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Thread: Film photography, a good business in the future ?

  1. #1
    Founder QT Luong's Avatar
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    Film photography, a good business in the future ?

    This blog post has a good point about new business models http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2011/09/...emand-economy/ however what caught my attention was the comment by Mike Moss:

    "[...] It’s important to remember that there will be a backlash against digital and specialist will become necessary. Photography was a profession in a mechanized economy so the key to making it a profession again is to go back to film. [...]
    Of course, everybody is going to say that film is dead and there is no need for it anymore. Don’t bet on it! Digital technology is now commonplace and digital photography is essentially worthless. People have little respect for it. However, film photography is starting to be viewed as an art form and folks working in that medium will be able to maintain status above digital shooters. This status can lead to a demand for high fees and a reformation of the photography profession. [...]"

    What do you think ?

  2. #2

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    Re: Film photography, a good business in the future ?

    Quote Originally Posted by QT Luong View Post
    This blog post has a good point about new business models http://www.aphotoeditor.com/2011/09/...emand-economy/ however what caught my attention was the comment by Mike Moss:

    "[...] It’s important to remember that there will be a backlash against digital and specialist will become necessary. Photography was a profession in a mechanized economy so the key to making it a profession again is to go back to film. [...]
    Of course, everybody is going to say that film is dead and there is no need for it anymore. Don’t bet on it! Digital technology is now commonplace and digital photography is essentially worthless. People have little respect for it. However, film photography is starting to be viewed as an art form and folks working in that medium will be able to maintain status above digital shooters. This status can lead to a demand for high fees and a reformation of the photography profession. [...]"

    What do you think ?
    It depends on the type of photography you do. If you're a commercial photographer for things like magazines, truth is the client doesn't care HOW the photo is created. He just wants it fast and cheap and easily to manipulate (thus, digital.) I think what Mike Moss is referring to is the divergence we are experiencing between commercial and artistic photography. In artistic photography the craft becomes more of a factor to consider in juding the value, and not just the end product. If we're limiting the discussion to fine art photography, then I agree with him. The very characteristic of digital photography - its massive, easy availability - is what undermines it as a respected art form. When any 9 year-old armed with a cellphone and PS can create 20 digital images in an hour, no one is going to take that too seriously. So, once commercial photography totally goes its merry way, I suspect that art photography will indeed thrive using the old techniques once again.

    And, on top of that, I think these discussions need to first define what's meant by the term "photography" because there were certain types and processes that were never threatened by digital. No digital image can ever replace a photogravure or a wet plate for example. Wet plate is now more popular than ever too

  3. #3

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    Re: Film photography, a good business in the future ?

    In my opinion he ( Mike Moss ) is an dreamer, but of course there are some niches in which he may have right, but its also just a dream of myself;--)))

    Cheers Armin

  4. #4
    Andi Heuser
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    Re: Film photography, a good business in the future ?

    No.
    Just because 'digital technology is now commonplace' and everybody can shoot a
    sharp and exposed photo with a digital camera doesn't mean everybody shoots good pictures (good in terms of sufficient to satisfy e.g. the advertising agency, photo editor, art collector etc.).
    Aspects like lighting, composition, the right moment and at least the concept of a single photo or a series are still there and need the experienced photographer, that's makes the specialist IMO (I'm shure I forgot many more aspects)

    I think digital is used in the commercial photography because of economic factors.
    Business is making money.

  5. #5

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    Re: Film photography, a good business in the future ?

    I would love to shoot film commercially but in reality those days have long gone for editorial and commercial shoots.
    Maybe there is a niche in portrait and weddings which could be exploited?

    Like the previous poster mentioned, clients don't care how I get the images to them, as long as it's quick.
    4 years ago I went from a 1dmk2 to a 1dsmk3, not one person noticed, except myself

    Do agree with the oversupply, and the resulting drop in quality...

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    Re: Film photography, a good business in the future ?

    Quote Originally Posted by QT Luong View Post
    ...
    This status can lead to a demand for high fees and a reformation of the photography profession. [...]"

    What do you think ?
    Artists with high fees for their art??? One in ten thousands..?

  7. #7
    darr's Avatar
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    Re: Film photography, a good business in the future ?

    Wishful thinking ...

  8. #8
    Camera Antipodea Richard Mahoney's Avatar
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    Re: Film photography, a good business in the future ?

    Quote Originally Posted by QT Luong View Post
    "Of course, everybody is going to say that film is dead and there is no need for it anymore. Don’t bet on it! Digital technology is now commonplace and digital photography is essentially worthless. People have little respect for it. However, film photography is starting to be viewed as an art form and folks working in that medium will be able to maintain status above digital shooters. This status can lead to a demand for high fees and a reformation of the photography profession. [...]"

    What do you think ?
    I wouldn't expect many `clients' to be overly concerned with this distinction, possibly only certain `patrons'.


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    Robert Brummitt's Avatar
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    Re: Film photography, a good business in the future ?

    It is wishful thinking that depends on an info structure like film continuing to be made, chemicals being made and people who know how to use them. Then there is the evolution of digital. I mean digital has been making leaps and bounds at getting better and better.
    I remember when I worked in a professional commercial film lab and photoshop first appeared. My bosses looked at it and thought it never replace film or photo paper.
    Boy, were they off! I have help close two labs because of digital.
    First because photoshop and digital output. Then came digital cameras which just killed the film processing side of both labs.
    But that is the commercial side of photography. The fine art side took a running start to it's history. A backlash to digital. Some went to platinum and now wet plate to get back to basics. Will it last? We'll see? Will film come back? Maybe.
    But, I see digital not standing still either. I see it going on with it's evolution. It can only get better and better. Offer us more and more options to expand our creativeness.
    There are too many computer engineers and companies who try new things with digital and lots and lots of potential cash customers to beg them on.
    But let's see?

  10. #10

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    Re: Film photography, a good business in the future ?

    Quote Originally Posted by QT Luong View Post
    "[...] It’s important to remember that there will be a backlash against digital and specialist will become necessary. Photography was a profession in a mechanized economy so the key to making it a profession again is to go back to film. [...]
    Digital technology is now commonplace and digital photography is essentially worthless. People have little respect for it. However, film photography is starting to be viewed as an art form and folks working in that medium will be able to maintain status above digital shooters. This status can lead to a demand for high fees and a reformation of the photography profession. [...]"

    What do you think ?
    Wrong in so many ways.

    The argument that because digital is common it will become worthless has no basis. Photographers earn money because of what they do, not what technology they use to do it. They are and always have been the creators of value, not the film they load or the sensors they use.

    As for a backlash against digital (based somehow on the fact that it is too popular and common) leading to a reformation of the photography profession, that implies that digital photography was just one big mistake. This is either intentional blindness or incredible stupidity. Maybe both. Digital photography is popular because of clear advantages it has over film. People are not going to give those advantages up. They may still use film where it does have an advantage, but the clock won't run backwards.

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