An Analog Boy In The Digital World

Today I woke up just in time to witness a great moment in television history, as few people probably were capable of seeing it. You see, at 1:00 PM here, the old, analog television broadcast signal was turned off once and for all. They have been constantly reminding me for weeks, on public service announcements, that if I was prepared I would not ever see any change at all. Nevertheless, change is exactly what I wanted.

As I explained to people that I was not going to get a digital converter box they would look at me like I was some kind of a moron. They would protest against my ignorance. They would say, "But Brandon, it is only like forty dollars for the box."

"But, oh my friends, that is $40 too many."

"But if you use the government rebate it's only like $20."

"So you are telling me that if I spend $20 of my money, then the government will spend $20 of our money so that I can continue to get cooking tips from Rachel Ray? Sorry Rachel Ray. I just have more important things to do. You will be missed."

This conversation would still end with blank stares in my direction. Sometimes a little bit of sympathetic head-shaking in recognition of how I have continued to go further off the deep end yet. But I just don't see any point any more. And so, there I was, at 12:58 PM, watching the KSL news, ready for the rapture.

The news people were vigilant in explaining to me what was about to happen, and reminding me that if I had prepared myself I wouldn't feel a thing, er, I mean notice a thing. I felt like it was judgement day, and I had failed, yet again, to repent my many sins against American commercialism. The reporter was explaining that they were up on top of broadcast point, or something, from where "the signal" transmits. And this old guy was going to be the one to flip the switch and make it official. The signal would be terminated by this particular guy because he had been there back in the 1960's when they had begun transmissions at Broadcast Point. He was saying something like, "In just a few moments....."

The old guy apparently flipped the switch prematurely. I only saw his pointer finger flex ever so slightly, and that was that. Nothing now but static. For some reason I found this to be the funniest thing I have seen in about 7 years. I laughed solidly for about 5 minutes until tears streamed down my face. I can't really explain, even to myself, why it was so humorous. It just was.

I have been thinking a lot lately about how technology, designed to make our lives easier, actually makes our lives worse. I am trying to get a website up and running so that I can attempt to start some sort of photography business, but I feel I am held back by my inability to buy a $3000 digital camera. Anybody who still believes digital photography is cheaper, is either a fool, or delusional. Even if I bought that $3000 camera, I would have about a year if I was lucky before I would have to buy a $5000 camera. This is the way of digital technology.

And so, I am contemplating the pros and cons of starting a business based on film rather than digital. I could very well do this. As a matter of fact, I am one of the last graduates of the SLCC photo department who had the luxury of a proper film-based photo education. People will tell you that you can learn all the same things in digital, and that the final image is all that matters. This is true. But few people have the gumption to learn things in digital. Digital photography is too easy. It allows for laziness. It let's you get away with murder sometimes. But ultimately it is a crutch. And it is always better to know what you are doing, than to let the machine do it for you.

I have seen both sides of the fence. I know film, as well as I know digital photography. Some would not see this necessarily as a strenth in this day and age. But, as the old political quote advises, "Work the difference". Analog rules!