Assignment 2: Film-based vs Digital Photography

by jemerson122

Film versus digital photography has been a growing debate over the years, with both sides having good points to the argument. While they both achieve the goal of capturing a moment in time, film-based photography is a better choice for many reasons. Digital photography may be faster, more convenient, and less expensive, but film-based photography represents a true passion for photography, the intimacy of an original hard copy, and the appreciation that is often lost in digital photography.

Before digital photography came about, there weren’t near as many people claiming to be photographers. It seems these days that everybody is a photographer because they can take a photo as many times as they’d like until it looks desirable, then edit the things that weren’t noticed at the time of the shot. This is the biggest concern when comparing the two; a photographer should take into account the place, the time, the lighting, how everything is arranged, etc., instead of relying on software to correct their mistakes. Impressive photography should depend solely on the person behind the camera, not the programs which can alter the scene.

For those that do not claim to be professional photographers but simply take pictures for fun, the same ideas apply. Although it’s more convenient to snap several hundred pictures and be able to view on a computer screen, there’s something much more intimate and special about a hard copy of a photo that couldn’t possibly be altered. It’s the truth behind the photograph that sets film-based photography apart from digital photography. Previous generations appear to cherish their photos, much like a keepsake to remind them of their childhood. Today there is easy access to computers, laptops, phones, and other digital devices that can easily record videos or snap photos, then create photo albums, blogs, or post to social websites. It has become so convenient to keep photographs on devices that the desire to print and hold a copy in hand has slowly faded.

Nobody can argue with the idea that the more time, thought, and energy a person puts into something, the more they are going to appreciate it. Digital photography may be faster and more convenient, but if the photographer is truly passionate about these moments they’re capturing or the art of photography, it’s important to consider whether or not time really matters. With that said, it seems that some appreciation is lost using digital devices because it is so easy to transfer data through electronics and media. In film photography there isn’t a screen to view the images, so there’s no way to know whether a picture is blurry or the lighting is off until it’s time to develop the film. It truly takes patience and appreciation of the art to be a film-based photographer.