The 'purist' is one who clings to the traditional methods as being tried and true. No matter the topic, you will have those that cling to this belief and reject the idea of new innovations and technologies. This is especially true in the field of digital photography. Although the processes within film itself and the darkroom have been refined throughout the years to reach higher quality, the advent of digital photography has once again redefined the picture. With the recent advances in digital technology having an impact on photography, 'purists' are finding the fault to be in the manipulation of the image.

Still, no matter where your fundamental belief lies in what is and is not cheating in photography, there are valid reasons to at least blend the digital revolution into your picture taking. Both the portrait studio and the movie makers are turning toward digital technologies to create their film. Both the professional and the amature have a whole new world of possibility opened to their art. The mere reduction in equipment required to capture a digital image is unbelievable in comparison. Shoots are much less involved in a number of ways then the older methods and the results can be dramatically different.

Probably the biggest leap forward in the use of digital photography is that you can do re-shoots quickly, easily and for virtually no cost. If you conduct a portrait session with a customer, you can have the "stills" of the session available almost as soon as the session is done. If a shot was good but not perfect, you can correct it and re-shoot immediately saving huge amounts of time and improving the chances you will get the portfolio you want and that the customer wants on the first session.

If it is the quality that you are worried about, digital photography can deliver. The end results are a photo that is many cases is better than if having used the prior technologies. With the cost saving benefiting both the customer and the photographer, professional photos are more readily sought after now than ever before. This convenience and saving will bring the consumer back more often as they are being provided a quality service at an obtainable price for any budget.

Not only in photography, the digital revolution has brought about radical changes in our home computers. Computers combined with the communication power of the internet, have brought pictures and photography into daily life. We can now send birthday portraits to grandma via e-mail or save 50th anniversary pictures for years to come by burning them to CD or DVD. The customer has a myrid of options in shots for practically no difference in cost and can deliver them to friend and relatives in a way that is easy to view and store.

Regardless of the old methods or the new technology, editing has always had some part in photography. The cropping and filtering that has taken place in the darkroom in the past is now only a simple click away on the computer along with a dazzling choice of other options. Sophisticated software programs such as Photoshop are available in stores that can create an endless variety of effects. But the most important function of this software is that it can easily correct the most simple of mistakes to the more complicated. This saves the integrity of the photograph making it acceptable through digital editing and touchup.

Although the 'purist' might not always agree, their are undeniable benefits to the use of digital photography that would win out even over the old ways. By working smarter, not harder, the digital revolution benefits the photographer in its simplicity, profitability and time involved. For the customer, it too creates a lower cost and provides an instant gratification in that the pictures are available almost instantly in a variety of forms such as e-mail. We can still respect and utilize the 'purist' view in photography, but the fact is undeniable that digital photography is here to stay due with overwhelming support.