[Leica] The "impending doom" of film

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (Ted Grant)]

Richard offered:
>>> But I am betting that there will be a B&W revival...<<<<

Hi Richard,
One of the things many of the folks have missed, primarily because they're 
not professionals and that is "the first death of B&W!" Yeah it happened 
sort of about 30+ years ago.

Certainly in the publishing and advertising world of the "late 60's and 
70's."

I was considered by many magazine and editorial/advertising people as "only 
shoot's black & white." Therefore don't bother calling him to shoot for us 
as we're now all colour! You who are dooming and glooming about the loss of 
film, have no idea what it was like with a wife, 4 children and all the 
other etc's of expense while earning your keep and having that kind of 
drivel thrown in your face week after week. :-(

Particularly when you knew you were a damn fine colour shooter! And had many 
colour magazine assignments published.

However, it , B&W never really came to a complete death, because as soon as 
advertising agencies realized "people in colour" lost the impact of the 
message compared to shot in B&W, the new world order of B&W in advertising 
saw the light and B&W became once again the way to go.:-)

Today and this past several weeks or so on the LUG there's been such a 
crying furore about the end of film, it's amazing. Sure some of the film 
companies are in the glue, others appear to be doing fine. Other's are 
showing some kind of "mating game" and will produce B&W film, not the great 
numbers of emulsions, however certainly enough for those of you in tears can 
still play photographer while shooting film. ;-)

As in the past when photography became the fashion and "painting-artists" 
were all going to die............... never happened! Simply because all they 
did was use photography to shoot scenes in the pleasant months, project the 
images during the cold winter months and continue as though it were summer 
12 months of the year.

Today? Sure digital is much like a complete out of control wildfire raging 
across the land, but in reality it's beginning to slow. WHY? Simply as 
pointed out right here on the LUG, a kind of renaissance is beginning and it 
will grow, film will always be required, however not in the volume it has 
been.

Excuse me do we still have just as many horse and buggies on the street as 
in the pre-car days? Nope! But horses and carts are still around.

Do we still have wonderfully talented artists working in oils and water 
colours or whatever other mediums? You bet!  So relax, film will always be 
available, maybe not in your favourite store, but it will be available 
because there'll always be a demand!

Those who have no mind for digital, relax as there aren't any digi-police 
going to haul you away to the brig because you're shooting film. So it's OK 
to relax, go take pictures, calm down, use film and have fun. :-) Just take 
pictures and stop all the sweat-hog stuff of film going to the dark side of 
Mars never to be seen again. ;-)

Your film is safe forever! :-) Have a nice weekend wherever you are. :-)

ted