Photons to Fotos

Is film dead for me?

As I write this, i am struck by the irony of what i am writing. I learnt the basics of photography on film, (yes i`m ancient :)) and I remember well the transition to digital with the Nikon D70 and the Nikon D100.

I remember the furious online debates with “experts” debating the resolution of film vs the resolution of a digital sensor, as well as concepts like dynamic range, and the unquantifiable je ne sais quoi of black and white film…

I remember the collective angst in the photographic community at the demise of classic films, and mourning at the passing away of Velvia 50 in 120 format.

I have also seen the renaissance of film as a hip phenomenon, as well as the emergence of cool new products like 35mm film coming from cine stock, with a very cool name.

I cringe at the concept of taking photos using film cameras, some of which have lenses of obviously inferior photographic quality, only to then scan them and share them on social media….Mind you, i am not judging, for no one creater has the right to judge another….but i do have a subjective opinion borne out of my experience printing negatives in a dark room, and admiring a an 8 x 10″ print…but i digress…

The real irony, at least in my case, is that the final nail in the coffin of film photography, will not be availability of media, or technology, or chemicals….but my old frenemy…Time.

I struggle to find the time to photograh, to find the time to relax and get into the right zone so that i can step out of myself, and look at the world around me from a fresh place….let alone the time to develop and scan or print my films.

I still shoot film, and hope that i will continue to use my Nikons, both for the pleasure they give me, but also as a separate creative medium….but in truth, i have to admit that it is technically possible to create anything i wish for on my Z6. Indeed the electronic viewfinder makes visualising monochrome images, or the effects of under/over exposure even easier.

but I have to admit that the spontaneity of digital can in itself be an aid to creativity. Pragmatically, i have to admit that the shortest route to getting my vision recorded as an image, is probably the best one….and all else has to be sacrificed….The end justifies the means!

Some argue, I amongst them, that the use of film, forces a meditative approach, also because of the costs of film and film development. The counter argument to this, is that experimentation is therefore stifled.

If digital, allows me to experiment for free, it therefore allows me to learn. This in turn gives me an infinite number of images for nil cost.

A winning argument indeed….