Like most technical and well used appliances they are developed over a period of time. Images were originally captured using photo sensitive chemicals, Photo being short for photon (a particle of light). Since then film was brought to the table which allowed for a image to be literally burned on to it by the light passing through the shutter. The film itself is sensitive to light which meant the same rules applied, too much light and the image would become over exposed and too little the image would have not left enough of an impression thus appearing dark.
Certain developing techniques where adapted to compensate for some camera errors but ideally this was not always relied upon or recommended. However film did have its uses, it was traditional and many do still prefer it, they prefer its methods and its earthly, somewhat gritty appearance especially noticeable when creating monochrome using film. I myself have never had the pleasure of developing a film captured image but someday I may get the chance. I am particularly interested in the concept of dodging and burning which is common tool used in many photo editing programmes.
Film however is coming the the end of its life, one day it will only be remembered in museums, as the age of A.I. has grown and the technology around us is growing extremely intelligent. Digital is the word that is often heard in today's age and photography has embraced this leap for the greater good. Cameras now have electronic LCD screens, they even can make their own mind up to how much light is needed to create the right exposure. Some would say that this is no longer photography and because of these great leaps the fun is no longer present as A.I has stolen it. Yes, but we still have the option of manual and creativity is still in the beholder.
Instead of using film, cameras have new way of capturing light. These devices are called memory cards, they can come in many different shapes and sizes depending on the model of camera. Its this concept of capture that has appealed to the masses as film no longer has to be bought by the role. The outset maybe quite costly as you would need a camera, memory card, computer and a printer but having made this financial decision then your costs would only be in paper and ink.
Memory cards can hold a huge amount of images, some run well in to double figures in Gigabytes which is quite colossal. However its not just this way of capture that is appealing its what else we can now do. Most recent cameras nowadays allow us to save out images in many different formats below are but a few of saving options.
- Basic - Jpg
- Normal - Jpg
- Fine - jpg
- Ultra fine - jpg
- RAW
- Raw + basic Jpg
I wont go into explaining each one however it will do you good to learn as they are very useful, RAW especially. I would imagine that even the most hardened foe of digital photography would appreciate this evolutionary concept of image capture. As where they believe the A.I of digital models have taken away some joys of photography by using RAW it is undoubtedly handed much of it back.
What we have no are floodgates that have been opened very wide, the digital camera has enabled photography to be clean, hassle free and dare I say it easier. Equipment is affordable and the ability to take decent images is now down to the way in which our minds think and how much inspiration we have towards a certain subject. Rather than the notion of your partner allowing you to convert the nursery in to a dark room.
My explanation my be bias towards digital simply because I was the victim of film once when I was in Florida, Disney Land, My passion for photography was not even a caterpillar but still there I was with a camera. I had taken numerous photos, when I come to wined the film on it got jammed and then I opened the back of the camera and as my dad put it "knakered the film" so I was pretty disappointed by this. However this juvenile incident did not deter me, it was only a matter of time before a certain technology was available that technology was digital, welcome the DSLR.
