Due Process
The photo labs have had it rough for several years now. As digital technology has been more greatly adopted, to the point where very few people are processing film or getting prints, photo labs have had to either cut back on costs, staff or services to survive or close completely. Some have been able to evolve and stay relevant in the digital age, offering high-end printing capability or other services along that line. But many, if not most, have closed.
I am using film for my current Travel project. But instead of taking the exposed film to a higher-end commercial lab, it is being processed at a consumer processor. There is nothing wrong with this arrangement. This particular lab is where I get my snapshots printed and do some simple prints from files. But the turnaround time is much more of an issue. Instead of a few hours or automatically the next morning, same time next day or a couple days is the initial offer.
The world is changing. Nothing remains the same for long in the 21st century.
Comments
I wish that I had caught the bandwagon of photography before the digital age. I have a film camera, but i have never used it. I acquired it with a lens for doing some album artwork for a friend. He had it sitting around collecting dust.
I have thought about using it when I need to do a large print, like a group picture or something. But, since I shoot with a Nikon D200 in RAW format I don't need to switch over to the film camera for large prints.
Unfortunately, I wouldn't know of a place to take my photography if i had to get a large print anyway.
Hopefully, if all goes to plan, I will be able to sell my D200 in November and get my hands on a D300!
Posted by: Will Foster | September 14, 2007 12:07 PM