Demystifying Digital?
by Anton
Marcu Photography
Digital photography has come of age in the last few years. The technology and the accompanying digital knowledge base have advanced to a point where it has equaled and surpassed film in terms of quality and flexibility. This has enabled photographers to make an easier transition from film to digital. For example our workflow is 100% digital, from image capture and storage to album design and photo printing!
Without going into a discussion about megapixels, resolution or file sizes, we would like to describe how the digital process has challenged our photographic approach and general workflow! The digital revolution has indeed been a revolution for us, it has been overwhelmingly liberating form an artistic and creative point of view and it has opened up a range of possibilities in terms of album design and custom print making!
The general workflow has been streamlined from the moment the shutter button has been pressed to the point of the final album delivery. Furthermore, the level of artistic and quality control that we have gained over the entire process has been unprecedented. To start with, we no longer need to bring and track 2 or 3 kinds of film in order to accommodate different light levels and contrast situations; professional digital cameras allow the photographer to handle very different shooting situations by changing a few in-camera settings. Additionally, all image characteristics are much more consistent across the 300 to 700 images that are shot at a typical wedding.
The greatest benefit for us has been the ability experiment with different shooting styles, to seek different angles and perspectives and to try to achieve a fresh and distinctive look. The instant feedback inherent in the digital process has enabled us to explore, learn and adapt our style in order to achieve exactly the results we envision. This can also be applied to the custom photo making process where we are free to explore different printing methods and styles. Starting with an original image we can crop it, optimize the overall brightness and contrast and make additional copies in sepia tone or black and white. Another option is to completely avoid the standard uniform look in album design where every page consists of an 8x10 colour print. Every page can have a unique custom layout and design that sets your album apart from everyone else. Digital technology makes this process much more easier and affordable.
However, all this digital technology and incredible level of choice and flexibility need not be overwhelming. Remember, this is just another tool in the hands of the experienced artist and photographer that ultimately benefits you as a clients. It enables you to craft your wedding story in a timeless way that can be enjoyed and treasured for many years!