P3D Future of slide/negative film, etc.

[GBMars@xxxxxxx]

Well I've finally caught up on reading the P3D digests (OK, so I skipped a
few), so
now I can add some comments without being too terribly out of date.

Film will be with us for quite a while yet.  As others noted, digital imaging
may be
great for a lot of applications, but might never really match some qualities
of film.
On the other hand, digital imaging is about to explode as CMOS imagers
replace
CCDs.  These things will be dirt cheap and quickly begin the inevitable
dominance
of digital photography, which means that film (and every thing else involved
in
traditional photo processes) will become much more expensive.  I could be
wrong:
I recently bought a new pick-up and stylus for my turntable (you remember
those
ancient black disks with grooves - "records") for a fraction of the price I
paid 20
years ago!  Anyway, while the masses are tickled by these low-res digital
images
I (and presumably many others - hopefully some of you) am totally unimpressed
with the current quality level of digital images.

Which, sort of, leads to my second topic:  What's good about 3D vs "flat"
photography?  I'm just beginning in 3D and honestly don't know why it appeals
to
me.  But I'm not going to stop taking 2D shots, just as I didn't stop making
B&W
images when I finally got color equipment.  That's an interesting comparison:
 I
still like B&W because the absence of color makes the image more abstract and
disconnected from everyday life.  It becomes something to look at and study
rather than just a record of a moment.  Other times, color is useful for
appeal or
to set a certain atmosphere.  In the same way, stereo can add to the visual
experience.  But so far, I haven't learned how to use it effectively.

Greg Marshall


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