THE PAST AND THE FUTURE

Jacqueline Dean

"Jacqueline Dean joins the Federal Board of the ACMP as the NSW representative on The Collection Committee.

She has a great concern that as photographers we often become overly preoccupied with gadgetry and technique, when in reality the best gadget we have is our brain.

Here's what she has to say on the subject."

Even fifty years ago, photographers would have wept with joy at the range and quality of cameras, lenses, films, chemicals, papers and, not forgetting, computers that are now available.

There is no doubt that photographers of that period, shooting on 10" x 8" format, could not technically achieve results that can be obtained on roll film today.

The advances have been quite incredible yet, when one looks at the work of photographers of 50 years ago, so much is astonishingly good -- even by today's standards.

The reality is that photographers of yesteryear were professionals, craftsmen and often competent chemists who experimented with the materials available to them.

As photographers, we should always remember that our aim is to capture images, whether on film or digitally.

Don't lets get bogged down with equipment.

Concentrate on the brief.

Whilst I appreciate there are a number of photographers in the industry today who are competent, or even expert, in the use of digital technology, the vast majority of us are on a steep learning curve.

In the past, most of us would have sub-contracted specialist work to a pro-lab or a pre-press house without a second thought. The idea of investing substantial sums for equipment and learning the skills necessary to use it had little appeal. Most of us were quite happy to have work carried out by someone who is an expert in their field, as we are in ours.

Our justification being that our clients were paying for our skill and expertise behind the camera.

At the present time there seems to be an enormous push by companies involved with digital imaging and the photographic resellers to market equipment to photographers on the basis that if you don't get in now, you'll be left behind. I don't question the value of shooting catalogue and still life digitally - the advantages are obvious - but for many assignments, digital is inappropriate.

When one looks at the investment necessary for a full digital system, from 35 mm to 5'x4", the amount of money is quite daunting --particularly when you add to all this the various options that are being promoted to us (scanners, etc.). On top of this, changes in technology are so rapid, that a new model seems to become available before the old one is out of the box.

At this point in time, I prefer to be behind a camera than in front of a computer screen and leave the manipulation, retouching, etc., to a sub-contractor. This is the best option for my business at the present.

There has to be a period when things will stabilise and, at the end of the day, individual choices are there for us all.

Jacqueline Dean, Federal Board ACMP

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