Depressing Statement re Film

[Richard K.]

As a dedicated user of LF film (7x17, 10x12 and soon 6.5x8.5), I found this statement:

"Photography as we know it is passing into history. As photographic media move rapidly from traditional light sensitive materials and processes to digital systems of capture and printing, the use of photographic films and papers have plunged into an irreversible decline that is quickly headed towards obsolescence."

on Robert Burley's web site

http://www.robertburley.com/index.ph...rkness%202006/

a tad depressing. He documented the demise of the Kodak Canada facilities and is apparently working on a book called " The Disappearance of Darkness"

Somebody cheer me up quick!!

[John Kasaian]

So, you believe everything you read?
Fiber glass has been around at least since the 40's, but there are still sculptors chipping away at marble and granite.
Now go buy some plate holders and be happy

[paulr]

Fiber glass has been around at least since the 40's, but there are still sculptors chipping away at marble and granite.
Now go buy some plate holders and be happy

a bit different, since sculptors don't rely on materials that come from a specialized and expensive manufacturing process. those of us who use film are dependent on film remaining a profitable business. the industry in its current incarnation won't be able to sustain itself if demand gets too much lower; whether or not a cottage industry can rise up to replace it is a matter of speculation.

i don't know why speculation on the fate of an industry becomes such a religious issue. personally i hope film sticks around; if it does vanish i hope it waits until reasonable and affordable (for me at least!) digital alternatives appear.

[John Kasaian]

a bit different, since sculptors don't rely on materials that come from a specialized and expensive manufacturing process. those of us who use film are dependent on film remaining a profitable business. the industry in its current incarnation won't be able to sustain itself if demand gets too much lower; whether or not a cottage industry can rise up to replace it is a matter of speculation.

i don't know why speculation on the fate of an industry becomes such a religious issue. personally i hope film sticks around; if it does vanish i hope it waits until reasonable and affordable (for me at least!) digital alternatives appear.

Hence the suggestion for plate holders!

[cyrus]

a bit different, since sculptors don't rely on materials that come from a specialized and expensive manufacturing process. those of us who use film are dependent on film remaining a profitable business. the industry in its current incarnation won't be able to sustain itself if demand gets too much lower; whether or not a cottage industry can rise up to replace it is a matter of speculation.

i don't know why speculation on the fate of an industry becomes such a religious issue. personally i hope film sticks around; if it does vanish i hope it waits until reasonable and affordable (for me at least!) digital alternatives appear.

Worst comes to worst, coat your own plates.

[steve simmons]

OK, lets see if this brightens your day

Fuji just brought back Velvia!

sales of sheet film for both Kodak, Fuji and Ilford continue to surprise these companies

both Kodak and Ilford are taking and filling orders for ULF film!


In all areas people, in order to get their books published, will write new theories of whatever to cause a stir. IMHO that is what this guy is doing.

just my 2 cents

steve simmons

[roteague]

OK, lets see if this brightens your day

Fuji just brought back Velvia!

sales of sheet film for both Kodak, Fuji and Ilford continue to surprise these companies

both Kodak and Ilford are taking and filling orders for ULF film!


In all areas people, in order to get their books published, will write new theories of whatever to cause a stir. IMHO that is what this guy is doing.

just my 2 cents

steve simmons

Personally, I'm not as worried about LF as I am about 35mm. I still prefer 35mm to digital.

My 2 cents, I don't like this guys work at all - bland, boring ....

[Rob_5419]

So who on earth is Robert Burley, other than another opinionated go-with-the-flow writer?

Richard; white noise. Why listen to it? You're moving into a niche area. Ignorami outside of your niche don't know any better..

[tim atherton]

So who on earth is Robert Burley, other than another opinionated go-with-the-flow writer?

Richard; white noise. Why listen to it? You're moving into a niche area. Ignorami outside of your niche don't know any better..

a well respected Canadian LF colour photographer who has worked on projects with the likes of Geoffrey James, Lee Friedlander, Phyllis Lambert etc

[cyrus]

a well respected Canadian LF colour photographer who has worked on projects with the likes of Geoffrey James, Lee Friedlander, Phyllis Lambert etc

Yes I'm sure he's a great photographer. PHOTOGRAPHER - not Zelda the Prescient Teller of Photography's Future.

Photography didn't replace painting which didn't replace wood-block printing. No reason to assume film will be replaced by digital.

(In fact, I strongly suspect that the digital still photo is dead as we now have the technology to easily record and display moving images instead. The rush to declare film obsolete, digital didn't see its own obsolescence fast approaching.)

I am doing copper plate photogravure, for god's sakes. You can't any more dead than that - and yet, highly prized and in demand with lots of printmaking cottage industries supporting it.