What Is a Conventional Photographer?

A conventional photographer uses film rather than digital processes.

A conventional photographer is one who works with a camera that requires film and conventional developing and printing processes. With the advent and widespread use of digital photographic processes, traditional cameras and conventional photography have become less common in mainstream use. Professional photographers, however, continue to use these methods, and many students studying photography and art are required to learn conventional photographic processes.

Background

Prior to the popularization of digital processes, photography was not separated into two distinct subgroups. Film cameras and darkroom processing have been used by professional photographers since the 1850s. Cameras have been widely available for consumer use since the first half of the 20th Century.

Differences Between Digital and Conventional Photography

Conventional photographers must use film to take pictures. Film rolls typically provide 24 to 36 frames. These film rolls must be developed and printed in a laboratory to produce pictures. The process can take hours, depending on the type of photo. Digital cameras do not require film. Pictures can be stored on a compact flash card, or CF card, which lets photographers transfer the digital picture files from the camera to a computer for editing.

Conventional Photography Processes

Conventional photographers are typically trained in darkroom processes that let them develop and print pictures from film. In a traditional darkroom process, film must be developed in chemicals. After developing, the negatives are inserted into an enlarger, and the photographer prints the photographs onto photo paper. This allows the photographer to make custom prints on his choice of photo paper. Conventional photographs can also be printed by companies that offer developing and printing services done by machine. The photographer keeps the photo negatives, allowing him to make future prints as desired.

Advantages of Conventional Photography

Despite the popularization of digital photography, many professional photographers continue to use conventional cameras and printing processes. Wedding photographers, for example, often prefer to take portraits with conventional cameras. That's because darkroom film development lets them control the contrast and quality of prints. Hand printing photographs also lets photographers produce one-of-a-kind images that can not be created through digital processes.

References

• Vivid Light Photography: Digital and the Wildlife Photographer
• Nikon Digital: White Balance -- Are You RGB Savvy
• Photographytips.com: Film: The Photographers Canvas
• Photographytips.com: The Darkroom: For Black and White Film Processing and Printing
• Digitalcamhistory.com: 1995
• Photo.net: History of Photography Timeline