On 2017-04-20 23:08:23 +0000, Bill W said:

On Thu, 20 Apr 2017 17:16:50 -0400, Tony Cooper
wrote:

On Thu, 20 Apr 2017 12:42:58 -0700, Bill W
wrote:
Snip


Well, I don't. I started with film, and had the requisite bathroom
darkroom. The only thing I didn't do was develop the film. Going
through the film steps, which you and Tony enjoyed, drove me up the
wall. I hated every bit of it, and nearly gave up on photography. But
more to the point, I disagree completely that the film steps are
*artistically* different from the digital steps. You are doing the
same thing, only with one you are using toxic chemicals, awkwardly
working slowly with trial and error, whereas with the other, you are
working towards identical artistic goals, but working much more
quickly. And the more quickly you can work, the more time you can
spend getting things exactly as you want them. Better yet, when you
fumble around with digital, all you waste is some electron flow and
some time, as opposed to some pricey chemicals and paper.

I respect those who work with film, it's hard. But I still don't think
there is any remaining legitimate reason for it, except for personal
entertainment, or sense of achievement.

(Laughing!) What else *is* there for the non-professional
photographer?

Unless we are getting paid to take photographs, the only reason we do
so is as a form of entertainment and to gain a sense of achievement.

Only? Not true. Documenting family memories, or rare, unexpected
events are just a couple of other reasons.

There is so much more with whatever trip a brainstorm takes you.

And, is either of those not a legitimate reason to pursue the hobby?
When it comes to hobby activities, anything that a person does because
they enjoy doing it or gain a sense of achievement from it is
legitimate.

No one can argue with that, and no one is.

Yup!

That last sentence of yours in the penultimate paragraph is a hoot!
Pricy chemicals and paper?

Pretty much everyone reading this has several thousand dollars
invested in digital camera kit and software. And, some like the Duck,
are contemplating spending a couple of thou more upgrading and adding
to what they already have. And, he's burning a lot of gas and time
driving out to take snapshots of a field of wildflowers.

Like I mentioned in another post, I don't have to buy a new SD card
every 36 photos, and new processing software for every batch of
photos.

There's not a non-professional here who can justify the time and
expense of photography - film or digital - if you consider what
doesn't need to be done to not be a "legitimate" expenditure of money
or time.

Agreed.

Since when do we need a "reason" to pursue a hobby from which we
derive pleasure? Since when is someone else's way of pursuing a hobby
not legitimate?

Not one person is arguing that film is not a legitimate pursuit. It's
the claims of the superiority of film output that we are arguing
about.

For the last few years I have been using emulation software with my
Photoshop and Lightroom workflow, because I wanted to achieve something
more than a clean, sharp (are you listening Peter?) clinical digital
image. I got much of what I was seeking with the now free NIK Color
Efex Pro4, Analog Efex Pro2, and Silver Efex Pro2. I have found that
the best of this type of software is Alien Skin ExposureX2. It is to me
very much the same as dabbling in the darkroom in days of yore. All
without the romance and chemical smell of the wet darkroom. The results
are indistinguishable from what I produced with Tri-X 50 years ago.

My latest adventure with digital photographic "film" nostalgia has been
with the Fujifilm in-camera film emulations, especially their B&W Acros
emulation. The bottom line is, I am enjoying myself. I am not alone in
enjoying the Fujifilm in-camera and SOOC emulations. Each of these
links are to related articles in the same blog:
http://www.hendriximages.com/blog/2017/1/29/fuji-acros-amazing-jpegs-with-film-like-grain
http://www.hendriximages.com/blog/2017/3/19/forget-raw-and-go-acros-the-definitive-review
http://www.hendriximages.com/blog/2017/4/2/three-intuitive-settings-that-will-make-your-fuji-xt2-disappear

A

hobby is not supposed to be the most efficient way to get something
done. It's supposed to be the most enjoyable way to get it done. Only
a soulless cretin would say "i also wasn't talking about some fuzzy
unquantifiable 'experience'" when it is the experience that is what a
hobby is all about.

Again, no argument.


--
Regards,

Savageduck