Retro trends do not stop
at photography. Analogue photography is slowly returning to a market in
which digital photography has prevailed. Analog meets digital. There are
professionals who love analogy, for others it's just yestertech.
The word photography comes
from the Greek and means "painting with light". Analogue photography appears
to many as a new medium. What is it that inspired many young and old photo fans
to work with films. Some photographers think that they can make themselves appear
innovative for new markets with analogue photography. Many people today think
that photography is art, thereby developing an inherent attraction for those
who aspire to create something of lasting value.
However, to many this
confirms the evolution of photography; nothing has changed in the use of light
to create images - on wood, glass, film or silicone. They also find it
suspicious when people fall into great affection or even the belief that their
pictures are "better" when it is just harder to develop the photos.
In short, you can work
creatively with any medium. Most photographers believe that digital work
includes all the aesthetics of analogue. So why spend time and money and
questionable chemicals to produce images that can be achieved with silicone?
One photographer said,
"I develop my pictures". But today he uses a computer program instead
of a darkroom. He calls that "digital-darkroom techniques". And his
credo is: "Think analogously, work digitally."
No one today needs
darkrooms and dangerous chemicals for the post-production of an image. A
computer screen in the studio instead of clip tests and the experience of a
color laboratory, that's enough. And digital production opens up more
development and editing options for the photographer.
Many clients in the
advertising industry would not understand why anyone would chose to work
analog. Advertising directors would
definitely wonder if the photographer has a good understanding of
photography. Just ask a photojournalist,
sports or wedding photographers, which form of work they prefer, you will
always get the same answer: "digital".
There is no difference. Good photographs are the result of the skills
and equipment of the photographer and his skill to develop images. Analog or
Digital does not make the difference. It false to believe that the use of roll
films, which require more time for image composition and development, make the
images better or more creative. The process is the same, whether analog or
digital, and those who do not follow the basic principles of photography will
not get the most out of their photography.
It is hard understand why
someone does not use current technology in 2018. Ask Eugene Atget if you could.
This early pioneer of street photography died because he used arsenic to
develop his photographs in the darkroom.
Analogue photography has no longer any real chance in the professional
market.
Analog photography is in
the process of establishing itself as an art form and craftsmanship and is not
in competition with digital photography. Just as painting continued to exist after the
invention of photography, analog photography will continue to exist today.
Ansel Adams at work with a large format camera
Analogue photography will
establish itself as a niche market with currently unpredictable volumes.
Prerequisite: This market accepts price levels that cannot be compared with the
mass market before the year 2000. Currently this is not the case, which is why
there is an acute danger that in the foreseeable future, when the
"old" idealists are extinct, no analogue material will be available
anymore. In the end, the market has to be profitable for everyone.
Kodak recently released Ektachrome as a new film on the market
Many miss real medium
format, because all digital "medium format cameras" have a much
smaller recording format than the old 6x6cm, 6x7 or even 6x9 cameras. In fact,
they are not even 6 × 4.5. This is a format that rarely makes sense compared to
high-resolution, full frame digital cameras.
Leica S medium format digital camera system
In most cases digital has
the higher quality and the greater efficiency. But, there is a catch: Unfortunately,
the size of image sensors is mostly associated with their resolution. The pixel race is still in full swing for the most
part. Regardless, the effects of larger recording formats on the image effect
are immense. The focal length of a normal lens is defined by the diagonal of
the recording format, for 24x36cm it is rounded off to 50mm, for 6x6cm 80mm and
for 4x5inch 150mm. This means, in the latter case, one uses a lens with an
angle of view, which corresponds approximately to human vision, but has the
depth of field of a 150mm telephoto. If one considers that in the pre-digital
era cameras with larger formats than 35mm were widespread, it should become
clear that through digital photography we lost an entire optical cosmos. Most
of the famous photographers have worked in medium format, whether Avedon or
Penn. Weegee made his grimy photos with a 4 × 5 press camera. Even 35mm photographers like Robert Capa and
Alfred Eisenstaedt have always used medium format as well. Many of today’s
photographers would be willing to spend a small fortune for a 6 × 6 digital Rollei
TLR.
Rolleiflex 2.8 F
For photography up to full
frame 24x36mm there is no longer a reason to work with film, apart from
emotional aspects. It gets really
interesting with formats that are bigger. Anyone who uses 4 × 5 inches or 8 ×
10 inches will be rewarded with a picture style that clearly stands out.
The Leica/Sinar p3-df view camera can be used analog as well as digital
After the almost complete
collapse of the film market, we have seen a recovery in recent years, old films
and papers are reissued, but today it is not much more than a niche market. Especially with a Leica Monochrom, but also
with many of the other high end digital cameras, it is possible to get results
that easily rival the high quality analog images of yesterday. In this regard diehard fans of analog
photography are just kidding themselves.
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