[SimonBRINDLE]

Just some info I am after for my disseration..

Its asking the question. Have digital cameras affected the romance that once went with photography when film was the only option. Has the instant results compared to the manual processing stage somehow changed how we look at photos?

[steveb]

Of course. You can't compare the emotion of expectation and suspense and the exhiliration of success in a darkroom - nor the heady scent of photographic chemicals - with plugging a digicam into a USB port.

Modern life is rubbish.

[Paddy]

Definitely. I love film. The fun and unpredictability of developing a film yourself is one of the most exciting aspects of photography.

[SimonBRINDLE]

Cheers guys.

[Do Gooder]

helped the camera.. ? surly you mean helped photography

talking about commercial use. digital rules. instant results gained cheaper. end of story.

as for the craft. after a shot is taken with a film camera you are unaware of how the shot will look until you are in the darkroom. this anticipation combined with the skill required - make this a process folks fall in love with.

i don't think many folks will fall in love with taking 50 shots on a digital box then grading the chosen shot in photoshop.

the instant nature of digital photography, the mithical status of photoshop and the accessible price of digital cameras has lead to a real downturn in the quality of photography used in commercial work - this is due to clients having trouble understanding why they should pay for pictures when - "look it's easy.. 'click' seeee.." ... .... ..."What? Yes, i know it's crap - but you can sort that by photoshoping it, can't you?"

this also hasn't been helped by readily available cheap nasty stock photography. but that's another story.

personally speaking as someone who commissions photographers from time to time. a photographer who understands photoshop and retouching is far more useful than a photographer that only knows how to take a picture. there'll always be a role for the skilled photographer in the commercial world.

just an evloved, less fun, unromantic and reduced one.

[luxbrand]

I like the work in your portfolio. Your self promotion piece looks nice.

[illvibe]

There are more people picking up SLRs these days than ever before. Why? Because it's now a lot cheaper and easier to take and develop photos. The digital age has lead to a lot of new ideas with post production and simply because people are no longer worried about wasting film.

[alib88]

I don't think you can compare film with digital cameras, as digital is so much further ahead and has really changed the game of photography.

I don't see anything that great about film. Digital SLR's have enabled everyone to work like a pro. With the costs coming down and with teh advent of sites such as flickr photography has truely come to everyone and thats a good thing.

Professionals will always be good. Being on digital should make no difference. Anyone who says different is just making excuses.

[d*d]

Originally Posted by alib88

Digital SLR's have enabled everyone to work like a pro

not always with professional results - there's far more to photography than the camera you use

[mmblr]

The digital camera allows almost a 'second chance' scenario. Almost like the ability to say something really offensive to somebody just to take it back.

People really do misuse the digital (known friends to take 500+ shots in a 1 hour work do)....why?

However, there really are some stunning opportunities with the software (Capture NX, Photoshop, Aperture, Lightroom etc)

Also, have we not seen a rise in the opportunity to look at and critique pictures on the net?