We all live in consumer capitalism, where big (and small)
corporation by ads make our needs. As photographers we are targeted by the corporation
which produces all sorts of photographic equipment. The pace of new products is
higher and higher every year, but in the photographic markets with
digitalisation is this trend even higher. Corporations make our needs of
photographic equipment, by minor tweaks of existing stuff and advertising them
as revolutionary change that you must have and that it would change our picture
making from amateur to professional. When we fell for it (and we all in some
sort of another do), then we are hooked by self propelling chain of consumer
hell. Did your pictures, with your brand new revolutionary camera, look the
same as they did with your old camera? Then you need the super new lens(es). Still
not happy? Maybe you can improve them with new tripod, or some other accessory!
Wait, your computer can not process the huge amount the new huge raw files of
your brand new camera? Maybe is there an answer on the computer market for this
(think fruit), you can get also a new version of your favorite software for
editing your picture. And then you need the new printer to print bigger prints.
Are still not happy with your pictures? Maybe the next year new revolutionary
camera with missing features will improve your work! You get the point.
So, we get stockpiling “old” unused still capable equipment
on our shelves, worthless for the used market in the case of the “old” used digital
cameras. But what about analogue photographers? There are no new revolutionary
products every year. The old cameras are those who are more interesting. We don’t
leave them to collect dust; we repair them, lubricate and take them on
photographic trips time to time. Just the right thing to get off the hook of
modern consumer world... But if you need the new revolutionary scanner, you are
on again!
Matjaž
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