dmcphoto wrote:
There is definitely a resurgence in the use of film, especially by younger photographers. I think it started roughly two years ago.
It started a lot earlier than two years ago, and it was a combination of the availability of very cheap film gear (my sons were buying excellent older 35mm SLRs and rangefinders for $50) and an interest on the part of a narrow subset of that age group in all things "retro." (This included vinyl records, film, certain kinds of apparel and personal appearance, and other things.)
Two further points. At the time that this striking interest in the old equipment and processes was occurring among this small group, the rest of the age group was enthusiastically embracing digital stuff — this is, of course, the generation of the selfie. Secondly, this trend is already beginning to wind down among the members of that age cohort and their interest in old processes isn't growing and is more likely diminishing.
There will always be an interest in old processes and materials, and not just in photography. Some people are passionate about very old cars. Some actually build multi-track tape studios. There are musicians who specialize in using period instruments. I'm glad there are people who do these things.
There is plenty of evidence of the decline of film and film chemicals and equipment, and there has been for years. In the last year, for example, a Fujifilm spokesperson was asked about the size of their film business relative to what it had been. His response was that it was about 1%, but that they felt some obligation to keep it going. One could also count the number of companies that were stalwarts in the film photography business that either went out of business, left the business, or transformed themselves into companies working with digital photography media.
I keep hearing that film is growing in a substantial way. I'd love for those who feel/hope that this is true to give us some evidence other than anecdotes about the film market as a whole.
Film is and was a wonderful medium. Beautiful work has been done with it for years and beautiful work is still done that way. But none of that changes the obvious trajectory of its usage and market. To insist on the opposite without evidence is to engage in gaslighting.
In answer to the thread's question — "could you go back to film?" — the answer is that people probably could if they had to, but few would choose to do so at this point. The evidence is in the market for equipment, the equipment that most good photographers are using, the quality of the work they produce.
dmcphoto wrote:
There is definitely a resurgence in the use of film, especially by younger photographers. I think it started roughly two years ago.
It started a lot earlier than two years ago, and it was a combination of the availability of very cheap film gear (my sons were buying excellent older 35mm SLRs and rangefinders for $50) and an interest on the part of a narrow subset of that age group in all things "retro." (This included vinyl records, film, certain kinds of apparel and personal appearance, and other things.)
Two further points. At the time that this striking interest in the old equipment and processes was occurring among this small group, the rest of the age group was enthusiastically embracing digital stuff — this is, of course, the generation of the selfie. Secondly, this trend is already beginning to wind down among the members of that age cohort and their interest in old processes isn't growing and is more likely diminishing.
There will always be an interest in old processes and materials, and not just in photography. Some people are passionate about very old cars. Some actually build multi-track tape studios. There are musicians who specialize in using period instruments. I'm glad there are people who do these things.
There is plenty of evidence of the decline of film and film chemicals and equipment, and there has been for years. In the last year, for example, a Fujifilm spokesperson was asked about the size of their film business relative to what it had been. His response was that it was about 1%, but that they felt some obligation to keep it going. One could also count the number of companies that were stalwarts in the film photography business that either went out of business, left the business, or transformed themselves into companies working with digital photography media.
I keep hearing that film is growing in a substantial way. I'd love for those who feel/hope that this is true to give us some evidence other than anecdotes about the film market as a whole.
Film is and was a wonderful medium. Beautiful work has been done with it for years and beautiful work is still done that way. But none of that changes the obvious trajectory of its usage and market. To insist on the opposite without evidence is to engage in gaslighting.
In answer to the thread's question — "could you go back to film?" — the answer is that people probably could if they had to, but few would choose to do so at this point. The market is evidence.
dmcphoto wrote:
There is definitely a resurgence in the use of film, especially by younger photographers. I think it started roughly two years ago.
It started a lot earlier than two years ago, and it was a combination of the availability of very cheap film gear (my sons were buying excellent older 35mm SLRs and rangefinders for $50) and an interest on the part of a narrow subset of that age group in all things "retro." (This included vinyl records, film, certain kinds of apparel and personal appearance, and other things.)
Two further points. At the time that this striking interest in the old equipment and processes was occurring among this small group, the rest of the age group was enthusiastically embracing digital stuff — this is, of course, the generation of the selfie. Secondly, this trend is already beginning to wind down among the members of that age cohort and their interest in old processes isn't growing and is more likely diminishing.
There will always be an interest in old processes and materials, and not just in photography. Some people are passionate about very old cars. Some actually build multi-track tape studios. There are musicians who specialize in using period instruments. I'm glad there are people who do these things.
There is plenty of evidence of the decline of film and film chemicals and equipment, and there has been for years. In the last year, for example, a Fujifilm spokesperson was asked about the size of their film business relative to what it had been. His response was that it was about 1%, but that they felt some obligation to keep it going. One could also count the number of companies that were stalwarts in the film photography business that either went out of business, left the business, or transformed themselves into companies working with digital photography media.
I keep hearing that film is growing in a substantial way. I'd love for those who feel/hope that this is true to give us some evidence other than anecdotes about the film market as a whole.
Film is and was a wonderful medium. Beautiful work has been done with it for years and beautiful work is still done that way. But none of that changes the obvious trajectory of its usage and market. To insist on the opposite without evidence is to engage in gaslighting.
dmcphoto wrote:
There is definitely a resurgence in the use of film, especially by younger photographers. I think it started roughly two years ago.
It started a lot earlier than two years ago, and it was a combination of the availability of very cheap film gear (my sons were buying excellent older 35mm SLRs and rangefinders for $50) and an interest on the part of a narrow subset of that age group in all things "retro." (This included vinyl records, film, certain kinds of apparel and personal appearance, and other things.)
Two further points. At the time that this striking interest in the old equipment and processes was occurring among this small group, the rest of the age group was enthusiastically embracing digital stuff — this is, of course, the generation of the selfie. Secondly, this trend is already beginning to wind down among the members of that age cohort and their interest in old processes isn't growing and is more likely diminishing.
There will always be an interest in old processes and materials, and not just in photography. Some people are passionate about very old cars. Some actually build multi-track tape studios. There are musicians who specialize in using period instruments. I'm glad there are people who do these things.
Dan
Dec 23, 2016 at 10:33 AM
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