Technology Smechnology

(ack! Finally I'm posting this - I've been working on it for days! Stupid job...)

Don’t get me wrong, I love technology as much as the next person, maybe more (though probably not as much as Mike). Without technology, things that I love like my iPod, our HDTV, computers, email, blogging, etc. would not be around. I do, however, like a nice dose of low definition unfocused-ness for artistic purposes every once in a while. I believe there is a time and place for both things.

For example:

FILM! Sometimes I miss film. I love our digital cameras, especially the SLR, but there is something about film. I think more about the pictures I am taking when I shoot film. It is not just about “let’s take as many pictures as possible and then a few of them will be great”. It is more about “let’s really think about the pictures we are taking” before the shutter is ever pressed. In addition, the more expensive the processing, the more I think about the picture.

I love to shoot film and then get photo CDs. It is a perfect blending of the qualities of film with the convenience of digital pictures. Plus I like having prints (which you get along with the CDs); is the next generation going to dig through mom and dad’s old hard drives to find pictures rather than boxes and albums? I wonder about that quite frequently.



Photo shot with my Grandfather's film SLR in Sabino Canyon. See, cross-generational hand-down of cameras is possible with film!

Lomographic and Polaroid cameras also add to the versatility and uniqueness of film. I am a big fan of these mediums (especially post-wedding, now that we own a ton of novelty lomos). Also, check out coquinete's photo stream for some dreamy polaroid pics.

Also, I think my digital camcorder is great. But I think Super 8 movies have incredible potential. Maybe it’s the nostalgic aspect, the interesting colors, or quick jumps between scenes, but something about it is infinitely appealing to me. (see my post on Super 8 wedding videos for an example).

Some people do not understand my need to use old technology. For example, I recently asked my Dad for our family’s super 8. This is how our email conversation went:

Jen - Do you still have your old 8mm camera?

Bob - Are we talking about the movie (film) camera? I think that it is still around and I think it was a "Super 8". I also have the 8 mm digital.

Jen - Digital? pshaw... what kind of fun would that be if I didn't have to send the reel out for developing?
Can I borrow the Super 8?

Bob - Sure, the projector has an ill but I think there are places that still fix them. I just want to be sure you want the film camera?

Jen - Thanks.
I want the old film camera, yes. I'm going low-definition, silent, etc. I am probably, however, going to send it out to be put on DVD for easy editing so I might not need the projector.

(Well you can’t expect me to splice now can you? I don’t have the patience for that!)

I hope that people are thinking more nowadays about the meshing of old and new. Our society is rocketing forward technologically and in the era where high resolution is king, I hope that you all can still appreciate the beauty and artistry of a little imperfection.