I have this in my mind for a little while. Move to digital, to buy a Nikon
D300 and go that way. I was waiting all these years for some camera which
will give me similar quality as I do now with film and my Nikon F100. What
I was waiting actually was three four things:
- Nikon handling like F100
- Amount and quality of data at least as 2700dpi scan from bw
negative
- Price which will not kill me
- Full frame (FX) sensor
Nikon D300 will, as the price drops a bit satisfy first three options. And
frankly, D3 is too big and too expensive to even consider.
I have some plans about atelier, studio work all in black and white, to go
bit more abstract and less documentary.
I am discussing all this with my second I and recently I have exchange few
email with
Dirk Rösler. He went
from film to digital and back. All these are of course experience and views
of somebody else, not mine own. I feel I know Dirk to certain extend which
can help me to adjust his opinions to my needs. I am publishing some note
and pieces from our email conversation for you as well to see what all is
in my our minds. Maybe you have your own experience. I would love to read
your view.
For me decision for next few days is following. Borrow the Nikon D300 and
try it for few days and to see if working with it, is what I am expecting
or not.
---
The following pieces may sound bit without a context, but all is about me
moving to digital world and answers from Dirk.
richo:
Seems like you heading in the opposite direction in time. You asked me in
your last email about my motivation to go digital. Well to be honest the
primary reason is the time. I have not that much time. And when I have idea
I like to execute it right away and mainly to see results right the way
(that doesn't meat on back LCD, it means to come home and see images the
same day so I can adjust my idea and try something else) I shoot really a
lot if I am in mood and I like to experiment. I like to have feedback
sooner than later. I can see it on my last wood & water project which I
shoot partly in 35mm and partly in 6x6 films. If I would come home and
could see images right away I would go next morning and re-shoot some or
try something else and create far better series than I have now at
www.richard-vanek.eu/ww
dirk:
I see. Well, I understand the motivation because I have been there myself
- and back as you say. I have sold most digital except the GRD because for
me the theory you describe just did not work. I ended up shooting more but
ending up with less. It was very frustrating. Photograph happen in the head
and in the heart, and these places take time, feeling and thought. There
are no shortcuts and what makes rationally perfect sense (no more
developing and scanning) somehow did not work in reality. For me anyway.
Add to that the fact that digital black and white just does not look as
good and you are down a path where you did not want to go. Yes, it would be
nice to get things done faster and perhaps better, but quality needs time.
This is also my reasoning for the large format. The effort to make one
photo is amazing. You need to concentrate on the essential stuff, the good
subject matters.
I am not saying that your plan is wrong or will not work. All I am saying
is that it did not work for me as digital comes with some other aspects
that you buy yourself into and that needs very careful consideration.
richo:
Dirk, this is maybe only my thought, I need to prove it in practice. I
have plan to borrow digital camera from friend, if he agrees, and try it
on small weekend project.
Idea is that one day I make series of shot and at evening I go through
them to see if there is anything useful, anything in the way I expected.
I will not work on them just to see how idea from the day turns out. And
next day I can develop different way or just continue if I am satisfied.
dirk:
Might be worth trying, but like world cup you need to play
several matches to see which is the best team, not just one.
dirk:
Remember also that digital is making all of photography more homogenous
and more similar in appearance. There are a limited number
of sensors and software out there and everyone is essentially using
the same. Unlike with film where the film itself, choice if
developer and your technique create an individual result. Maybe you
are not bothered by it. My own feeling is however that a strong point
of your photos is that they are very personal and this is a property
that in my opinion should be protected a best as possible.
I see some interesting new angles emerge in your work (a bit darker
in mood too, which i like) and I think they might be related to your
way of working incl. the use if film.
richo:
This is important, and I was thinking about it. I work on each image I
put on web on some more on some less. If I have idea what I want to get
from image I work quite long until I get it. I believe that a lot can be
done using the software and approach my specific way. That is also why I
do not buy any special software I generally using only one pwp (Picture
Window Pro)
