May 25
1315-34
Analog image #1
May 25
1307-35c
Analog image #2
May 25

Music and Film

I am a photographer who also is a music nut.  So when May 14th's "Flagstaff Live" newspaper had it's cover article as "Vinyl Nation: The unlikely rebirth of analog in a digital world", I was very curious.  I frequently choose film over digital for my photography, and I was interested to see if analog music was really making a comeback, hoping that film photography (which is the visual world's version of analog) might do the same some day.  

It seems there is a small but increasing number of music lovers who are opting to buy vinyl LPs instead of CDs or digital downloads.  Ryan Heinsius' article mentioned above quotes Ben Gersten (who owns an independent record store) as saying "When the Decemberists come out, I sell 2 CDs and 12 records.  I sit there and I laugh because 5 years ago it would have been the opposite."  

Newer artists such as Neko Case, Wilco, Ryan Adams, My Morning Jacket, Pearl Jam, and the Flaming Lips do a vinyl pressing of virtually every new release of theirs.  

I have never fully embraced digital music or digital photography, as they strived for perfection but lacked the warmth, subtlety, and soulfulness I find so appealing.    For advertising and commercial photography, the precision of digital is a benefit.  For weddings and portraits, in my opinion, soulfulness, warmth, and subtlety are more to my liking.  Above this article are some of my film images from a recent Hotel Valley Ho wedding with an analog feel.  Please click onto them (or any other images in previous blog posts) and they will enlarge, showing the beautiful tonal range and some of the subtleties.

All the best to you,

Harrison

 

Mar 27

"Good Enough" Photography

I believe we have been taken in by the magic of digital capture, where we can take a seemingly endless number of pictures.  As we take one image, we can't wait to take the next one.  After all, there is no cost to us, or so we think.  

As someone who photographs with film frequently, I can say that on the occasions when I photograph digitally, my "eye" tends to get a bit lazy.  I become confident that at least one of these many digitally captured images will be fabulous.   After all, I am taking 3 times as many images as when I use film.  When I see the results, I notice there are many, many "good enough" images, but there are few awesome ones.  With film, every time I trip the shutter, it matters.  There is a financial cost, and my eye becomes more disciplined.  I also tend to think a bit more before taking the photo.

There is an excellent article about Julius Shulman, the iconic mid-century architectural photographer, where he explains "good enough" photography (http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2009/03/julius_shulman.html).  He states "We're living in a world where everything is 'good enough.' It's not good anymore. And for me that means a reduction in quality."  What do you think

Dec 07

"Cooking" with Film

 

It 's really hard for me to totally understand why I love film so much.  This post and future ones will hopefully prove to be somewhat cathartic to me, as by writing my thoughts I hope to unlock and understand my own motivations.  

Film certainly does not have better sharpness, color saturation, or overall quality than digital capture. When I want those things, I rely on my digital cameras.  The old argument that film is better than digital has (thankfully) been put to rest.  

For over 3 years, at least once a day I would ask myself if I was becoming a "dinosaur" by sticking with film as much as I do.  Don't get me wrong.  I photograph the majority of my commercial photography assignments with an excellent digital camera.  However, great photographs remain exactly that, regardless of what medium was used to capture them.  As I have told any of the photographers I have enjoyed coaching over the years, great photos are created here (in the mind), and the camera is just a vehicle used to produce that unique vision of yours.  

Virtually all pro photographers are totally digital in their work assignments.  It is interesting to me that when these same photographers do personal work or fine art, they often choose a Holga film camera, which costs only about $30.  They know the "funk factor" this cheap camera adds onto their vision, but the vision hasn't changed.  Nevertheless, it must be somewhat exciting to see the little unknown "twist" the camera and it's film provide.  Maybe that is why I love to use film(s) when the opportunity presents itself.  Each film has its own character, a barely tangible quality that is like one of many ingredients used to produce a savory stew.  One film many be a grainy Black & White, used to support a certain mood the photographer is envisioning.  Another film has a subtle level of contrast that has "staying power". In our age of everything "instant", I also seem to enjoy the process of waiting for the results.  It reminds me of the "slow food movement", which my wife Michelle and I support.

Virtually all films are made by 2 publicly owned large corporations (Kodak and Fuji). These corporations are under constant pressure from shareholders to show increasing profits every 3 months.  Selling film has shown DECREASING profitability for a few years now.  The least profitable films will be discontinued, one by one.  Certain films that were preferred by pros in the past, such as Type 55 Positive/Negative sheet film is now defunct.  Also, B&W infrared is no longer made.   It is unlikely these will ever be available again.  This is very, very sad to a film lover like me.   Many photographer friends of mine were unaware of this when I told them.  Some were also saddened, and some were not.

 

In any case, I feel like I am rambling, and this is a topic I will continue to explore.  It is a process.  There will be more posts, and if this subject has some emotional meaning for you, I would love to hear from you.

 

All the best to you,

Harrison