Top 5 Digital Myths

WARNING: These discussions are intended for the serious photographer. That is, someone who seeks out photography in an effort to live a creative life. If you are happy just snapping pics to impress your friends and family these discussions might just make you upset.

First of all, yes I consider myself a traditional film based photographer. This piece is written primarily for the benefit of those who may feel compelled to switch to digital by self righteous digital zealots. Strong language maybe, but I am sick of the slanted sewer sludge that is being spewed out by hundreds of writers who care nothing about creativity. You are entitled to make a choice for your work based on the merits of the materials.

These pages are not intended to be specifically argumentative but rather informative. I feel qualified to comment on this subject based on my experience in photography being roughly equal to my experience and training in the computer industry. My adventures with personal computers began before many of these self proclaimed digital experts started in school. In other words, at the dawn of the so called digital era.

Here are a couple of the major ones:

Myth 1 – Digital represents a photographic revolution.
Summary: The inclusion of computerized equipment in all aspects of our daily lives has now reached some aspects of photography but hardly qualifies the marketing hype that consumers are being feed that it is a revolution.

Myth 2 – Digital is better than film.
Summary: Better at what?

Myth 3 – Digital makes you more creative.
Summary: Do the clothes make the man? Digital may benefit beginners or not...

Myth 4 – Digital photography offers more creative techniques than film.
Summary: Well there certainly are suddenly more buttons to push and more menus to choose from but does that translate to increased creativite potential?

Myth 5 – Film is dead.
Summary: Not even close, unless you count the cameras for chimpanzees.