Digital/Film/Career conundrum

[LeeHoggard]

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So I've finally hit that wall, after being brought up on film, sticking to my guns and spending the past few years attempting to perfect my craft I'm starting to wonder where I'm going with it. I'm a uni student so I'm also at that stage where I'm worrying about jobs and what I'm going to do with my life and due to that I've hit a crossroad.

I've spent my teenage years dreaming of becoming a photographer, I studied it at college and now I'm studying it at university. I'm fully aware its a pretty unstable and risky route to take, devoting academic years to art when most people are getting their degrees in maths and law. Having a degree's not that special nowadays as it is never mind a degree in photography.

So after mulling over the uncertainty of my future I've come to the stage where I'm starting to question film, as much as I love and enjoy it, is it really worth carrying on? Surely if I'm thinking of a job I should be following my peers and be spending all the time I have in the studio finding my feet with digital?

It's film I love and its surrealism that drives me, but is that going to get me a job? Probably not, its digital that brings home the bacon. I've come across enough money to be considering new equipment so should I really be looking at R8s or should I be buying something like a Nikon D7000 and be focusing on studio work?

 

Sorry about that big chunk of hazy thoughts and uncertainty, I feel as though I need some outside input so anything any of you have to add would really mean a lot!

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[jaapv]

Depends on how good you are, where your main interest lies and what your level of expectation is. I think it was Ansel Adams who told aspiring young photographers something like.:" to get a job at a grocery store"

In other words, if you want freedom to practice your art/craft be sure you have independent means and become a top-flight amateur.

Otoh if you have the wish to become a professional at this you will have to decide which direction to take (journalism, wedding, studio, fashion, the list is endless...) and choose your tools accordingly. I mean, a war correspondent with a film Hasselblad is not going to make much of a mark nowadays.

[LeeHoggard]

First of all thank you! So many people just reel off a list of reasons why I either shouldn't bother being a photographer or don't have the ability. Its refreshing to see something supportive and helpful.

I think my best bet is to stay true to film and just have it as practice in my spare time like you suggested, I think it would be far more beneficial to have the freedom and the ability to build on my knowledge and skills.

I think I should probably get on with it and dive in to digital, hopefully find something with a little bit of freedom after I finish uni.

[pgk]

There are two routes to take in photography in my experience (I've freelanced full-time for the last 22 years). You either become a jack-of-all-trades and work as a GP photographer covering a lot of different subjects reasonable. Or you specialise, specialise, specialise. The first route is digitally based for sure. The latter route would bear film only but is much harder and takes a lot longer to establish yourself in - and is subject to the vagaries which plague any specialist - and is as much about the subject matter that inspires you as it is the medium.

[Paul J]

You can do what ever you want if your style and work is in demand. If people want the pictures they'll happily take what ever you give them.

 

It's just finding out how that fits into your life and work and creating something people want.

 

Stick with film but adopt digital for those jobs that are just about the money. You need to do these kinds of jobs in the beginning.

[Jeff S]

To paraphrase what some others have already said: Pick the career and the decision on the best tools will follow. Doesn't mean you can't use other tools for personal, not career based, photography. If you're lucky, the tools will coincide, but not a tragedy if they don't. You wouldn't be the first pro who maintained a body of personal work while professionally shooting.

 

Jeff

[pico]

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If you wish to support yourself with photography then you must accept the fact that so very many persons who pay for your work will have delivery demands that can only feasibly be accomplished with digital cameras.

 

I know only two photographers who support themselves shooting strictly film, but they are both over sixty years-old with a lifetime reputation of independent project work for publication. In other words, they work on speculation, sometimes supported by arts grants. I should add that they are also excellent writers which helps publication a great deal. Oh, and they use strictly medium and large format.

 

The comment by Ansel Adams that one should get a job in a grocery store is a bit ironic considering that he was a trust-fund baby. It is also true that his most famous work was done by photographing the same places over and over, trial-and-error as he went, something he could do because he did not have 'grocery store' responsibilities.

