It's Friday, I'm in love...with Film!

Digital imaging is the main focus of PrairieView's diploma program. Students learn the entire digital work-flow from A to Z. But film photography and traditional photo techniques are still an important component of the program. And one of the most frequently asked questions we get is...'why?'

Why do we still teach traditional techniques and old-school film stuff? The answer is simple: because it helps our students become better photographers. 

Sure, everything is digital now. With the right software, an individual musician can sound like a full symphony orchestra and a writer can publish an entire book with just a few keystrokes. But even the most fervent supporter of electronic music will admit that strumming an acoustic guitar is not the same as playing an electric guitar or keyboard. And we all know that reading something written by hand is different than reading the exact same words on a screen. So in much the same way, photographers sometimes use analogue methods to create a look that they cannot get with digital methods.

Of course, it is not a question of which is better. Digital and analogue devices are nothing more than tools designed to help us express our ideas. However, by studying them both we can reach a deeper understanding of our craft and by being able to use both, we become better, more well-rounded artists.

If you'd like to learn more about old-school media including film photography, vinyl records and tapes, check out this cool documentary.