Re: [APML] (It doesn't have to be) Goodbye (Film vs. CCD flap)

["Anna L. Scott & Harry L. Juday" <juday1@gte.net>]

I am a newcomer to this list and have been reading in amazement the
controversy on this issue.    So I have to bring up an issue that appears to
have been ignored by the protaginists.

In the 1970's, I did a lot of photography, selling my pictures at art shows
and galleries.   I shot transparencies and printed on Cibachrome (before we
knew it was bad stuff).

In those days there were still some groups who said that "Photography" was
not "ART", (never mind that the best museums in the world thought it could
be), and would not allow photographs at their shows.

There are probably persons out there now who believe that a "photograph" is
an image taken on film, developed and printed on photographic paper using an
enlarger (or contact) system.

They might contend that once you scan the neg. or print electronically and
manipulate the colors, adjust/manipulate the features, etc. with various
computer programs, and print the image on an electronic printer, you no
longer have a pure "photograph", but you have an image created by a mix of
methods.     And that is a logical arguement.

But so what?    It gives a better result!

If the objective is to create the best "images" possible, and the person
producing them wants to manipulate them to his/her particular tastes, that
should be their perogative.

The images I have seen so far (on my computer screen, no prints in hand)
are mostly fabulous.   And the combined film/ccd photographs/images show
what can be done today to take advantage of the best features of each.

Also, the information that is being shared is great, and I have learned a
lot just by reading the messages.

It seems to me that the APML has the best of all worlds going for it and to
restrict/limit it will only degrade the quality of what appears to be the
goal, getting the best possible results.

I would venture that unless you are doing "photography" the old fashioned
way and wet printing your pictures, you are not really doing "pure
photography" anyway.   And that method will not give the wonderful results
that I have been seeing on the APML.

And if you are still doing it the "pure photographic" way, how do you share
them?    By postal mailing pictures to each other?

I also read that some of your noted astronomical "photographers" are
considering adding or going to CCD imaging in the future.   I would not
think you would want to lose them from this list.

Please remove the intolerance of systems from this forum, there is enough
intolerance in the world today everywhere else.

Harry L. Juday
< juday1@gte.net >


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