Both camps are right. But I'm in the latter, well, mostly. I prefer
printing digitally. I prefer shooting with film.
-Adam
William Robb wrote:
----- Original Message ----- From: "Kevin Waterson"
Subject: Bailing out.
In recent times, I seem to have lost the joy of photography.
<snip>
I am sure you will get basted and cooked over a slow fire for that
post, but there is much merit in what you say.
I have found that there are two "camps" out there at the moment.
One camp say that all that matters is the picture, how you get there
doesn't matter, and digital processing gives more creative control.
They'll quote things like higher D-Max values available from new Epson
inksets and brighter whites available from the new inkjet papers.
I just won a black and white photo contest using an inkjet printer as
my output device. Would I would have done the same if I had gone into
the darkroom? I don't know.
I did see the prints I was competing against, and for sure, my inkjet
prints looked better than the 1 hour lab monochrome prints that I was
competing against.
The other camp says that the process does matter, and living within
the constraints of the process is an important part of the process.
There is no doubt in my mind that digital is easier to master, and
easier to get good looking results from, if one is so inclined.
If one wants to sit in front of a computer and play at making art, it
is difficult to argue with them. They have ease of results and
productivity on their side.
There is nothing wrong with wanting to work a little bit for what you
want. We are too used to instant gratification, too used to technology
making it easy for us.
At one time, if you didn't like something you saw in the viewfinder,
you either waited until it moved, or found another picture to take.
Now, you just take the picture and clone the offending bits out.
And you call yourself an artist for doing it.
That's the mentality that says that all that matters is the finished
picture.
I too am wanting to put the digital camera down and go back to the
control that I had when I shot FP-4, not Sandisk.
William Robb