 

It is an awful prospect to start a career as a photographer today, perhaps with wedding work as an exception. You would do well to circulate among those who might foster your work, hire you for assignments even when they are humble assignments at first, with 'at first' being several years or forever, depending upon fate.

 

Work hard to get grants! There are very many available in the US. One of the photographers I referred to above has a resume of grants that includes just about every one available, and some of them two to five times over. Learn to target the funding properly. For example, two photogs I know (including my accidental mentor) received Guggenheim Foundation grants which are considered 'mid-career' boosts, some other grants are for anyone.

 

In my small town we have PhD and Masters earners who are carpenters, construction workers, store clerks, and impoverished artists. None are real photographers. They are, however, happy.

 

So, a trade is a good thing. I wish you the very best of luck.

[Paul J]

reel off a list of reasons why I either shouldn't bother being a photographer or don't have the ability.

 

You'll get a lot of these kind of people in your career. That, I can guarantee. They'll tell you all sorts of things that if you listened to them you'd give up and get no where.

 

When you are determined it makes no difference what people say as you'll know better. The only other thing I can guarantee is that if you don't have that hungry determination then you won't succeed because it takes a lot of clawing up a very large mountain to get there. You don't need an infallible self belief to begin with but believe me you will acquire one along the way. It normally comes when you have found your voice. Your point of view. If film is a part of that then with that decision you are already on your way. Do what you love and do it because you feel it is right. I've come to understand that as the 'homing beacon'. Also when you stick to what you love and are passionate about you are more likely to acquire that determination that is paramount.

 

Your dreams can be your reality if you believe in them and are prepared to work seriously hard and fight for them. Stay true to the dream and the dream will stay true to you.

[pgk]

Your dreams can be your reality if you believe in them and are prepared to work seriously hard and fight for them. Stay true to the dream and the dream will stay true to you.

If the reality doesn't exist then dreaming it up simply won't work I'm afraid. Dreams and hard work don't deliver if there's no market for the product. Sorry.

[Paul J]

If the reality doesn't exist then dreaming it up simply won't work I'm afraid. Dreams and hard work don't deliver if there's no market for the product. Sorry.

 

I work 20 hour days 7 days a week to make my dreams come true. I moved to a capital city in another country and I work hard to ensure my pics are worth buying. Without the dreams I would not be where I am today. I certainly wouldn't have the reason to work the hours it takes either. Lastly, when it really is a dream it doesn't feel like work at all.

[pico]

You'll get a lot of these kind of people in your career. That, I can guarantee. They'll tell you all sorts of things that if you listened to them you'd give up and get no where.

 

When you are determined it makes no difference what people say as you'll know better. seriously hard and fight for them. Stay true to the dream and the dream will stay true to you.

 

Okay, but do not proceed with such with blind vigor that can lead toward narcissism. Do learn to pay attention, with patience and healthy skepticism to some people who can mold your craft, art and career. I recall one outstanding photographer who regularly met with a major museum curator of photography (and print art). The curator offered little criticism, but did pay attention to him and was the first to purchase and show his work. The photographer went on to a most excellent career. OTOH, I, being as profoundly shy as I was, declined the same invitation from the curator's successor. Don't do that.

[Paul J]

Of corse and yes good point well made. Narcisism is a one way trip to mediocrity. But when you truly WANT to be good and get better I don't think narcism even comes into play because when you truly want to get better then you will most definitely find what is lacking as perfection really doesn't exist. You will always find someway to get better. And when you are truly inspired you will also want to change and resonate new things which are are new challenges. Of corse listen to advice of others, but be careful who you listen to also. Listen particularly those you respect (you also need to learn who these people are) but never listen to a plain and simple negative or egotistical doubter if you really don't believe it. You know the difference when you receive it. Listen, but take on what you feel is right and of corse don't be such an ass to think you know better than everyone.

