I developed my passion for photography 12 years ago (in high school).  Back then film was really the only way to do photography (for an amateur, at least).  Digital was very new, very expensive, and I can even remember thinking at one point “I’ll never switch to digital!”.  I was in love with the darkroom … I even had one set-up in my parent’s basement!

Then, about three years ago, I decided to try out digital.  I’m not sure why, I guess it just looked like fun.  Then I found iStockphoto, and my knowledge about photography and Photoshop skyrocketed!  Aside from my high-school classes and some OJT at a photo lab, I’m an entirely self-taught photographer and Photoshop user.

This semester I decided to use my GI Bill to take some photography classes, just for fun.  I’m in a B&W (darkroom) class, portrait, documentary, and digital class.  The first day I walked back into the lab was so nostalgic!  The strong smell of the chemicals … so many wonderful memories.  After using my trusty Pentax K1000 for the first time in about ten years, processing film, and making a few prints I am starting to remember and relive that passion, the same passion I started with.  I love film photography and always will.

It’s really unfortunate that there are many people who have never experienced the basics of B&W darkroom photography.  It’s also very unfortunate that some people don’t want to have anything to do with digital photography!  In my opinion film and digital are very different, but both are still photography and both have their place.  It’s kind of the difference between oil paintings and watercolor paintings … both are still paintings, and both are still art.  I will always have a true love for both film and digital, and I’m very glad that I am able to have the opportunity to rediscover photography, again.

I developed my passion for photography 12 years ago (in high school).  Back then film was really the only way to do photography (for an amateur, at least).  Digital was very new, very expensive, and I can even remember thinking at one point “I’ll never switch to digital!”.  I was in love with the darkroom … I even had one set-up in my parent’s basement!

Then, about three years ago, I decided to try out digital.  I’m not sure why, I guess it just looked like fun.  Then I found iStockphoto, and my knowledge about photography and Photoshop skyrocketed!  Aside from my high-school classes and some OJT at a photo lab, I’m an entirely self-taught photographer and Photoshop user.

This semester I decided to use my GI Bill to take some photography classes, just for fun.  I’m in a B&W (darkroom) class, portrait, documentary, and digital class.  The first day I walked back into the lab was so nostalgic!  The strong smell of the chemicals … so many wonderful memories.  After using my trusty Pentax K1000 for the first time in about ten years, processing film, and making a few prints I am starting to remember and relive that passion, the same passion I started with.  I love film photography and always will.

It’s really unfortunate that there are many people who have never experienced the basics of B&W darkroom photography.  It’s also very unfortunate that some people don’t want to have anything to do with digital photography!  In my opinion film and digital are very different, but both are still photography and both have their place.  It’s kind of the difference between oil paintings and watercolor paintings … both are still paintings, and both are still art.  I will always have a true love for both film and digital, and I’m very glad that I am able to have the opportunity to rediscover photography, again.

Nicole S. Young is a photographer, published author, and educator specializing in Lightroom, Photoshop, and photography. She is best known for her books on food photography but is widely versed in various photographic genres, including landscape, nature, stock, travel, and lifestyle.

No Comments

  1. Scott Smith October 1, 2008 at 8:57 pm - Reply

    Great writeup, my start with photography was with digital. Having never been in a darkroom I often wonder what it would be like. I hope to experience that one of these days.

  2. chloe October 2, 2008 at 12:50 am - Reply

    that’s a really great photo! is this photoshopped? x

  3. Liana October 2, 2008 at 8:38 am - Reply

    Awesome image! Wonderful post!

    I wish I had learned on film, but I do love digital. I feel like I’d be a better photographer to really know how images are burned to film. Don’t know if burn is correct. :) You know. You have to know what is going to happen when you hit the shutter with film. Digital allows me to be a little lazy, and I have missed some potentially great shots for being okay with just snapping several images at different settings hoping one comes out. I’m learning, though. :)

  4. nicolesy October 2, 2008 at 8:44 am - Reply

    @chloe No, the photo wasn’t Photoshopped. It was printed in the darkroom last week and scanned into my computer. I did lightly adjust the brightness/contrast of the image just so it looked better on screen, but there was no manipulation done. The camera I used had a light-leak, so I just compensated in the darkroom by dodging/burning it to balance it a bit.

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