Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2006/12/02

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Subject: [Leica] Re: Alien Skin Exposure
From: hoppyman at bigpond.net.au (G Hopkinson)
Date: Sat Dec 2 17:59:52 2006

Ted and Montie, perhaps I didn't express myself well. The digital/film 
comparison is well worn. Mostly we understand that they are
different mediums.
My comment was that I am seeing some ground swell of preference for the film 
"look" for some purposes. I wonder if some of that
comes from the enthusiast photographers being conditioned for years to 
expect that film "look" so that it appears normal.

Cheers
Hoppy


-----Original Message-----
From: lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org 
[mailto:lug-bounces+hoppyman=bigpond.net.au@leica-users.org] On Behalf Of
Montie
Sent: Sunday, 3 December 2006 10:19
To: Leica Users Group
Subject: [Leica] Re: Alien Skin Exposure

Well put Ted!  Instead of one better than the other, it's what
you're comfortable with.  I'm strictly a film shooter because
that's what I'm comfortable with and that's what I like. Bear
in mind, I retired from pro shooting in "92" at age 42 (military)
so I have no real need or desire, at present, to switch.

If I were a working pro today (regardless of where) I would switch
or sink...period.  Digital capture is a fact of life and will only improve.
But now, as a lazy Fine Artist ;-) with loads of time, my MP and
a few chunks of Leitz Glass (along with an occasional Nikkormat
FTN) is all I want or need. OK, maybe I'll pick up a used Rapid
M eventually ;-)  My hat goes off to people on this list who are
comfortable with and have mastered both!!

Montie
-----------

>>Hoppy  asked:
>>> But I am the only one here struck by the incongruence of working to make
>>> digital images look just like film?<<<

>>Ted wrote:
Hoppy mon ami,
A most interesting question indeed! I don't understand why one would add
extra time doing this particularly when the digital reproductions look so
magnificent!

I shot a moment the other day with the M8, quite a simple photo @ ASA 160 of
a couple of young women with a digital doing one of those self portrait
things pointing the camera at themselves. And I wouldn't trade my M8
exposure, the look, nor printed re-production for anything using the most
expensive and fine grained film in the world!

Digital is digital and if one is into it, then get a completely digital life
and get on with it! Is one not some kind of masochist by making their images
look like film? I can see doing the film look if digital gave ugly results,
but for my money digital produces beautiful prints the likes one can't do in
the dark room no matter how many years they've had their hands in the soup,
stop bath and fixer!

On top of that they are two different things.... film is film and produces
one thing, film images and prints.  Digital produces it's type of image and
print so why bother to make changes! Particularly when both are so beautiful
when well done. Do they look the same? Nope, but does a Ford look like a
Mercedes? But they both have 4 wheels, go some place and are beautiful in
the eye of the beholder!

Just leave all this "old life of film" behind where it belongs. Sure one can
miss the film, the darkroom, the smells, cutting, sleeving, editing contacts
and swishing your hands and paper in the chemicals. But if you've gone
digital get a life and accept it!

If one changes to digital, then accept it whole heartedly and get on with
life! Leave the past behind and enjoy the memories but there's no need to
create more time in front of a computer screen when you could have far more
fun and enjoyment out taking pictures!

The really bottom line is.... this software film looking effect? Does it
make it a better photograph than what you experienced in your motivational
heart when you went "CLICK?" Not bloody likely!

ted


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Replies: Reply from bd at bdcolenphoto.com (B. D. Colen) ([Leica] Re: Alien Skin Exposure)
Reply from jsmith342 at cox.net (Jeffery Smith) ([Leica] Re: Alien Skin Exposure)
Reply from montoid at earthlink.net (Montie) ([Leica] Re: Alien Skin Exposure)
In reply to: Message from montoid at earthlink.net (Montie) ([Leica] Re: Alien Skin Exposure)