Is there any gratification in using the digital camera for convenience?

[Greg Miller]

I agree with the many points discussed so far, but this particular one is where I see the post-processing domain as being just that=a way to make another art...it's no different than being a studio artist that makes abstract, impressionist, etc. type of paintings. One can easily acheive a very very colored look without the use of post-processing, but to take things to the level of say HDR or a look that cannot exist in real life, that's entirely different, again, exactly like a studio artist...just using the computer to do it for you.

You are twisting my words to create a straw man. I did not mention HDR or anything else that implies something that cannot exist in real-life - simply that human vision is different than film or digital vision for many reasons, not the least of which is contrast and color rendition. Actually, my digital work comes closer to what someone else might consider real-life than my film work.

But even so, what you are criticizing for color work would be applauded for B&W work. Putting digital cameras aside, highly manipulated B&W images hardly resemble real life. Indeed there are many traditional photographic techniques that render a scene that is far from real life (say, long exposure techniques for example). Photographers like Michael Kenna, Brian Kosoff, Cole Thompson, and Chip Hooper (to name a few) create what I consider to be really beautiful photographs, but their photos hardly resemble the actual scene. Take their film away, and give them a digital camera and Photoshop, I bet they would create images that look very similar to their film images. Yes, the tools are important, but it is the artistic vision that separates them form the pack. The camera is just a tool.

I think you need to focus more on what you get gratification from, and spend a lot less time worrying about how other people get gratification. If you are truly curious about how I get gratification form using a tool like Photoshop, I am happy to share. But I sense that you really just have an axe to grind.

[Jim Noel]

To answer your question succintly - NO!

[Ed Kelsey]

Can you tell, is this film or digital ?

[John Kasaian]

Can you tell, is this film or digital ?

If it gratifies you,then does it matter to any but you?

[threemilesfinal]

Sure, there's a little bit. I like being able to instantly check my Histograms and sometimes it's nice to see your image right away.

In the end it's just a tool. You can build a House with a handsaw and a hammer or you can build it with a circular saw and air nailer... just a different means to the same end.

Who cares what you use? It's the end result we're all striving for right?

[David R Munson]

According to most everyone's responses, all one has to do to be a world class photographer is have enough resolution for the final print size, and be a master in photoshop, as well as getting the on screen vision onto paper however one wants the end product to look. This means, a 5 year old can take a shot, even by accident, send it to daddy the computer artist, then send it to a well reputed printer and the 5 year old can claim the status of owning the very best photograph in the entire world.

What is this I don't even. You have now entered the dangerous realm where your argument is making so little sense it's starting to hurt. I don't mean this as an insult - I regularly find myself in the WUT realm - but I think you've gotten too far fro the original question.

[cosmicexplosion]

silver is real, film is real.

there is more risk, so a greater reward.

being rewarded with success breeds instant satisfaction.

playing with chemistry breeds creativity through mistakes, that happen naturally.

photoshop is never spontaneous.

most people over process in ps, and it makes me sick.

i like natural colours.

film is nature, digital is man made.

one is removed, one is connected.

both serve their purpose.

if you take a good exposure with any camera, it is good.

what matters is your aesthetic and job requirements.

test your results by showing other people your work and see how they feel, if you are not sure.

now forget about the format and focus on your manifesto.

if taking photo's does not make you happy, get a guitar, or a girlfriend or become religious.

but your right that digital is to easy, like singing with autotune!

where is the satisfaction in that.

i find the simplicity of LF gratifying, as there is no bloody cords or batteries or menus.

i also like keeping the tradition alive.

and being niche.

besides, i love the look and feel of film and paper.

and yes i am doing wet plate but have no donkey.

[cosmicexplosion]

Can you tell, is this film or digital ?

digital

[akfreak]

What do you think the Old masters would be using if they were alive today? Do you think Ansel would be close minded to digital photography and continue to shoot his ULF. I bet he would embrace it and find beauty in it. Photography isn't about what you use to create. Photography is what is created. How to being what is in your mind to life and share it.

If there was a huge 8"x10" digital sensor that can capture light that is reflected in the same way film does I am 10000% sure Ansel would not only embrace it, he would be working to advance it. Imagine this camera an 8A with 11x14" sensor that could capture images like a 5D MKII. Same movements but Huge Sensor.

Tons of LF photogs shoot and scan, how can they be gratified, they are cheating right. Dont they have to battle dust, and use only chemicals and special hand made tools to manipulate light to render a print. One need be an expert in every aspect of analog photography to be gratified. Ansel , IM) the most well known expert at Using a LF camera, creating a negative, and creating a print. Truly a master would you think?

I bet you he would be thrilled at that digital can do. There are some amazing Digital Medium format camera's that will do things not possible with analog photography.

Digital is wonderful because it is Instant gratification, and cost the least amount of money when you are trying to master the basics of photograpy. Think of the tens of thousands of dollars Ansel spent on ruined film, ruined paper, all the missed shots he could of had if he could of set up faster.

I love all media creation. If it involves me getting to be creative, I am thrilled. Film is slow, tedious, expensive, and I love it to death. I want to shoot everything on film. reality is I cannot. I cant haul a huge 8x10 or a 4x5 for that matter to a casino and set the sticks up and start making some street photography portfolio shots. Securtiy would be all over me in 2 seconds.

I can use my35mm but why, why shoot that when I have a little pocket camera a G12. Heck even the Iphone is a wonderful and gratifying device. I love looking at peoples ports done just with an Iphone, Chase Jarvis is a great commercial photographer. He has a daily library of images he as taken with his Iphone, There is some creative stuff. The name of the game is to Create and you will be gratified if not then you need to do something else Life is too short.!

If you are a analog purist, that is great. I use what ever I can get my hands on. I try to have fun doing it. Hell I was playing with my 3 year old kid 1.3 megapixel fisher price digital camera we had a blast. She is 3 and I catch her sometimes taking pictures with my 7D. She can turn it on and put it to her eye and press the shutter. If it is IN AV mode she does fine most of the time. The smile she gets when she gets to use my 7D is priceless. Yes Digital is Gratifying, maybe not to a close minded Old fart, J/K dont take that too serious. Just have fun and make pictures if a #year old little girl can do it (have fun), and if I can do it, I think anyone ca do it!

I am so careful with my film, It is for special occasions when I know I have a few days to devote to it. It's not like do anything half way. When I take the shot I have to see the negs, when I see the negs, I have to see a print. If the print sucks, I have to shoot it over, this is money and time. I wish I had all day every day to devote to getting better at large format film photography. Simple fact is I dont.

I have to balance everything in my life and digital lets me fit it (photography) in with the least amount of friction in my life. But I sure do love silver prints! So I selfishly sacrifice some times. Lastly I cant remember the last time I went somewhere I didn't have a camera in arms reach. I am not talking about an Iphone either. A digital device that will capture raw files. I just love the tiny G12 but it is a pacifier until I get to play with my big toys and lots of flashing lights or chemicals that smell bad.

Learn to be flexible and you will find gratification! Sorry for the poorly written novel. I just feel strongly about photography in all forms from wetplate to a Holga, a fisher price to a 5dmk II to an Alpa to a 20x24 mega monster, they are all wonderful. The worst day I had making pictures was better than the best day I had without a camera in my hand!

[David R Munson]

film is nature, digital is man made.

Show me where Tri-X occurs in nature.

Photography is man-made. Period.