Hosermage
Active member
Hi, a genuine question from someone of the digital age. For the past year or so, I've read and browsed endless threads and images from various forums, and there seems to be a large group of people who seemed mildly obsessed on comparing digital files to film and process their digital files to achieve certain film look, especially BW. Why?
There are many photographers whom I've come to admire, and I can definitely recognize their signatures in the look of their photos, but I don't think it's because their PP replicate certain film type. Or, is it? I've also seen many, many film scans online and I can't say that I'm enamored with any specific film look. In a way, I wish I can have a clear goal of a "look" when I start PP, so I can tell when I'm done! As it is now, I just experiment with a lot of different things, go back and forth, until I'm somewhat satisfied or decides to give up. Am I just subconsciously looking for a certain film look? Do you process an image until it's exactly perfect, or just good enough to stop?
During several conversations on the Monochrom, I see that people would start with some SEP film profiles, but eventually many have concluded that instead of trying to mimic a certain BW film look, the MM can really start a new standard for digital BW look. Got me thinking... if we fast forward time by a few generations to a reality where most people don't even know what "Tri-X" is, what look will people chase after?
I apologize in advance for this newbie type of question, just really looking for different point of views.
There are many photographers whom I've come to admire, and I can definitely recognize their signatures in the look of their photos, but I don't think it's because their PP replicate certain film type. Or, is it? I've also seen many, many film scans online and I can't say that I'm enamored with any specific film look. In a way, I wish I can have a clear goal of a "look" when I start PP, so I can tell when I'm done! As it is now, I just experiment with a lot of different things, go back and forth, until I'm somewhat satisfied or decides to give up. Am I just subconsciously looking for a certain film look? Do you process an image until it's exactly perfect, or just good enough to stop?
During several conversations on the Monochrom, I see that people would start with some SEP film profiles, but eventually many have concluded that instead of trying to mimic a certain BW film look, the MM can really start a new standard for digital BW look. Got me thinking... if we fast forward time by a few generations to a reality where most people don't even know what "Tri-X" is, what look will people chase after?
I apologize in advance for this newbie type of question, just really looking for different point of views.