Why I Miss Film Photography

I love digital photography. It's great being able to immediately review your photos and it's very cool how you can edit them with a computer. I also like how I can take hundreds of pictures on a trip and not have to worry about buying another roll of film. But I've noticed that there are two byproducts of using film that I can't experience through digital photography (and I'm not referring to any issues of film vs. digital quality).

The Film Canisters: These plastic cases had so many uses after you'd used your roll of film. These ranged from organizing lose objects like screws to holding liquids like salad dressing in a lunch you'd take to work. Yes, I know that it's a good thing for the environment that we're not producing so many of these plastic containers. But their uses were only limited by your imagination.

The Last Shots: Imagine that you've taken your trip and you have a couple of remaining shots left on your roll of film. You could process the film without using them but often I'd try to think of some creative ways to use those final shots. As a result I have a very random collection of photos which cover such things as the view outside an in flight airplane, wacky shots of my family or my house, and action shots of my Star Wars action figures. Now with digital photography, there really isn't a, "last shot," that you need to use up. I miss that chance to think creatively.

It's not unusual to have a new process that is easier and better than the old one. But think if there is some byproduct of the old process that people might miss and see if there's a way to duplicate it with the new one.

This May Seem Silly, But....

Recently I had a chance to tour the Columbus Museum of Art. I give the facility high marks for a diverse collection, accessible parking, and amusing exhibits for children.

During my visit, I took some snapshots of some exhibits that impressed me. Later I stopped taking pictures when I was told by a docent that there was no photography allowed. As I view visiting a museum to visiting someone's home, I had no problem with following the "house rules."

Later I realized that no where in the museum did I see any signs or receive any instructions regarding photography. In my travels, I've become well accustomed to looking for a sign of a camera with the international "no" symbol. This got me to thinking that often we don't tell someone not to do something until after they've done it.

Let's take things a bit further because sometimes we tell people not to do something without telling them why they shouldn't. You see a sign that says, "Stay off the grass." While this may accomplish its purpose, it creates a bit of an adversarial situation. Suddenly, stepping on the grass is an act of defiance against rules or "the Man." However our attitudes and understanding of a sign will increase if we understand why we are asked to follow the directions. Instead of "Stay off the grass," perhaps we should say, "Stay off the grass so we all can enjoy this beautiful lawn." This way everyone has a share of ownership in the benefit of following the rules.

Rules + understanding = success.