| According to a Sky TV News report August 2005, | | | | because it's becoming easier and easier to produce a |
| for every one film camera that's sold, there are 15 | | | | photo image than ever before, but are we all |
| digital cameras sold.So where does that leave us all | | | | forgetting something...When I was a boy, I dropped |
| now, exactly right back to the beginning. I mean | | | | out of school at the tender age of 15 years to work |
| after all if you want prints to put in the family album, | | | | as an apprentice in one of London's largest |
| you will still have to visit your local 1 hour photo lab | | | | advertising studios.I worked in the darkrooms and |
| with you memory card and have them transferred to | | | | learnt how to print black and white "bromide" prints |
| prints and in most cases still costing you about the | | | | and became a bit of an expert before I was 16 |
| same to make prints.Of course you saved costs in | | | | years of age, to such an extent that some of the |
| having to buy and process the film, so your a few | | | | top Ad/ Fashion photographers use to ask for me to |
| pence in profit, or are you...Have you taken into | | | | print their work for them, and I'm talking about prints |
| account the additional cost of the initial purchase of | | | | size 20x16 inch. not wallet size en-prints.At the time |
| your new digital camera and if you did, have you | | | | good quality color prints were a long way off before |
| worked out how long it will be before you can | | | | they became the norm, and the studio would shoot |
| actually claim that your in profit on the deal!And do | | | | all color advertising photography on Kodak |
| you know how cheep it is now right now, to buy a | | | | Ektachrome "Sheet Film" on large size View cameras, |
| pro or semi pro used film camera. Film is cheep and | | | | where you would view the image under a dark cloth |
| film quality has never been better, and that's the | | | | on the screen at the back of the camera.To day in |
| truth.Well I'm an old timer when it comes to | | | | the advertising studio, many pro photographers have |
| photography, having started out when I was a boy | | | | switched to digital in the last decade, but still are |
| at school, using a camera more than 50 years ago, | | | | using the same studio based camera types. This |
| so why should it bother you one bit..Did you know if | | | | would include the 5x4 inch View camera, fitted with a |
| you shoot on film and then get the lab to make a | | | | one shot digital camera back and of course medium |
| high resolution CD of you negs to Images, you can in | | | | format cameras such as the Hasselblad, Mamiya and |
| fact produce better definition images than if you has | | | | Rollei, that have had special digital backs fitted to |
| shot them on a digital camera in the first place...But | | | | them.Therefore the established photographer of |
| who needs this kind of definition to day, I mean your | | | | many years standing working in the studio, the the |
| prints that are in your album will look just as good | | | | only thing that has changed is that his camera has |
| either way and if your sending your digital images to | | | | been fitted with a digital back.BUT take note, he stills |
| your friends and family via your PC, it's not going to | | | | applies the OLD techniques to his photography, that |
| make any difference at all.My son-in-law swears that | | | | is; careful attention to composition, lighting and |
| the old Long Playing Records, you use to buy, that | | | | exposure. Because that's how he was trained and |
| have long since been replaced by the music CD, are | | | | that's what earned him his reputation and why his |
| in fact of a higher quality tonal range and sound | | | | clients still keep coming back to him.IT HAD |
| definition that any equivalent music CD. And, I have | | | | NOTHING TO DO WITH DIGITAL CAMERAS... as far |
| to agree with him, assuming that the LP is in "mint" | | | | as the professional photographer is concerned, digital |
| condition, which because of it's age might well not be | | | | cameras are just a new piece of equipment that he |
| up scratch. Scratch being the operative word...But | | | | now uses, and that's the bottom line...I do hope your |
| again is this additional sound quality required for you | | | | getting the message loud and clear, that just |
| Super Woofers pumping out Hip Hop, especially on | | | | because it's easy to use digital, it does not mean that |
| the dance floor disco club...This brings us back to | | | | you don't have to learn your stuff to become a |
| photography and the great advantage of digital is | | | | photographer. For example reading up good books, |
| simply being able to see you results immediately and | | | | this is how I learnt the basics when I was at school. I |
| discarding by pressing "delete" or erase, the ones | | | | have to say that in my case, because I was able to |
| that didn't make it and only keeping the ones that | | | | work as an apprentice in one of London's largest |
| you want.However the same criteria still applies and | | | | studios that I gained invaluable experience. This was |
| will always apply, if you aspire to be a great | | | | to be one of the the most incredible stories in my life |
| photographer, that is careful composition, lighting and | | | | and the experience taught me everything I needed |
| exposure and unless you have a hold on this pro | | | | to know about photography technique.To learn more |
| approach to you images, they will be nothing more | | | | about Digital v. Film Stock, go here:Digital v. Film |
| than mediocre, and that's a place I don't want to | | | | StockTo learn more about Digital Photography, go |
| visit!!!So apart from your virtual photo album on line, | | | | here:Digital PhotographyRoger started his career in |
| what is the difference. Well if your a snapper, you will | | | | the early sixties at the tender age of 15 as an |
| always be a snapper. But if you take a pride in | | | | apprentice in a large London Ad/Fashion Studio. A |
| producing images that appeal to the eye and you | | | | few years late he became one of London's youngest |
| have learnt your stuff good and well, you'll be able to | | | | most successful Ad/Fashion photographers.In the |
| create great images in any medium, be it film or | | | | seventies he became freelance and took most of his |
| digital or whatever medium that may follow in the | | | | clients with him. He retired recently but still carries out |
| next decade or two.It's all down to basics and | | | | selective assignments. He also runs several websites, |
| although I can't talk in great technical detail about | | | | one of them is: Pro SECRETS of Money Making |
| digital imaging, which is one way to create an Image, | | | | PHOTOGRAPHYRoger also teaches and helps |
| I can talk in great technical detail about photography | | | | photographers and beginners with advice from his |
| technique, which is more relevant to day than almost | | | | vast experiences in Ad/Fashion photography. |
| any other time.Why might that be I here you say, | | | | |