost of operation is beneficial and I use film when quality or the look is more important. I have a very light Rebel 300 body that I can carry along with my DSLR. I don't need to make money from my photography, I just do it for pleasure. Scanning is time consuming, and so is dust spotting. But when I get to the final image, I'm happy with the result. All the more with the 4X5.

There is a simple joy in just shooting for yourself (and hoarding your trannies for private viewing!). I have so many great memories on my 35mm slides. The conflict with them only arises when I want to print one or submit it. Digital does speed up the process when you shoot for others or for display, because scanning is a pain!! There's no reason not to stick with film if it is just a hobby.

John

-------------------------------------------------------
John Zinn
Enduring Light Photography
"A moment in time... experienced, captured, preserved."
Site Updated 10/27

How did I know Todd would point out Rick's "trannies" comment... LOL!!!

There is something haunting about the "come back" or "don't leave me" call of film. While shooting at Yosemite last Spring, amidst all of the digital set-ups, there was a smart woman with her medium format film camera. She was also using all of the power of her digital set-up. I was curious about her straddle strategy but she was too busy to visit.

Bill Brennan

I know what you mean. When I first went digital, I was shooting about 50/50. Now–three years later–I still keep both of my film bodies loaded with Velvia, but rarely use them.

Hooray for Film. Glad to know I not the only one who was dragged "kicking and screaming " into the digital world. As to the argument that digital is cheaper, I offer this observation: For over twenty years, I had only two 35mm bodies with three lenses, two medim fromat cameras with just two "standard" lenses. Conversely, in the three years since I had to convert to digital, I have had to spend more money on bodies, lenses, flash-units, computers, computer software,storage aids, batteries, etc, than I spent in tens years of film photography. It's a constant battle of "upgrading" to keep up with the competition. As I see it, the digital age has benefitted the camera and cumputer manufacturers more than those of us who try to make a living form this new "art"

I love/hate both mediums. Digital just makes more sense these days, but I hope film doesn't disappear anytime soon.