burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

You are very right about the "film evangelists." I have met many.

Change is hard. When people are nervous, they tend to cling to what they know. But there are many economic reasons why schools do not teach digital photography first, and require film photography as a prerequisite. There is the investment in computers, software, infrastructure, training for the instructors... Even if a course requirement is to own a computer and software, the infrastructure and training pieces of it are significant.

The bigger art schools such as SCAD will teach it all.

I agree that history of photography is not an "up front" course. The vast majority of young people don't "grok" (obtain a deep understanding of and perspective for) history of any sort. I suffered through it all in high school and college, and revisited it in my 40s and 50s. It meant a LOT then. I had enough life experience to give it perspective and understand what could be gained from it.

We live in a very digital world. Young people LIVE on their phones, computers, the Internet, and social media. Good or bad, that's the way it is. When I showed my old Nikon FTn to my twins (20 at the time), they wanted to know where the ports were, and where the memory card went! I showed them some old film and how it went through the camera... They were aghast at how "stupid" that was. I pointed Trevor to the TIME-LIFE Library of Photography books in our basement. He scanned a few volumes and said he was glad to live in the 21st Century. Then he showed me an Instagram feed with more interesting images... Sadly, they were far better than the examples in the books.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

When I was young I took a college course on the history of photography and loved it. I was very inspired to see what the great photographers of the past had created. The progress of any art form depends on building on the past.

rkaminer Loc: New York, NY

i learned to take pictures with film and loved the medium, but when digital arrived and became mainstream, film no longer interested me. I do have an interest in film cameras and have the bodies lined up on display. However to grow with the photography state of art, i think it is pointless to learn film as a way to improve digital photography. both methods capture an image but use completely different technology.

I can make a lot of analogies but one comes to mind that I think is appropriate: Learning digital by taking up film photography first, is like learning how to operate an Cruise Ship by learning how to sail a sailboat first; both float on water and get you to the other side. OK, make fun of my comparison, I deserve it. But my point is if you want to move the state of the art of photography, don't go backwards, except as a history lesson.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

If your photos are not good enough, stop shooting film.

Pablo8 Loc: Nottingham UK.

Sounds like someone who NEVER shot film for a living.

fhayes Loc: Madison, Tennessee

HAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
I think I qualify as a fossil!

anotherview Loc: California

Yes.

fhayes Loc: Madison, Tennessee

I shoot film! 35mm, 120mm and 4X5, I also have a full size darkroom in my garage.
Black and white photographs just feel and look better than digital to me, especially after the elbow grease has been generously applied!
Yes, I have a few digital cameras...

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

That's the only way I would go back to film, if I wanted to set up a B&W darkroom again. I agree that B&W silver darkroom prints have a quality digital prints just can't match. And scanning film you are always going to lose a little quality, besides the extra cost. Back in the day I tried color darkroom work, and I didn't like it. So now I only do color digital, as the control of the color is much superior than shooting color film.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

—Bob

Tim Stapp Loc: Mid Mitten

What format? I shoot (besides digital) 135, 120 (6x7) and 4x5. I (used to have, and will again soon) have a complete darkroom set up, complete with JOBO film processor.

So: Yes, I still shoot film for my own enjoyment. Anything "for hire' I shoot digital. I did however, have one bride that requested that I shoot at least one formal on 4x5 film. That was fun getting past the security at the county courthouse for her shotgun wedding.

OzWizard

My Nikon F5, is loaded and ready. I shoot film regularly. I have mine developed and put on a flash drive. So I can mix film and current software processing together.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

You might consider subscribing to the Film Photography section at: https://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-136-1.html

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

--Bob

Beenthere

...and I am returning to vinyl recordings, clicks, pops, surface noise et all. Plus I'm gonna buy a $4,000 machine to clean them, not to mention a $15,000 turntable to play them on. Incidentally, I've also been asked to find another place to live. No one understands how far I will go to preserve ancient technology. Anyone got some extra space.., I can bring my enlarger? :-)