[wda]

Lee, welcome to the forum1

 

Some good advice already given. In the absence of any stated compelling reason for you to work in any specific sector, I would force myself to make a short-list of work areas in which you would both be competent and absorbed (interested). Next I would target typical areas in those fields and get yourself some work attachment experience during your vacations. Treat each as a kind of alternative apprenticeship, but without the formal ties of such a commitment. Then, when your degree course is complete, you should have a better idea of the sector you should be targeting and just might have a promising lead or connection or two. Good Luck!.

[pico]

You will always find someway to get better.

 

I never found the way and probably never will. I live in uncertainty, proceeding with intuition, at best.

[Guest snowboarder]

Sorry, but after all that dream talk, let's come back to the planet earth, shall we?

Being a photographer today is worse than being a cab driver,

everybody can do it, many can do it "almost" as well or better than you can do it.

At least there is a need for the cab drivers and they can earn some money...

I would completely forget about your "dreams" and switch to a direction

where you can use photography as a tool to achieve something

much more useful and valuable.

[Paul J]

I never found the way and probably never will. I live in uncertainty, proceeding with intuition, at best.

 

Pico, DaVinvi said it best. A great work of art isn't ever finished it's merely abandoned.

 

Ive never met anyone who is 100% convinced in their work 100% of the time. And usually when you are you will at some point doubt it.

 

Either too much, or not enough doubt in your own work is never a good thing.

[Paul J]

Sorry, but after all that dream talk, let's come back to the planet earth, shall we?

Being a photographer today is worse than being a cab driver,

everybody can do it, many can do it "almost" as well or better than you can do it.

At least there is a need for the cab drivers and they can earn some money...

I would completely forget about your "dreams" and switch to a direction

where you can use photography as a tool to achieve something

much more useful and valuable.

 

You either have a different notion of what a dream is than I, or sadly, you gave up on yours.

 

A dream, to me, is an aspiration. If you think it is best not to aspire to be great and just do what is easy then my comments are not directed to you.

 

Set dreams/goals and they will come true if you put yourself on the path and keep yourself there despite how much strength that may take and how many knocks you will receive.

[LeeHoggard]

Thank you everyone everything everyone has said has been great.

I think its that age old problem of constantly chasing a dream and never getting anywhere or setting a realistic goal and never reaching a true potential. I think after reading what everyone said its pretty much a gamble. I posted on here because I was really starting to feel the strain of the path I've chosen. I think I'm going to get myself a digital camera and when I'm done with uni I'll try and forge myself a career whilst trying to make my mark with my film photography.

You've all been such a great help, this is a fantastic forum.

One more thing on top of that, would anyone be able to suggest the best plan for getting a digital camera? Its definitly going to have to be a DSLR because composition matters too much to adopt a rangefinder. Do you guys think I should be saving up for a high end full frame or buying a top mid range DSLR?

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[wda]

I would certainly not jump in at the deep end as a first step into digital photography. There are plenty of less expensive options, all capable of professional results in the right hands.

[CalArts 99]

There's no reason to 'switch' from film to digital. Use both in parallel.

 

Consider getting an advanced graduate degree in photography with courses in art history. You can then have the opportunity to teach at the university level. Teaching allows you time off to pursue your photography under your own terms. You earn a decent income with benefits and it's stable work. It also can be extremely rewarding to watch students under your supervision progress and grow both intellectually and creatively.

 

In addition, you'll be constantly surrounded by your peers and always engaged in the dialectic of image making. You can produce and exhibit your work without the constraints of just following trends because you will not be solely dependent on selling the work. In other words, you can indulge yourself in photography with very little compromise. You have the freedom to experiment in photography without any negative consequences to your monetary earnings (i.e., 'intellectual freedom.') Your actual income comes from the time in the classroom. And anything you make from photography outside of the classroom is an extra bonus.

 

Edit: read Pico's post re: getting grants. Once you're in the academy getting grants is not only expected of you, but they are a lot easier to pursue. You'll have both the credentials and also the benefits of your institution behind you (advanced degree, association with an institution, and a growing exhibition record.)