Does It Really Matter?
I just finished reading that piece about how we should stop making digital look like film and my first thought was: does it really matter? Photography has never been about following strict rules. It’s always been about experimenting, bending the tools, and trying to make them fit our vision.
People forget that this isn’t new. I remember when digital medium format was insanely expensive and most of us couldn’t even dream of affording one. So what did photographers do? They came up with the Brenizer Method.
For those who don’t know, the Brenizer Method is a panorama technique where you shoot lots of images with a fast lens and stitch them together. The result is a super shallow depth of field combined with a wide field of view, basically mimicking the look of medium format without needing the actual gear. It was a workaround, a hack, a way of saying “I can’t afford a Phase One, but I can still create that vibe.”
And you know what? Nobody complained that it was fake. It was clever, it was creative, and it gave photographers access to a look they otherwise couldn’t have. Isn’t that exactly what’s happening now with film simulations? People are chasing a look they love, using the tools they have.
Whether it’s presets, grain overlays, faded tones, or Brenizer-style composites, it’s all part of the same story: photographers trying to express something. Sometimes that expression leans toward sharp, clean digital detail. Other times, it leans toward the warmth and imperfection of film. Both are valid.
What doesn’t make sense to me is trying to gatekeep one side of it. Saying “stop making digital look like film” is like saying “stop painting with brushes that mimic charcoal.” Who cares? If it gets you to the image you want, it’s the right tool.
At the end of the day no one is awarding prizes for the purest workflow. The only thing that matters is whether the photo connects with someone and whether it makes you feel something. Everything else is just seasoning. Some like their food hot and spicy, others want it mild. Both meals still feed you.
So let people experiment. Let them chase nostalgia. Let them sharpen things to death. The beauty of photography is that it’s big enough to hold all of it.
Link to Petapixel article:https://petapixel.com/2025/09/07/stop-making-digital-look-like-film/
