[Leica] film vs digital : Back to the future old HDR image

[tlianza at comcast.net (tl)]

Hi to all, 

I took a couple days during the xmas-new year break to update the firmware
of all of my digital cameras and update all my imaging software.  I was also
going through some images and it brought back some fond memories 

http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/tomlianza/HDR+image/

This image was shot on Kodak Portra film a few years(7?)back in Singapore.
I remember being overwhelmed by the heat, the humidity, and the dynamic
range of the scene.  I metered the highlight and shadow using my spot meter
mode on my Nikon F100.  From the bright street to the shadow behind the foot
was over 12 stops.  I metered the white shirt on the musician and knew that
I would be about 3 stops over exposed on the street (which was painted white
or had white tile, you are not allowed to wear shoes in the temple).  When I
got home the photographic print required a lot of work in the darkroom (this
was one of the last times I used the darkroom)and the musician was still
basically in the dark..  I took the image and scanned it using my new Nikon
scanner (at the time)(LS2000?) and after a few minutes in Photoshop I was
able to get a print out on the cannon printer I used at the time.  This
reinforced my belief that the darkroom was basically dead for printing.  The
fine art matte paper was the proverbial "nail in the coffin".  Using the
film/digital workflow, getting an image with this dynamic range is
straightforward.  I have made the image particularly flat so that you can
see the shadow detail.  The print is much better visually.  

I'll continue to use negative film in my travels as well as digital.  If I
am using the DMR I pack an R6 body.  If I am shooting Nikon, I take my F100.
They usually remain unused, unless I run into a real Wide dynamic range
image.  Film has never let me down, but it sometimes takes a little work.  

I also did a review of all my digital cameras and sadly, the M8 must go.
Unlike the DMR, which really holds its own against the Nikon D3, the M8
doesn't make the cut.  The real downfall is in low light performance in
mixed lighting , where the M should shine. If I need a digital M image, I'll
use my RD-1 and take the hit on mega pixels.  I've made 11X17 from full
frame RD-1 images and they hold up quite well.  I'll still shoot negatives
with the rest of the M family that I have.  

Have a great year and keep shooting...
Tom Lianza