In photographic circles there's an age-old debate that just won’t go away. A debate between digital and analogue photography, which boils down to the allure of digital convenience and instant gratification, versus the nostalgia and process of analog photography.

It's a debate that has raged on for decades, with proponents on both sides passionately defending their chosen medium. It’s not just about the technicalities or the final image. It seems that, at the heart of the matter, digital photography is considered to be lazy or lacking in process (by those how choose to see it as such) and analogue photography is the only way to truly appreciate and learn the craft of photography.

But if the camera is just a tool (in essence nothing more than a lightproof box) then does it matter whether the recording medium is analogue or digital?

Throughout the history of photography there have been key moments when analog photography became more streamlined and less tedious. 

Plate photography in the mid-1800's quickly moved towards the introduction of rolled film and the Kodak camera in 1888. Half-a-century later one of the most iconic examples of instant photography came with the  introduction of instant film by Polaroid in 1948.

With a Polaroid camera photographers could take a picture and watch it develop before their eyes! It was a game-changer, capturing the imaginations and hearts of millions and cementing Polaroid's place in photographic history.  Even then Polaroid were satisfying a need for viewing sharing an image as quickly as possible; offering a glimpse into the future direction of photography.

Boosted by consumer enthusiasm and demand the late 1980’s saw a proliferation of 35mm point-and-shoot cameras enter the mass market. These cameras were designed to be simple and intuitive, allowing anyone to pick them up and start shooting with ease. They included fancy gimmicks such as auto metering, auto ISO selection, auto frame forwarding and even auto rewind! 

They were affordable and available in many high street stores, not just specialist photography retailers, making photography even more accessible. Most of all they appealed to buyers who valued simplicity and convenience above all else, ushering in a new era of “snap-shots”.

All of these milestones were driven by consumer demand for simplicity and a less tedious process of capturing images.

Ironically it was Kodak who began to offer digital photography backs in the 1990’s, and it was this technological drive that saw their demise. However the tipping point for digital photography came around the start of the 21st century with most of the big players offering a digital camera.

Nowadays smartphones double as cameras and editing apps offer endless possibilities to be unique and creative post-capture should one choose. For this generation of users the appeal of instant gratification is undeniable.

It is often said that the best camera that you have is the one that you have with you, and for most that is primarily going to be a smartphone camera. It is now possible to capture a (or every) moment and share it with the world in a matter of seconds.  

So has the demand for simple, less tedious, and instant photography always been there?

Perhaps photographers are always just waiting for the technology to arrive to meet their ever expectant demands. Consumers have always craved for simpler and faster results. Eastman realised that in the nineteenth century when he offered a postal service for his first film camera and rolls.  The rise of 24-hour photo labs in the latter half of the 20th century followed high street demand for quick and convenient photo processing, allowing photographers to get their prints in a fraction of the time it would take with traditional methods.  Later these 24-hour labs became 1-hour labs which became instant labs.

Digital photography has undoubtedly revolutionised the way we capture and share images. With the click of a button, we can immortalise moments and instantly share them with the world. It's this immediacy that has fuelled the popularity of digital cameras, smartphones, and social media platforms. In a world where speed is king, digital photography reigns supreme, offering instant gratification at the touch of a screen. 

Despite the undeniable convenience of digital photography, there's a palpable nostalgia for the days of analog craftsmanship that has retained a loyal following. For many photographers, there's a certain romance in the process of loading film into a camera, carefully composing a shot, and anticipating the results in a darkroom or through the post. It's a ritual that harkens back to a simpler time, before the digital deluge engulfed us all. Like classic cars and vinyl records, it takes enthusiasts and nostalgia to keep them in the present, and why shouldn’t they. Not every tool has to do every job in the fastest and most efficient manner.

With sales of film cameras experiencing a resurgence in recent years it's obvious that the debate between digital and analog photography is not just about pixels versus film or convenience versus craftsmanship. It's a reflection of our ever-evolving relationship with technology and our lasting desire to capture the world around us in all its beauty and complexity, by whatever means you prefer.

Whether you prefer the instant gratification and convenience of digital, or the timeless allure and pace of analog, one thing is certain: great photography will continue to inspire and move us whatever the medium!