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FILM vs.DIGITAL: what's the difference? |
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This is the most common question asked of me.
Here is my explanation plain and simple:
Film looks like "film" and digital looks, well... "digital".
There is a difference.
I use film primarily for several reasons listed below.
However, digital is also used in low light situations and as an additional back up during certain shooting situations.
If you like the moody tones of the sepia tone black and whites on my website it's because that was shot on "FILM"!
FILM: pros & cons:
· Appearance-Quality: rich in depth, more "natural" looking, fine art appearance.
· Technical: Fuller exposure latitude range - more detail in bright
highlights & dark shadows (i.e. white wedding gown, black tuxedo).
· Technical: more stable, consistent, and predictable than digital files.
· Long term storage: film if properly stored in a dark, dry, place can last over 100 yrs.
· Range of various fine-art, archival photo papers
· Film & processing cost.
· Film negs can be scanned to make digital files in a few days.
· Noticeably grainier quality in low light situation, like candlelight.
DIGITAL: pros & cons:
· Great in very low light situations (i.e -candle light)
· Can see results instantly if needed.
· Can process digital files quickly, begin retouching immediately, deliver in a rush.
· No film & processing costs. Just lots of time....
· Distracted by looking into LCD screen to confirm exposure, missing important spontaneous shots!
· More fragile and less exposure latitude than film: Details in highlights and shadow areas can be lost.
· Limited, archival, paper stock choice.
· DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY ISN'T PERFECT! It's not as rugged and "fool-
proof" as film. Less predictable , less stable and less consistent: memory cards & files can become corrupted and unusable without warning or reason.
This could be frightening if your wedding files were lost forever! I'VE SEEN AND HEARD OF IT HAPPENING!!!!!! WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!
SO WHY THEN DO SO MANY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOOT ONLY DIGITAL? My guess is they shoot digitally because:
A) it's cheaper: no film,. no processing, (BUT it's far more time consuming processing the files and adjusting tones etc...).
B) Everyone and their sister "thinks" they can become a photographer overnight since they now own a digital camera. How hard can it be??? They are nervous about their abilities so if they shoot digitally they can at least they have "something" captured right????
DON'T GET ME WRONG. . digital is great for certain things and it certainly has it's place but NOT for weddings! That's my opinion. Call me "old school" but I am a fine artist and my classic beautiful look and style comes from film. Period. I will simply NOT take the risk on your wedding to save a buck here or there by shooting primarily digital. it's simply not my style and it's not worth it. The risks are too high. The technology is not there YET!
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