HAWAII PHOTOGRAPHERS DISSCUSS PROS AND CONS OF DIGITAL
PHOTOGRAPHY Part Two
DISADVANTAGES OF BECOMING A DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHER
If you have been a 'film photographer', the first and biggest
disadvantage is the cost of new cameras, at least. If you are
already computer literate, and have a good computer with some
kind of imaging software, good. But if not...well, I sorry for
you, eh! Add all that expense, too. And if you've been a medium
format photographer as I was, you're not only going to need new
cameras, but new lenses, too! With computers and imaging
software, even without printers, you have a large investment to
look at.
On the up side of that startup expense is all the money you're
now going to save by not having to buy film and pay for
processing and proofs.
There is the time element that comes with a "digital workflow".
You, or someone is going to have to upload your images to your
computer to edit. Then color correct, retouch, and anything else
you want done to your images. And especially at first, it is
quite time consuming as you follow your learning curve.
In my humble opinion, these are the only aspects of digital
photography that can be called disadvantages. And then there's
the argument that "Digital has taken away business from
professional photographers".
The argument goes that it is now so easy to take your own
photographs, for whatever purpose and at such low cost, that
companies are taking their own photographs for their advertising
needs, and people are taking their own, or their friends family
photos. And that this is taking business away from
professionals.
There really can be no argument against the truth of this
statement. It is easy to take pictures. And, really, it always
has been since the invention of the "instamatic camera"! Anybody
can aim and push the shutter release button. And that will make
a picture. It's been that easy with film cameras since the
1960s. So, what's the difference now?
I don't know this for certain, but I bet that when automatic
film cameras first came out, there was a small dip in business
for a variety of pro photographers. Why? Because it was so easy
now for anybody to take a picture! And I'm equally sure that
some people who got a camera actually got good at making
photographs.
In reality, though, if you want professional quality
photography, you need to have the photography done
professionally! There's a lot more to it than point and shoot.
And I believe that eventually the novelty of 'easy' digital
photography will wear off, and the more educated and critical
people will take their photography jobs to professionals.
About the author: Stan P. Cox II runs a Portrait and Commercial
photography studio in Honolulu, Hawaii, and has been a
professional Hawaii photographer for 31 years. This article may
be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.