Re: [Largeformat] Re:Digital Imaging and Sadness

[Douglas Cooper <douglas@metaversalstudios.com>]

At 11:02 PM 9/5/00 -0400, you wrote:
>Yes, it is indeed sad to see the digital evolution in imaging.


I'm not so sure it's sad.  Emulsions are, after all, pretty high technology 
-- this is simply the next phase.  I've been looking at the latest Sinar 
digital equipment, and it seems to me that -- when it's perfected, and 
about a tenth the price -- we'll find this sort of tool just as capable as 
any current large format camera.  Working with a digital back should be no 
different than working with Polaroids, in terms of process.

I had a huge bias against the digital image until I did a shoot in Kyoto 
with a relatively lowly prosumer camera:  the Olympus 2020.  It was 
eye-opening:  images at 4x5 were *indistinguishable* from those shot on film.

And it's not as if the old tech will ever disappear.  Look at the latest 
movement in avant retro photography:  bromoilists are coming out of the 
woodwork.  I don't think anyone will be forced to give up on film.  And 
many will do hybrid work, as they do now:  shooting on film, printing 
digitally.

cheers,


Douglas Cooper