TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

The changing face of photography

ADVERTISEMENT

By Raleigh Whiteman | Highlands Today

Published: May 7, 2009

It was around 12-13 years ago when I was first introduced to the new digital photography phenomenon, which was fast becoming the way photography is mostly done in today's world.

I was the staff photographer for the Sebring News Sun, which at that time was one of the New York Times subsidiary newspapers. The Times had sent a few of their New York people down to Tampa to hold a reporter/photographer seminar and had one of the first generation Nikon digital cameras, which they said was valued around $6,000.

While they had few photos to demonstrate the cameras capabilities, they told us that this type of photography would soon replace the film cameras and darkrooms in all the major newspapers.

Skills become obsolete
The darkroom was my specialty, and the newspaper depended upon me to develop the film and supply them with the necessary black and white prints.

Already at that time, auto exposure/focusing cameras were on the market and just about anyone could take a camera with them and get a satisfactory picture of whatever they were reporting on.

My services as an experienced photographer/darkroom technician were quickly becoming obsolete. I was put to use in a multiple position job of reporter/photographer/columnist and really had a hard time adjusting to the reporter part of the job.

So, as soon as I had enough time to be vested with the New York Times retirement and to qualify for my Social Security, I retired but continued writing a column until another large newspaper company bought out the Times interest in the News Sun and did not want any stringers working part time.

The day after my last column for them, I was contacted by Highlands Today to give you this weekly column in late 1999.

I digress from my point about digital photography.

Developing new skills
My first digital camera was an affordable H/P Photosmart 1.3 megapixel camera, which produced photos which were acceptable for newspaper prints and snapshot color prints.

It was back then about the only thing you could buy under $500.

I bought it on eBay for, if I remember right, around $140. I kept it until I purchased a more sophisticated $300 Sony and have owned about six different types of point-and-shoot pocket size cameras since then.

I now have a full sized Nikon digital, which is as good as the one professionals use and takes wonderful pictures. I still keep a pocket size camera available to carry in my pocket because carrying the larger Nikon is not practical at all times.

Film is now rare
Back in the early '90s we all thought that Kodak and the film industry was doomed but they have adapted more than expected.

Today, when you buy a new camera, it is obsolete a month later with new and better models being introduced.

Kodak must have more than a 100 different cameras on the market and My model Nikon, which originally sold for over $1,300, was bought for $600 when it was two years old. It has been upgraded several times since then and is not one of their best cameras that sell for between $2,000 to $5,000.

I have found that the ability to see what you have taken immediately and only print those that you want does not save us a great deal of money overall. It seems we always run out of the $25 ink cartridge in the middle of our printing session.

Raleigh Whiteman, of Lake Placid, is a contributing writer to Highlands Today. You can reach him on the Internet at rwwhiteman@comcast.net

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT