A Dying Art Form

Some of our most iconic, memorable and powerful images came from a black and white film strip that someone took the time and hard work to get out just right. The photographers went through the time to perfect their images and bring them to life. As we continue to innovate and include technology in photography we lose an important piece of the old art. We push toward point and click, which is no problem for certain occasions in my opinion but I think it isn't as great of an art as black and white photography.

Technology is getting the outcome faster and cheaper which diminishes the purpose of taking the time to take the pictures. Using film is a process but the work in the dark room can get amazing images and makes you closer, or a part of your work. When you put the paper in the baths you can literally see it pop on to it and see what you've created. There is no screen to see the “image” that you've taken but a work of art.

When you look at black and white images compared to color or digital photos you miss a lot when they are digital. Black and white gives you more feeling and grain to the image and helps tell a story. You catch more detail and emotion in the people or setting that you captured. The overall mood and impact you feel when looking at it is increased. You feel more a part of what the image shows and you can never get that by looking at a screen after you take a picture with a digital camera. Color does not help enhance the picture yet it distracts and give it less depth. It flattens the image visually and in meaning.

Take for instance the image of the sailor kissing the girl after the war was over. The moment is not helped by color but only taken in with less significance.

Why have I discussed this topic today? Well recently it saddened me to find out that my former high school is losing its film photography class and switching to digital, like many other schools because of budget cuts. A class that I took part in and I really enjoyed is being lost and wont be experienced by other students. This is the last year that they will have the class. They were one of the final schools in the district to have it. Students need the opportunity to have the class and be able to produce great art, because if they don't get into it when they're young then we all may miss out on great future art. It is important to keep it living; can you imagine if these imagines here were not around?