Digital BW, The Print

Hi Tom,

Granted, the film industry will change, but as far as it  
disappearing, I think it's worth noting that as photography has  
developed over the last two centuries, and taken over the role of  
"commercial" painting, the paint industry (fine art applications) has  
continued to exist regardless of economic reality.  The amount of  
paint produced has indeed been drastically reduced over time.  But  
rather than ceasing to exist, paint manufacturers have continued  
doing business by refining their products, raising their prices and  
selling these specialty paints to artists.

For instance, Old Holland Oil paint, which has been producing paint  
since 1664 offers some paint tubes that run $40-$50 for a 40ml tube.   
While that's on the extreme end of things, the point is that they  
have continued to do business for nearly three and a half centuries,  
regardless of the technological advances in the realm of image  
creation.  And, when some paint companies have ceased to exist,  
others have shown up to take their place.  An example of this is  
Gamblin Oil paints.  They are a company that has only been in  
existence for about 25 years.  Yet, they produce some of the most  
sought after, and expensive oil paint produced in North America.

While it is true that digital photography has replaced film to a  
large extent in the consumer market, obviously there are still  
proponents of the traditional processes.  And, to use the comparison  
with painting, while photographs are capable of rendering the most  
refined of details, painters have continued to produce everything  
from portraits to landscapes as they prefer the aesthetic of  
brushwork on a canvas and continue to support their traditional  
processes.  Similarly, just because the digital process allows  
control of individual pixels doesn't mean that there won't be people  
still using cold light enlargers, dodging and burning in darkrooms  
and printing a single image for hours on end to achieve the perfect  
chemically processed, expressive print 200 years from now.  All that  
is required for that to occur is a handful of companies continuing to  
offer their "authentic, traditional materials and equipment," and for  
a few dedicated artists to purchase those products.

To me the most intriguing aspect of these technological advances is  
how the old processes can be integrated into the new ones and vice  
versa, for instance, the use of film to capture the image but then  
using a lightjet printer to produce a 4' x 6' print from 35mm film,  
or taking a digital capture, printing a digital negative and  
producing a chemically processed print, or doing whatever it is that  
all of us are doing.

I think the point is that it all comes down to the subject, the  
artist's eye, his/her aesthetic and  ability to achieve the end  
result he or she prefers.  And, that the analog world (to quote  
Edward) vs. the digital, is essentially a mute point as far as  
whether or not they'll both continue to exist.  In the realm of  
music, digital equipment has clearly taken over but as Edward  
mentioned, analog equipment can still be found, even brand new tube  
amplifiers that go for rather obscene prices.

While this forum is about the digital B&W print, that doesn't change  
the fact that many of the members regularly utilize film to capture  
their images and others have produced their prints via digital  
negatives on analog papers.  IMHO, viva la difference.  Variety  
brings with it, options, and options allow for unique modes of  
expression.  And, I think that the richness of this variety continues  
to drive all of us to greater and greater levels of artistic mastery  
in the realm of B&W printing.  Isn't that what this forum is really  
about?

Best regards,

Eric
www.ericashworth.net



> ... It would
> be nice to think both would exist side by side, but economic reality
> will eventually bring a halt to the world of film. Probably the only
> thing keeping it alive today is the hope that the millions of film
> cameras (mostly in closets) will get pulled out for pictures of the
> cousin's wedding or christening...but eventually this will stop. Who
> knows exactly what will end it... remember a couple of years ago,
> there was a product written about (don't know if it actually was ever
> produced) that was a digital "insert" to the film bay of conventional
> cameras...kind of like the cassette insert for iPods <g>. Such a
> product could end film manufacture overnight if it really worked
> well. I haven't seen one, but doesn't Leica now have a digital back
> for it's rangefinder and SLR cameras?
>
> I'm not anti-film but just don't see why anyone would continue to
> work with it unless you were a John Sexton who is at the top of the
> food chain in terms of quality...for the rest of us, still on the
> learning and improvement curve, why wouldn't we devote our energies
> to the technology and medium that will grow with our skills???
>
> And in the final analysis, isn't that what this forum is all about?
>
> cheers,
>
> Tom O'Connell


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