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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> lesson learned - digital v film
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10/18/2003 03:23:31 PM · #1
Just want to share a conclusion that this new digital shooter has arrived at.

A mediocre digital shot is still a mediocre picture. In other words, just because software is available to edit, does not mean that an average shot will become an extraordinary one.

I come by way of this conclusion due to the uncomfortable discovery that I was editing to "save" photos that in my film life I would have tossed without a second thought. I was beginning to question whether digital was for me, because I just wasn't getting the level of "quality", or so I thought.

But....really, I just wasn't doing the things that I know are the right things. I got lazy, thinking that it could be "enhanced" in editing.

Bottom line. A good photo is always a good photo. Editing can bring out it finest features, but they need to be there initially.

Message edited by author 2003-10-18 20:30:54.
10/18/2003 03:45:51 PM · #2
As someone who is also new to digital, I have to wholeheartedly agree.
10/18/2003 08:21:56 PM · #3
As someone who has never used film, I'll say that I imagine that I would be extra careful using film due to the developing costs, and I admit to taking a lot of rubbishy digital photo, "because I can". Maybe I should stop and pay more attention to specific shots, but that fact that I can take loads of shots in digital increases the chances that I'll get lucky :)

Its a toss up between getting lucky with one photo from a bunch, or spending a lot of time perfecting a specific shot but having no backup if it doesnt work out.

In digital I use the former, but in film I think I'd use the latter.
10/19/2003 09:02:21 AM · #4
Exactly true.

Proper exposure, good composition, and careful subject choice matter just as much with digital as with film.

That said, I find I *can* help a digital image that has potential more than I can a film one but that's only because I know the digital tools fairly well and I don't even have access to their film counterparts.

However, when you're like me, shooting hundreds of images every week, you want to minimize on your post-processing time. That's why it makes the most sense to get it right when shooting it :) ..


10/19/2003 11:19:15 AM · #5
A well considered shot is still valuable regardless of the medium.

However, since getting my first digital camera about a year ago after shooting film for thirty five years I had a difficult time getting over the practice of rationing my shooting. I had to almost force myself to just shoot without regard to cost. I had always been "cheap". That being said I've taken much joy in my hobby of many years and digital has had a liberating effect on me.


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