Ever since I joined Facebook, I've noticed that the quality of the photos I upload degrade in quality. They've come a long way since such as allowing for a much larger image file, but even so, the quality still lacks compared to photo based social sites such as Flickr (which I absolutely LOVE!). With respect to images coming off of digital cameras, the quality is somewhat good on FB. You've got to really be anal to notice the difference. Film based photos on the other hand, forget about it. I uploaded a set of photos yesterday to FB and there was HEAVY grain when the original images show none. That really irked me. I don't think I'll be uploading anymore film based images to FB. I like my images to appear as clean as possible. I'm sure many others feel the same way.
That being said, I still love the look of film. I know I've said that before but I can't say it enough. I've been shooting digital photography a lot lately with my Canon 7D and I love it. Don't get me wrong. Technology advances and I've got to get with the times. It is a much easier format to work with when it comes to the business side of things. Images are there the second you take the photo so that you can preview it and digital files are much more easier to work with with editing software such as Photoshop.
But there's something about film that I find more appealing than digital. There's a warmth and character to them and you can see it when you use the plethora of film that's out there in the market. Not all film are created equally and rightly so! Provia will look different than Ektachrome. Portra will look different than Superia. Even the different ISO ratings within the respective film lines have a different look and feel. It really is an amazing thing and I wish there were more people shooting film more than digital if they choose to shoot both formats at the same time. I also wish working with film would be more cost effective/efficient.
On a personal note, I tend to be more careful when I'm working with film. I know that I only have "x" number of frames before I have to change the roll (24-36 depending on the roll) and I like to make each one count. I also have the same mindset when I'm working with digital but there's that little thought in the back of my mind that knows if I don't like the image, I could always press the delete button and it's all good so there's this level of leeway with digital photography and that can work against you as a photographer because you want to output great images more than you're likely to delete images. So I find myself being more lax and sometimes slipping at times when using my Canon 7D.
Because of my want to shoot film more, many times I find myself using one of those old film point & shoot cameras and loading it with film and taking it everywhere I go. I take my 7D out a lot as well, but you can carry a digital SLR so many times before you get tired of lugging it around. The same can be said with a 35mm film SLR because both are so bulky and who wants to carry around something that big all the time? I don't own a digital p&s (not that I would like to anymore...) so this small 35mm film p&s works best for me. It also allows me to catch these often overlooked and taken for granted moments that I strive to capture which you can see in these images that I've posted.
In closing, I'm going to admit that I'm being a (film) snob but that's fine by me. I'll continue to shoot digital photography and have no problem doing so and I'll continue to shoot film as well and hopefully more of it. When all is said and done, it really doesn't matter what media format one chooses to shoot with. I've seen some great photos from people taken with small film p&s cameras (like the one I used for these photos) that rival some of the great photos taken with a digital SLR. I've seen some spectacular photos coming from digital SLRs and I've seen a lot of crap ones. Hell, I think sometimes the photos coming from my 7D are crap. It all comes down to the person behind the lens and the knowledge and vision said person has. Great photography is great photography...
All of these photos came from a small 35mm point & shoot camera using Fuji Neopan SS. If you'd like to see more of my photographic work, become a fan of 17thletter Photography on Facebook!
That being said, I still love the look of film. I know I've said that before but I can't say it enough. I've been shooting digital photography a lot lately with my Canon 7D and I love it. Don't get me wrong. Technology advances and I've got to get with the times. It is a much easier format to work with when it comes to the business side of things. Images are there the second you take the photo so that you can preview it and digital files are much more easier to work with with editing software such as Photoshop.But there's something about film that I find more appealing than digital. There's a warmth and character to them and you can see it when you use the plethora of film that's out there in the market. Not all film are created equally and rightly so! Provia will look different than Ektachrome. Portra will look different than Superia. Even the different ISO ratings within the respective film lines have a different look and feel. It really is an amazing thing and I wish there were more people shooting film more than digital if they choose to shoot both formats at the same time. I also wish working with film would be more cost effective/efficient.On a personal note, I tend to be more careful when I'm working with film. I know that I only have "x" number of frames before I have to change the roll (24-36 depending on the roll) and I like to make each one count. I also have the same mindset when I'm working with digital but there's that little thought in the back of my mind that knows if I don't like the image, I could always press the delete button and it's all good so there's this level of leeway with digital photography and that can work against you as a photographer because you want to output great images more than you're likely to delete images. So I find myself being more lax and sometimes slipping at times when using my Canon 7D.Because of my want to shoot film more, many times I find myself using one of those old film point & shoot cameras and loading it with film and taking it everywhere I go. I take my 7D out a lot as well, but you can carry a digital SLR so many times before you get tired of lugging it around. The same can be said with a 35mm film SLR because both are so bulky and who wants to carry around something that big all the time? I don't own a digital p&s (not that I would like to anymore...) so this small 35mm film p&s works best for me. It also allows me to catch these often overlooked and taken for granted moments that I strive to capture which you can see in these images that I've posted.In closing, I'm going to admit that I'm being a (film) snob but that's fine by me. I'll continue to shoot digital photography and have no problem doing so and I'll continue to shoot film as well and hopefully more of it. When all is said and done, it really doesn't matter what media format one chooses to shoot with. I've seen some great photos from people taken with small film p&s cameras (like the one I used for these photos) that rival some of the great photos taken with a digital SLR. I've seen some spectacular photos coming from digital SLRs and I've seen a lot of crap ones. Hell, I think sometimes the photos coming from my 7D are crap. It all comes down to the person behind the lens and the knowledge and vision said person has. Great photography is great photography...All of these photos came from a small 35mm point & shoot camera using Fuji Neopan SS. If you'd like to see more of my photographic work, become a fan of 17thletter Photography on Facebook!