Part One: Shattering Assumptions
One of the most hotly debated subjects in the field of paranormal photography is the legitimacy of digital photography verses that of traditional film photography. As time passes, the arguments against digital photography are quickly becoming antiquated.
In all fairness, digital photography experienced an incredibly shaky start. Early digital cameras were not economic or enjoyable. They were complicated devices that were very expensive. The photographs produced had poor resolution and the picture quality was nonexistent. Photographs often came out grainy, muddled, and printed just as poorly. It is easy to see why die-hard traditionalists reached the conclusion that digital photography was simply inferior.
Despite its lacking origins, digital photography entered a new age with the 21st Century. Cameras became more ergonomic, economic, and photographers began noticing extreme differences in usability and functionality. Digital photography is quickly growing in use and it is easy to see why.
Many camera companies, such as Kodak and Epson, offer systems where the digital camera comes with its own small printer solely for photographs. Most notable perhaps is the Kodak ?Easyshare? system where the camera sits directly atop its own printer. This obliterates the argument that the prints are never the same as professionally processed photography. Anyone can travel to their local store and watch their traditional film pictures being printed as they wait.
The storage capacity of a digital camera is another quality that seems to be pushing film cameras farther from consumers. With 35mm cameras, 27 photographs is an impressive number. With a good digital camera and a memory card, that capacity jumps to 350+. That is over three-hundred-and-fifty photographs you can take, and store, on the same card.
Another positive quality of the digital camera is the control. A photographer need never hand their pictures over, or drop them in a box, and wait as strangers see your pictures before they do. Many parents have been shocked to find that the photographs of their children, they looked forward to seeing, were thrown away because the developer felt there was something inappropriate about them. Paranormal photographers can fall into the same category. If the person developing your pictures feels that any paranormal activities are simply photography flaws, they may dispose of them. Any images that have orbs, haze, or other legitimate presences may be regarded as trash. Digital photography returns the camera user to a personal level that before, only Polaroid photographs have allowed.
With many of the convenient advances in digital photography came the display. A user can instantly delete any bad photographs and never waste money on developing pictures they just don?t like. If several memory cards are owned, a photographer can literally keep an indefinite number of photographs. Many camera users simply delete photos from the card as soon as they?re uploaded on the computer. The flash is often questioned by skeptics in digital photography, but this is another outmoded debate. The flash on a standard 35mm camera reaches ten feet, on average, from the camera itself. The flash on a contemporary digital camera is precisely the same.
The initial digital format is another plus. The typical life span of a compact disc is two hundred fifty years. This is accounting for proper storage and use. One CD can store hundreds of photographs and permanently preserves the images you choose. Printed photographs have a very short life span and often require delicate care to preserve them. They can?t be shared as quickly as a digital image, handled improperly, or placed in sunlight for any length of time.
To add to the long list of conveniences, photographers also have the option of using graphic software with digital images. Instead of scanning and creating another copy of a photograph that might be of lesser quality, you can work directly with the image. Programs, such as Microsoft?s Picture Manager, allow you to dramatically alter the lighting and contrast of your photograph. This can quickly eliminate any false hope that the reflection from a passing car is an orb.
It is clear that digital photography is yet another breakthrough that consumers will benefit immensely from. It has been criticized and scoffed at; however, the same sentiments were directed towards telephones, television, and the home computer when they were developed.
If you decide to purchase a digital camera, there are some thoughts to keep in mind.
1. Your camera is an investment. It is like your computer, your television, and any other electronic device. You will get what you pay for. If you opt for an economic camera, you run the risk that it will not last. The camera you purchase should last you for years. It should not be regarded as ?disposable.?
A good, reliable, quality digital camera will usually start around one hundred dollars. This is not something you will want to upgrade every time a new model is released. Find a camera you like, that suits your needs, and stick with it.
2. Do not go overboard. If you aren?t accustomed to digital photography, or complicated cameras, don?t buy one that is difficult to operate. You should get a camera to match your personal photography experience. If you go overboard with an incredibly expensive camera, you should make it a point to both study the materials that come with it and look for tutorials online.
If you would prefer to just purchase a model with excellent resolution, skip the bells-and-whistles, and look for a simple, sleek model with at least 5 MP (megapixels) resolution. More expensive cameras today are equipped to provide 8.0 or more, but these are expensive and, frankly, far more than a typical photographer will need. These models are much more for professionals.
3. Get a good memory card. You should not go ?cheap? with a memory card, either. It should be something you intend to use as long as you have the camera. A good size for the standard digital camera is 512 MB.
4. Watch the battery requirements. Know what you camera will need before you purchase it. If possible, get compatible rechargeable batteries. Duracell offers a battery recharge system, suitable for most digital cameras, for around thirty bucks. Extra batteries for this system will usually run around ten dollars for four. Most digital cameras use two ?AA? batteries so you are assured of always having a charged set. It is not recommended to purchase cameras that demand ?lithium only,? batteries. These are usually expensive and, some consumers have actually experienced legal issues because lithium batteries were being used, in their region, to aid in the manufacturing of illegal drugs.
While the latter quality seems like a freakish event, lithium batters are often just too expensive for avid photographers.
With proper maintenance and care for your camera, and its accessories, it will be something that will last you for years. As delicate and fragile as standard 35mm cameras are, many that were purchased twenty years ago are still in use.
Digital cameras do capture detail and the finer points today. It seems as technology develops, many of these cameras are surpassing traditional film in providing a legitimate image. Switching from a traditional camera to a digital one doesn?t have to be any more troubling than the switch from a corded telephone to a cellular one.
