Why is there a rise of digital Photography hobbyist?
By ymesako
@ymesako (21)
Philippines
November 18, 2007 9:33am CST
Everyone seems to be into photography these days. What I mean is digital photography to be exact. It's very nice that photography became more accessible due to digital cameras. Photography is a very expensive hobby. Especially when digital cameras were not around. It really took time, effort and money in order to do really nice photography.
2 responses
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
21 Nov 07
Back in the good old days when I was a younger person many people had cameras. they were little point and shoot cameras very similar to the disposable cameras of today. As the more advanced cameras became more reasonable in price and people had more disposable income they got inot photography. For most people the camera was still used ofr vacation and family photos. Some time in the late 60's or 70's people were given the impression that if you did not have a good SLR Camera you could not take photos. Then came the small expensive digitals and everyone was told that you could not tak good pictures ith that toy and they were right. The pictures were fuzzy and poor color. As the digital camera improved and became more advanced more and more people started to use it for the convience and the ablity to share photos with people aorund the world in minutes. Now digital is overtaking film and are getting closer in price to a film camera with out the expense of film.
@Messymadam (25)
•
21 Nov 07
Years ago I did a part time photography course at college and most of the emphasis was on printing and developing your own black and white photographs. I really loved it!I had a totally manual SLR with no auto anything! I had to focus myself, and work out the exposure - it took me ages to actually take the photograph because I didn't want to waste a shot.
I was able to use the college darkroom for processing and loved experimenting with dodging and burning. I thought it was really exciting watching the finished photograph gradually develop. When the course ended and I no longer had access to a darkroom, I looked into making my own - but with not much money and a 1 bed flat it just wasn't practical. Black and white processing in a lab was really expensive, and gradually my interest waned.
Then I got my first digital camera - well I have to admit it was a long time ago and the quality was dreadful! I thought this would never replace film. Then the cameras got better and better, and once again I am loving photography!I don't have a DSLR, but I have a bridge camera which has full control of the settings - I can even use totally manual again if I want! Now I can take 300 photos without worrying about the cost, so I can afford to experiment.
I can take photos in black and white, or colour, or I can take in colour and convert to black and white on my computer. I can try new techniques over and over until I have got the hang of them, and whereas with film I might have taken a whole roll to try to get the "perfect shot", now I can take a whole memory card!
Best of all, I can see the results right away. I don't have to go home from my travels, take the film in and wait for it to be processed and then find out - too late - that I should have done something different! If a shot is important to me I can review it right away on my screen and if it's not quite right - hey presto! I just shoot it again!Do I am definitely a digital convert (and also a pretty old person by the history above)!
1 person likes this
@Nerophile (72)
• United States
18 Nov 07
I agree. I thinks it is wonderful that more and more people can afford and have the technical ability now to capture and continue to appreciate the things that are most important to them in their lives.
I still enjoy SLRs but the time and skill involved in developing your film and printing is often prohibitive when I just want to get one or to quick images.
For instance, this weekend I wanted to sell an old refrigerator, so I didn't need the best pictures. I just snapped a few with my camera phone and posted them. As they say it was good enough for government work.
Before the advent of camera phones and digital cameras I always carried a regular camera with me. Now I have been released of that burden and am still not afraid that I will miss anything if something comes up I really want to catch.
Even more important if it something I want to catch and immediately share it is so much easier that with still photography.
I'm sure there arguments that can be made and have been about the difference in quality or creative value etc. But what is most important is what makes the individual photographer happy. And there so many more of them now because of the digital factor.
Great question.
1 person likes this
