In a pivotal moment sixteen years ago, a photographer found himself preferring a digital shot over a film one, challenging his preconceived notions about photography. This experience led him to understand that a photographer's creativity and perspective are what truly make an image special.
Coming to you from Jesse Senko, this thought-provoking video explores the differences between film and digital photography. Senko shares a personal story about how his perception shifted when he compared images taken with both formats. He emphasizes that the magic of a photo lies in the photographer's eye and intent, not in the camera or film used. This realization allowed him to rise above the endless debates over film versus digital and focus on what truly matters: the creative process.
Senko recalls his journey from shooting film in his teens to adopting digital technology in college. He mentions how setting white balance in-camera simplified product shots, even though he still loved the process of shooting and developing film. His story underscores the importance of experimenting with both mediums to discover their unique strengths and weaknesses. Film's tangible process can teach you to be a conscious and present photographer, while digital offers convenience and immediacy.
In the video, Senko revisits the film and digital shots he took years ago to see if his preference has changed. Using modern scanning techniques and software like Negative Lab Pro, he re-evaluates the film image. He notes that proper scanning significantly improves the film shot, making him appreciate its warmth and character. Despite this, he emphasizes that the film doesn't make or break the shot—it's the composition and creative vision that matter most.
Senko argues that film can be an excellent educational tool. Shooting with a fully manual film SLR and developing black and white film at home helps you understand photography fundamentals. Without the distractions of an LCD screen or endless memory cards, film forces you to be intentional with each shot. This process can enhance your skills and make you more aware of light, composition, and the moment.
However, Senko also acknowledges the value of digital photography. He believes that once you've honed your creative practice, your vision will shine through regardless of the medium. Whether using a high-end camera or a smartphone, your ability to create compelling images depends on your eye and artistic intent. He cautions against letting brands or mediums define your creative journey, as this can undermine your unique voice and vision.
Senko concludes by highlighting the importance of focusing on ideas and creativity rather than technical details. The people who matter are those who respond to your vision, not those who obsess over your equipment. By embracing this mindset, you can elevate your photography and make a meaningful impact through your work. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Senko.
What matters is creative intent of the photographer, and not the brand or type of camera (film or digital) used... or so says the video. Therefore film and digital are equal, only separated by a few technical characteristics that don't make a lot of difference.
He goes on to make the point that the cost of film demands that we slow down and analyze more of what we hope to achieve in a picture before clicking away. Therefore a more deliberate approach should theoretically improve our work. But doesn't the process of creativity necessarily include mistakes? Lots of them. In a perfect world, I'd find a subject, analyze it to death so that I'd be 99% sure it was the best composition, and make a single perfect exposure. But it seldom works that way... no matter how long you've been a photographer. Very small differences from one image to another can make a huge difference in which we prefer.
The cliche "spray and pray" assumes that we have no skill for previsualizing the photo, and aimlessly shoot hundreds of pictures in the hope that one will be a keeper. But that's not generally accurate. "Spray, analyze, and learn" fits my workflow a lot better. Taking lots of pictures for essentially zero cost really expands my creativity, which is not practical with film. And while there are those people who preach getting it right in camera, for me the creative process is equal camera and post-processing. Some of my most creative images took a detour from what I saw in the field to what I developed on the computer. From my perspective, an all digital workflow is the only solution for the creative photographer.