Digital realism, as coined in the context of personal videography and photography, represents a deliberate pushback against the hyper-polished, algorithm-driven aesthetics that dominate modern digital media.

Example: Digital Realism on 𝕏

At its core, it’s a philosophy that embraces the imperfections of analog-era tools. Think vintage camcorders like the Sony Handycam—to create footage that feels unfiltered and intimately tied to human memory. Rather than striving for crystal-clear, over-saturated perfection, digital realism prioritises raw presence: the subtle grain, the natural colour shifts, the unscripted moments that evoke how we actually recall experiences, not how an app filter might idealise them.