Digital Feels Like a Cheat Code

Jun 14

Today gave me one of those quiet eye-openers.

There’s a festival happening here in Lillestrøm, streets buzzing with people, everything from musicians and politicians to charities lining the walkways. I brought the Leica D-Lux 8 with me, figuring it was a good time to snap a few photos.

Now, I usually have nothing but good things to say about this little camera. It nails the colors, especially on bright, sunny days. But today felt… different. I didn’t shoot much. I wasn’t really feeling it. And when I got home to transfer the images, something felt off.

This was my first time in a while shooting digital. And honestly? It felt like using a cheat code. There was no tension, no waiting, no mystery. Just instant previews, followed by scrolling through a handful of film-emulating presets to try to fake a certain mood.

And sure, some of the photos turned out just fine. But they didn’t feel real. Not to me.

I think a lot of photographers wrestle with this, walking the tightrope between digital convenience and analog soul. We cling to the old ways not just out of nostalgia, but because of how they make us feel. There’s joy in the effort. Magic in the unknown.

And sometimes, even when the new tool does the job better on paper, it just doesn't light the same fire inside.
Strange, isn’t it?