Topic: Film vs Digital article in Silvershotz

[Pete_R]

There's the first part of a two part article in Silvershotz (volume 5 edition 5) which is supposed to represent the argument for film use. It's written by Terry Mester who I haven't come across before but he appears to be active on Apug. The second part arguing for digital, written by Andy Cross, is in the next issue.

The article is a joke. It's a cut down version of a longer article which you can see here. I think this is a seriously missed opportunity to put the case for film and I've just emailed the editor to say so.

Anyway, I thought it might be of interest.

(Is there a smiley for fuming? If there is, place it here)

[moominsean]

i'd like to read that entire article, but it reads like a manifesto by the "church of the subgenius" with all the bold and underlined words, plus all the randomly capitalized words. interesting, i'm sure, if i could get through it.
 --

However, as noted these Pixel Sensors are square and are monumentally larger than a Light Ray, and so the Camera therefore "combines" or "mixes together" hundreds of Light Rays for each Pixel of the Picture into one BIG SQUARE BLOB.

--

ugh.

[LT]

terry started to post here for a short while - here is one of his threads:

http://filmwasters.com/forum/index.php?topic=1882.0

I must admit, I struggle with reading his "reason for using film" article on the website.  but at least he is defending film in his own way.   

[Pete_R]

terry started to post here for a short while - here is one of his threads:

Ah yes, I remember that now. I'm sure he means well but taking such extreme views rarely gets results.

I just don't understand how Waring-Flood (the editor) can think this is a representative view of why people use film and use it as an argument for such.

[Francois]

Oh, yeah... I remember that guy now...
He probably found the 120 camera of his dreams and moved on... 

[Photo_Utopia]

Yes a kind of disappointing article, I often thought of writing about why I still use film, but hey why bother? Just use what you like.
I think most people want digital and its ease of use, there are a lot of good things digital has brought to film users too.
I'm not that worried if all the people in the world think I'm odd peering down into my Rolleiflex as long as they let me be, the most annoying are the guys who feel they need to convert you (happens regularly to me)

I'm starting to feel I don't need to justify my actions or preferences-digital evangelists can be ignored (to a point)

[al]

Reading that I started to think perhaps it was April 1st not May 1st!

The best bit is opening your argument with such a sweeping statement as:

"Most people are deceived by the term "Digital", and assume that Digital Photography is superior to Film Photography in the same way that Digital Sound / Video is most definitely superior to Analogue Sound / Video"

I'm sure there are a few high-end analogue audiophiles out there who might raise their eyebrows at that! 

No doubt in a parallel universe there is an article "CD vs Vinyl" which starts "Audio recording is not like photography, where it is universally accepted that digital is superior to film" 

 

[david b]

Aren't most Geocities pages like that?  I'm only surprised there weren't any animated gifs, background MIDI tracks or flashing purple comic sans headers...

[al]

Aren't most Geocities pages like that?  I'm only surprised there weren't any animated gifs, background MIDI tracks or flashing purple comic sans headers...

Ah yes, Geocities pages always do bring back fond memories of the Golden Years of the www    I'm sure the pink comic font/midi track look will become retro chic soon, I hope so as my web page creation skills pretty much stopped there .

[gothamtomato]

I'm not that worried if all the people in the world think I'm odd peering down into my Rolleiflex as long as they let me be, the most annoying are the guys who feel they need to convert you (happens regularly to me)

I'm starting to feel I don't need to justify my actions or preferences-digital evangelists can be ignored (to a point)

I second that emotion. Those digital evangelists  just annoy the hell out of me. I have to deal with them regularly when I'm exhibiting in art festivals. Every film-based photographer I know gets it too.

The only thing I can figure is that they are really just trying to make themselves feel better, and justify/validate their own choices, by trying to 'convert' others who don't feel the way they do (just like regular evangelists).

They don't seem to 'get' the idea that the camera is just a tool, and that the pictures have to come out of your head.

[Ed Wenn]

Aren't most Geocities pages like that?  I'm only surprised there weren't any animated gifs, background MIDI tracks or flashing purple comic sans headers...

Ah yes, Geocities pages always do bring back fond memories of the Golden Years of the www    I'm sure the pink comic font/midi track look will become retro chic soon, I hope so as my web page creation skills pretty much stopped there .

Perfect description, David. Had me rolling in the aisles.

 

[Rachel-V]

it feels like you need a PHD to understand what he is talking about, I guess it will not make film more attractive to digital users who so much love the way that digital photography is soooo easy!!!!