So, I've been asked to participate in a talk about art and the digital age.
Because of my large format/analog background it is probably assumed that I'll rail against the
current practices and processes in the digital world.
Kind of a non-issue to me personally (I shoot both).
However - thinking back on what I learned by needing to go through the analog process, I do
believe "kids today" are missing out if they don't spend time with film.
Amongst academic things being missed are :
1) Basic math - manual shutter speeds and f/stops and their relations (too much automation now)
2) Chemistry - working with the effects of different dilutions, what different ingredients do, etc
3) Physics - lenses, light/film interactions.
All the above are things that we needed to at least understand in concept. No photographer I know
needed to study calculus to make a good photograph - but they had to know how their systems and
processes worked. All these things we (I) learned were in an applied form, not in a classroom - so it
was a palatable way to get these ideas across.
Other than that, what I also find is that a lot of what I see today comes from people that have apparently no
idea what a good print looks like. Between HDR monstrosities and general over sharpened/over saturated imagery
there is a lot of real dreck out there. Much of this, I believe, is from an erosion in aesthetics that has taken place
that is related to the wonders of Photoshop and "easy" digital processes.
So - would anyone else care to chime in and give me more talking points for this presentation? No flames or diatribes,
just good solid ideas to present please.
I really am not going to say that fine art can't be created digitally - my belief is that this is not a supportable assertion
anymore. It is more a matter of pointing out the changes/losses that I see in the total digital orientation and education
of todays photographers.
Thanks in advance for any responses.
Regards,
Terry
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