The tactile photography versus the virtual imaging: more a cultural concern than a simply technical one.

 What is the modern characterization of digital photography is more its inherent virtual status if we compare it to the past physical analog-film-print era because in that past period doing photography was an act of tangible material transformation involving physical proprieties that were used to get a chemical reaction on film and paper. Today we are looking at picture through a virtual support that will not retain aftermath any image details of the subject. Yes, there a form of electronic memory involved in this process but even that is not directly observable by the observer.

Many of us may ask if digital photography has not in fact kill the basic idea of photography in its essence, i.e. not only selecting a momentary picture of a specific subject but recording it (and processit) on a material universal support like a film or a printing paper. But it is true that the modern technology can produce such a final result. The point is not really there because although print are still feasible, people today are simply not looking at them or even save them for future references. The demand for such artefacts doesn’t exist anymore for most of us and that can be very preoccupaying especially for preserving testitomnies of our human path and history.

This dramatic technological and cultural turnover is reflected by our instant past-present-future perception that is simply erasing most of the lessons of the past that we can consult, analyze and project on our present and future. We cannot oppose to the technical advancements that have been introduced in digital photography and to the more « democratic » approach of its use. But you can ask yourself if its cheap price to do picture is not false facade from its very ephemere final issue. For example since the last two decades, all my personal photographic production will be certainly be lost and will certainly disappear after my passing (even if it has been temporary preserved through my several hard disks or partly into the few blogs I have maintained). In my sense it is a modern tragedy (not necessarily the lost of my own pictures ;-)) that will have a profound impact in our cultural heritage.

There is no immediate solution to this dilemma except to be concerned about it. how can we create space and resources to preserve and to encourage the photographic testimonies of our generation for the following ones? That is may be the biggest challenge we are facing as a progressive society and civilization.

Photos Daniel M