Film or Digital, that IS the Question You know, I had already written my column for this month when I received an email from a gentleman asking me a question that after answering it for him, I knew I had a replacement right in front of me. A Garage Glamour™ member named Gary, had asked me whether I felt digital could replace film and which I preferred. After some thought I realized that what I think isn’t really that important, though his question deserves some real thought. And though I feel digital has now achieved its place as a viable alternative to shooting film, whether or not you do is governed not so much by a quality issue but more of what your clients prefer. Think about it, you shoot what your client demands of you in the long run. And if that’s film, you shoot film. And you shoot it as well as you can. Now that’s not to say you can’t mention digital, or even offer some digital as an alternative. But when it comes down to it you shoot what your client prefers, hands down. With that said, who’s to say that you can’t shoot most, if not all of your own personal work with digital. I for one don’t feel that digital quality is an issue anymore. What with digital cameras offering from 6 to 14 million mega-pixels! And if you feel as I do that quality is the most important criteria for your output, then its absolutely knowing the limitations of the system you’re using to get the best results. Which can be said about film as well if you think about it. By using a film with a high ISO in a low-light scene without some precautions, you face having photographs that look murky and dark. Probably not what you’d want in your portfolio representing what you can do. So as in all things in this business, use some common sense when dealing with this question to whether use digital or film. Think about what you want to do and where it’s going to appear. For me, using digital is a bit like experimenting with film. It allows me to try new things, to experiment, and hopefully to make me grow as a photographer. And I feel that if you take that approach when working in digital your results will be much better as well. Much more than taking the slant I feel a lot of people fall prey to in seeing digital as simply being “easier and cheaper” than film. Indeed, digital cameras are amazing devices with chips programmed with just about every conceivable situation a photographer might face. But think about it folks, YOU are still the photographer, not the camera. Think about what you want in the photograph and do what it takes to put your scene together just as if you were shooting film. Think in terms of still finding “pretty light” or creating it. Don’t just assume the camera will find it for you. I think this is a pitfall too many photographers find themselves in these days, both with film or digital. In other words, don’t be a lazy shooter. And when you process the images try to keep the word “digital” out of your head. Just because you’re shooting with the digital medium don’t think you must start morphing the images this way and that and attaching angel wings to every subject while in Photoshop! Another pitfall I find for many an aspiring shooter. I really think that once we see digital as just another way to capture an image for people to view, as we do with film, then we can find our way much better in this new medium. And thus we will be able to convince our clients that it is truly a medium they can use and trust. Plus, it will save them money. Music to the ears of every client under the sun I must say. DJM Previous / Expose U Index / Next Topic Read more about David at www.davidmecey.com Read more about David's FotoFantasy Camp

Above image is digital, below is film.