Pictorialism
or Pixels?
Digital
imaging is exploding. It seems everybody is doing it And you think you
want to get into it Fine, but where do, you start? What equipment do you need?
No problem. ..Digital cameras might be a little more
expensive now, but they getting better and cheaper all the time. Taking
photos are free. You basically buy your memory storage once (memory
card) and can keep reusing it after you have downloaded your photos to
your computer. Instant gratification because you can immediately see
the photos you
have taken with the LCD monitor on your digital camera. You don't need
to rely as much on your photography
skills because you get instant feedback. If you don't like it, just
shoot it again. Or just shoot a whole bunch of photos because you can
keep the ones you like and delete the rest. -Digital Photography
Sourcebook:
THE BASICS Choosing a Digital Camera-What
You Need to Know, October 2003
I find the current digital revolution
patently laughable. Sure the images look great, and whole days can be
spent in "male-talk" of pixel counts and cpu bridges. But, here this
guy, right, he takes out a second mortgage on his house, and invests 15
grand in this little technological marvel that has a engineered life span of
5 years of planned obsolescence and the photographer becomes a
permanent consumer. On the dole the government calls its fixtures "clients." I guess the digital guy never sat down and though how much film 15 grand could buy, or that a sheet of ink jet glossy, after all is said and done, makes an old box of Brovira look like a real bargain. I see such waiting in line at Wall mart, popping down another ten for yet a few more triple a's. Unfortunately when he looks for the good old days they will be long gone, like a sheet of Polymax, supplanted by hype, technology and probably a whole bunch of little disposable Chinese plastic cameras.
So much for the guy who would buy a new Rolei in 1952 for $270. We got us a live one!
Now, we know its not correct to speak ill of digital imagery, and this is not my intention here. We all know who pays the bills, advertises the propaganda, and determines the future. But there is an interesting aside here for all the diehard pixel consumers to consider; neither tech, nor batteries, nor pixels make art, no, artists do. Andin the end, at least for some, Van Gogh's old shoes are more comfortable and inspiring than any new Nike's could ever be.
© 2006 Timothy Martin Gillan
Photography
