When you photographed a subject 20 years ago you had to purchase rolls of film. Each roll would give you about 24 photos.
You didn’t see a preview of what the photograph would look like after you took the photograph. After you used the roll, you would then have to roll the film back into the canister. You would remove it from the camera and either take it to a photo lab or develop the film yourself in a darkroom.
There was either color or black and white film. If you developed the film yourself you needed total blackness because exposing the film to light will destroy it. You also need numerous chemical solutions to bathe the film in. After you develop the film in the darkroom you need an enlarger to create prints from the negatives.
If you took the film to a lab you could take it to a professional lab or a one hour photo lab. The professional lab could take up to 7 days to have the proofs back in hand with the negatives. If you ordered any prints, the prints at a professional lab could take at least a week to get back.
Today you have digital cameras and phones. They are instant and there is no processing time to see what you have photographed. There are no chemicals in the process and you only print what photographs you like.
Printing photographs from digital prints can take minutes or days, depending upon how you want to print them out. You can print them at home from a printer or have a professional photo printed on high quality paper stock. It all depends upon what you want to do.
I have to say that I prefer digital to film. While film is a great way to learn, digital has an instant factor. Digital is much better for your health and the health of the planet. Why you ask? Because the chemicals involved in processing the film and photographs are more harmful to breathe in when using a film camera. Most people dump the chemicals down the drain and into the water after they are used.
Both types of cameras have components that are harmful to the environment, but the digital cameras are not disposed of over and over again, like the chemicals in photography developing of film. Also you can take any amount of photographs with a digital camera and have to purchase numerous rolls of film for your film camera.
Enjoy the world of photography!
