Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/04/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]George, I think the numbers work very differently for 35mm shooters and medium and large format shooters. Even at $20 a sheet for a large format shot including processing you might only shoot two polaroids and two shots. Somewhat different in medium format but still involving pulling a few roids to get in the zone. With 35mm you tended to overshoot and bracket so film and processing cost quite a bit. You also hinted at another side which is you shoot more things as the incremental cost is essentially free. So, while I was in LV I shot about 700 frames call it 19 rolls of film. In color that would be about $285. In the digital world it cost me about $80 for the prints so far. Twenty weeks like that and the M8 will be essentially paid for. So far I am using the same computer and have added a fairly large hard drive for temporary storage. Software does cost but the reality is that working in the digital world is better than printing in the dark. Why? Because I can print something out and look at it for a while. Unlike in the dark where you have elaborate notes about burn/dodge multiple dilutions of developers and time spent with a brush and bleach I can add a layer mask and change something on a whim and in four minutes look at a dry print. Plus, if a friend likes an image it is nothing to print another one exactly like the first. You know this. But, as a fellow old fart, I also remember the joy of using an old familiar tool in hand and working with it to create something. For example, I was going to let my oldest brother have a cabinet makers set of knives my grandfather used but realize that it would be very good therapy to not use a power router but to instead figure out how to use three different knives to create the edge I need to put on some doors I need to make. As to the value of photography, like always the true artist and visionary will do just fine. Just because your peers have 10,000 frames of Johnny/Martinette kicking the soccer ball doesn'nt mean you don't have the only image of Mom and little brother looking on with that certain look in their eye. Pity the poor screenwriters trying to come up with a truly original story. Peace. On 4/3/07, Lottermoser George <imagist3@mac.com> wrote: > > I know of what you speak.