I am sorry. So very sorry.
As some of you know, I have recently returned from a trip to the Galapagos with my wife. The place is surreal. Walking on active volcanoes, going face to face with sea lions and iguanas and watching a hawk munch on a heron…it all adds up to a very unique and exciting experience.
But that is not what I am apologizing for.
I shot with a digital camera for almost three straight weeks and I LOVED it (insert collective scream here). Most of you are probably asking “why, Jim, why did you do this? why did you abandon us?” All I can think to say is that I had to. I had no choice. I had to see if I still cared about digital photography and if I could still utilize it as a tool…. and boy, did I! I loved the sound of the shutter, the feel of the camera in my hand and the satisfaction I got knowing that I could shoot a bird in flight. Why am I writing this, you may ask? Well, I am feeling this incredible sense of guilt, I feel like I need to come clean to all of you and admit that I did this horrible (but satisfying) thing. It is kinda like the fat kid cheating on the diet his mom put him on by sneaking chocolate and chips into his room late at night or like the young teenage kid taking his first look at a nudie mag. I knew eventually I would get caught, so I had to admit it.
If there is any saving grace, it is this: I did bring my 35mm Holga and a 120 Holga…and I did shoot film there. I have to admit, it was quite funny seeing the look on people’s faces when I walked up to a tortoise and took his picture on a bright pink Holga. I know that you may be thinking that is a small measure of satisfaction, but I have another admission: I took my SX-70, too. It was pretty awesome to open the camera up on the islands and pick and choose where and what I was going to shoot. 16 shots later I had 16 keepers.
So, before you judge me, know that my abandonment was not totally complete and that I will return to my roots! Also, please remember that at heart, I am a photographer and will try digital from time to time since it does have it’s uses. One last thing: please try and forgive me.
I love you all.
Comments
Odd.
The fact that there is this need to project the ‘us vs. them’ thing and actually write a whole article about it.
Shoot. Enjoy. Repeat.
I don’t care what you shoot with.
On another note: Who buys $120 worth of film at a time? A: I did yesterday.
There’s no need to apologise Jim !
My relationship with photography it’s quite simple and less radical. I don’t understand people saying that hate digital photography, same way some people hate mp3 and only listen to vinyl… why ? I’m grateful I’m part of generation that can experiment both analogue/digital and take advantage of what’s best for a particular situation.
I’d say apologize…;)
hey, you can be creative with both
(JUST DON*T LEAVE US!!!) haha
I would have done the exact same thing. You don’t spend a ton of money on a trip like that and not use the best equipment you can. Hope you had fun!!!!!
You don’t take a trip like that and NOT take a digital. Besides, a photog that limits his tools is like a cook using only one spice.