It has been six months now, and I have had plenty of time to make the adjustment to new technology. Almost every day someone asks me about my preference; i.e. “Which do you prefer – film or digital.”
First up, let me say I really hate that question. Not just that I get it 20 times a day, but because people expect a simple answer when there really isn’t one. I am not going to try to answer it here, and I certainly don’t want to get into a big online debate. What I would like to do is tell you the one great benefit; the big plus that makes me happy I made the switch.
Here it is. My digital camera has reconnected me with photography. In recent years, I found myself making up excuses not to take photos. Excuses like – Maybe it won’t sell – Maybe it won’t work – I already have a photo of those mountains, do I really need another one? What it really came down to was cost. With the recession starting to unfold, I was always conscious of the cost of another roll of film and developing. I have such a large collection of photos, I just couldn’t justify spending money on photos I really didn’t need.
That wasn’t such a bad thing. It led me to work through my archives and discover hundreds of photos I had never printed before. But I missed the thrill of the chase; the never-ending pursuit of the perfect composition and a new challenge.
So here I am in the digital world, and I am taking photos again with my Pentax K20D. Taking photos with unlimited freedom. If I have even a half-baked idea, I give it a shot, sometimes surprising myself with an unexpected gem. I am watching the skies for the potential in an approaching sunset, and looking forward to every full moon. I am not afraid of paying for a photo that doesn’t sell, and as a result I am now selling photos that (in the past) I might never have taken.
Here are a couple of new shots from my recent outings. I hope you like them. Don’t forget to check out my website sometime: www.naturesimage.com.au
Tags: benefits, digital photography, dslr, nature photography, pentax K20d, photography, tips
