Photographs nowadays can be manipulated through digital format. There is no debate that this advancement in technology has made photography more acceptable to many. Unlike in film formats where only those who are really eager to know the basics of composition, aperture, focal length, exposure time and film ISO, are the once producing wonderful photographs. Nowadays, there could be the new terms like crop, saturize, and many other digital terms that are used by many so called photographers to enhance their photographs.
Come to think of it, photography has come a long way. Before the technologically advanced digital SLR's and the handy digital point and shoot cameras, there came a time when cameras where actually gargantuan in size (literally). Photography simply means, the art of drawing with light, and with the technology during the beginnings of photography; there is no such thing as a hole placed in a handheld device called camera. Everything before was bulky as they come. It was only later in years when the development of twin lens reflex cameras, rangefinders, and single lens reflex cameras turned cameras to becoming handy.
But if people will take a closer look, the fad of digital cameras is actually the beginning of photography's demise. Nowadays, there are the resurgence of the Lomo cameras, the cheap film cameras originally produced by the USSR. Now why would someone regress from advanced digital photography to film photography? If Hansel Adams were alive today, he will definitely be saddened by the lack of skill photographers generally have today compared to the good old days. According to purist photography enthusiasts, film cameras are expressions of what we are. And with the eve of digital photographic manipulation, it seems that the machines took over instead of us. If Hansel Adams was actually taking note of every single detail from aperture, to composition, to film ISO to shutter speed; digital photographers on the other hand would mindlessly shoot on subjects and let the software do the job afterwards.
Going back to the original definition of photography, it seems that they are really not the same anymore. Is it really just simply drawing with light? Or is it more than just drawing with light but instead, drawing with a software? Nowadays, machines took over our own identity as human beings, even to the extent of our creativity, the skill that makes us different from other species of animals. Instead of showcasing our skills and talent as a person; technology has blurred the line between talent and non-talent.
This is the reason why I personally think that film cameras will never die. Though faced with massive layoffs in their industry, there will still be the old pros and the new blood that keeps on getting into the turned subculture of film photography. Photography will remain an art for the longest of time, but with the way things are going with the digital age; it could be possible that even someone without the knowledge of photography could produce photos that are superficially stunning.
I cannot go to school. I can not go to school.
No comments:
Post a Comment