Wednesday, May 27. 2009
Calumet Photo Spills Beans!
In a refreshing bit of candor, Calumet Photo's latest Calumet Focus gives professional safari leader Todd Gustafson's opinions about film versus digital:The two main logistical advantages of shooting with digital media are carrying a few CF cards instead of 300 rolls of film and the cost of CF cards verses the cost of film and processing. From a photographic standpoint, there is a much faster learning curve with digital. There is no substitute for immediately seeing the photographic results when you are in the field. You can also tell when you have the shot and are able to move on to capture new subjects without taking—and paying for—all of those dreaded insurance shots.
On the negative side (no pun intended), it is a full-time job just keeping up with the latest hardware, software, megapixels, higher ISO ratings, buffer speeds, computer storage, et cetera that is inherent in digital photography. In the days of film, a photographer could do the shoot, put the exposed film in a bag, and have a relaxing drink by the campfire. With digital there is a seemingly never-ending process of downloading, editing, processing, and backing up of the digital files. There is much less time to relax while on safari.
Why? Because film is about process, digital about product or "results." Film photography is learned slowly, providing short term frustration but long term satisfaction as mastery develops. Digital is learned quickly, giving short term satisfaction but long term frustration with tools never mastered. If you aim for excellence, choose carefully or the digicam may run away with your safari (African or otherwise)!
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