In the news with have the launch of the Nikon D4 and the rumbles of what looks like the end of that once mighty photo leviathan called Kodak. Both stories reflect how quickly the photo industry can change, It wasn’t that long ago that Nikon was seen as lagging some way behind Canon in the digital technology stakes. Now Nikon seem to have the edge.

Kodak’s demise is sad though. I’ve never been a huge user of Kodak products, but for a time i was a dedicated fan of their TMAX range of products – i still (though for how much longer is anyone’s guess) use their TMAX developer. I certainly won’t shrug off the demise of a company that has helped me take photographs over the years. Some others seem less bothered. Photography, for me at least, does not just mean digital imaging.

One of the more popular photography blogs had a post that enthused about the ‘end of the film age‘. Personally i believe that film will last for some time to come, but like in many industry sectors, only a small number of film manufacturing companies will survive or remain in that sector. In the film sector, companies like Fuji and Ilford may remain the only big players, especially if Kodak does go down. I do hope that film remains available. Film offers the user a different picture taking experience to digital. That should be encouraged. If the Impossible Project can make Polaroid film sales viable – surely 35mm, 120 and 5×4 film can have a place too.

Final thought: The decline of our high street photography shops can be linked to online competition, but a massive factor was the switch to digital. The market for photographic materials just vanished. After buying a camera and a memory card, why go back to the store? A lens? A bag maybe. Not regular items you’d go and purchase often though.

Digital changed the business model for the camera store on the high street, as much as it changed the photography industry itself. We have gained much from the digital imaging revolution, but that gain comes at a price. Those that can’t keep up will fall. Kodak, sadly appears to be one of those falling.

Looking back towards Blakeney – Norfolk, UK

I’ve already started to formulate some plans for next year. After all, a year seems like a long time, but it soon goes, so I’m just thinking about where to take things next year. 2011, I think, will be a year in which I want to push my multimedia ideas to the next level - video, audio and photography. Heck yeah, that sounds like fun and a challenge too. I’ve started experimenting around with video recently, shooting and editing material I’ve done via my iPhone, however I really want to move to a much higher standard of work by this time next year. I think that the return to shooting in Norfolk next year will be a great place for developing a large-scale piece of multimedia work.

A couple of items needed to help me along. First is a compact digital HD camcorder, and second is software to produce professional photography slide shows with audio…. with the addition of video too.  The camcorder will also be used for video podcasting, something I want to commence doing later this year. My only worry is the potential pitfalls of shooting video and still images at the same time. It rarely works well – both need different mindsets. I always remember a Larry Burrows (one of my photo heroes) remark that he would shoot black & white OR colour…. but NEVER both at the same time. 

Ways of looking, ways of seeing  and the visual interpretation of a scene – it depend to some degree on the medium you use and sometimes it’s just better to focus on one, than try to do several at the same time.

The harbour wall at Scarborough, North Yorkshire, UK

The fun has started. I’ve started looking into getting a new computer for later this year. My old Dell is still going strong but it needs to be replaced with a  more modern machine. At the moment, i’m looking at either getting a Mac or sticking with Dell who, regardless of what Mac fans say, do build decent PCs. A computer is a tool and as long as it does what it should, is reliable and the price is right, i have no problem with using either Mac or PC. I can use both. A computer snob i ain’t. My only issue with Apple is cost. Yes their computers are superb, but the prices significantly reflect that too.  It would also mean changing Photoshop, Nikon and Capture One software over to Mac. More cost. More to think about. Sometimes i just get really fed up with the seemingly constant upgrading process that’s part of this modern technological world.

One photoblog I’ve been following for a over a year now really does get my blood boiling. I’m not going to mention the blog or who it’s by, but i will say that the writing on this blog is entertaining, witty and often contains useful photographic observations. The writer even seems a likeable, friendly type, but it’s the photography that really, REALLY annoys me. Bland, boring images, yep hugely DULL photographs that i’d rather set fire to than blog, taken with some of the finest pieces of camera equipment, money can buy. Looking at the dull images makes you instantly realise that great cameras don’t necessarily make great photographers.

I have a theory that a good photographer can shoot a great image using virtually any type of camera, from a cheap secondhand Zenith 35mm, to a mobile phone camera, to a top of the range Leica M8.2. Is it envy for the camera the blogger is using? Well maybe partly, but it just seems such a waste of a well engineered camera. A great camera should compliment the user and help you take great images, and if those images are lacking something then you can’t blame your tools. It’s not tools, it’s technique. I suppose, like all art and beauty,  a good photograph is just a matter of opinion and all in the eye of the beholder. Still seems a waste though. I’m going to keep an eye on the blog and see whether any improvements in image quality and shooting technique occur… I’m not holding my breathe.