Which is Film Dead?

I've been called a dinosaur. It happened in a photography seminar a couple of years ago when the instructor forced a show of biceps from those still utilizing film. Actually, I was one of two dinosaurs that he known to be. Not an encouraging ratio for any class of about 20 civilizations.

It's no surprise it's professionals (like our contest leader) have largely desolate film, given the breakneck speed at which improvements in digital camera resolution and color accuracy are taking place. Gone are the days of carrying packs which Polaroid film and african backs for verification of everyone exposure and lighting. Now, we simply check the digital camera's LCD screen and it's histogram, and make overnight adjustments.

One harbinger that minted home recently was when i took my 120 format film to my favourite camera store, a. k. a. my reliable aged local film processing charge. They informed me that is going to their machine was acting up and that they likely would not be replacing it in the event it failed. If I was to continue to make my big, beautiful transparencies, I was likely going to have to mail my film to a different city for processing. Until, that is, their computers that are also croak.

You can't blame them. They make their investiture selling digital cameras to a different throng of consumers who previously couldn't have been bothered with getting movies developed.

My disappointment doesn't stem from the fact that I dislike digital. In fact, I shoot largely with a digital SLR now, and started scanning my 35mm films long before digital cameras achieved people's current popularity. I additionally license my images online. In other words, I'm firmly entrenched equipped digital photography realm.

I think it's more a case of nostalgia. Only in modern times have I been preparing to afford quality medium formatting film gear, albeit drunk and decades old. They're built like tanks and have lenses made from top quality glass. Yes - they are heavy and awkward, but the image quality is amazing. After shooting grainy 35mm slides for decades, I was arranged to emulate work done by real magazine photographers. I even bought a scanner that allows me to scan the larger format films.

So, do i now sell off my antiques and scanners, only to replace them with the best and newest digital SLR? Well, judging by the amount of used film gear being bought and sold online, I would say - not fast! Yes, some companies have dropped out of the business of supplying like and processing chemicals (AGFA), but others like the UK's venerable ILFORD (black as well as white only) and multimedia system giant KODAK are answering the slack. New film devices are even hitting the trigger! And others, like Freestyle Photographic Supplies, are doing what they can to keep the project alive by supplying video, darkroom supplies and movie cameras.

Where this is leading me is for me to continue to use my film gear for as long as I'm willing to develop acquire film, if necessary. The simplest by long distances to process is black and white, so when push asks shove, that's what I'll be shooting. With my digital products, I'll be able to exchange the films directly to digital without any printing with an enhancer.

Is film dead or even dying? There is it is obvious that the professional's workflow today is predominantly digital. But, there is enough dream equipment still working and in the hands of both professionals and enthusiastic amateurs for me to confidently predict that dvd will be around eternally.

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