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February 3, 2005
The Digital Revolution?
Much of the photography-related literature these days speaks of the "digital revolution" we are currently experiencing. While there is no question that digital photography has finally moved into the mainstream, I find it difficult to believe that what we are experiencing is the revolution.
For me, the "digital revolution" started on January 20, 1989. Like other news reporting organizations, the Associated Press had started experimenting with digital photography, first by scanning negatives for transmission (replacing the old process of making a print which would be placed on a transmitter) and then with digital cameras. On January 20, the Associated Press used a digital camera to photograph President-elect George Bush immediately after he raised his hand to take the oath of office. According to the reports--which filtered through to all AP offices--the image of Bush taking the oath was transmitted around the world before he finished the oath and put his hand down. After years of having to process film, make prints, attach type-written captions and then transmit the result, being able to eliminate all of that work and transmit the image quickly was revolutionary.
Posted by slewis at February 3, 2005 1:02 PM
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