The urge to create is human; the execution involves technology at some level, especially in photography. The desires to look upon images and to have them at hand are human; that such images exist beyond the unique experience of seeing them so they can be shared and abide involves technology.
The human urges are the primal material and the ones we should always focus on. These have existed in us and with us throughout time, in at least our meager understanding of ourselves through time. The technology has never stopped changing over that time.
Even the former large format gear of your friend represents a very advanced technology; digital capture and AI more so. Both of these fill niches in the changing image needs in a culture, but they are always secondary to the human urges.
Your experience with teaching reveals that. You are right to focus people on the human urges, to create with whatever technology fulfills their purpose in image making, to see how the “hand” affects the image and better fulfills both the urge to create and its subsequent, gratifying, desire to retained.
Your depth of knowledge is amazing. I have a great affinity for historical methods. I recently bought a platinum/palladium/gum print. Unbelievable. Stunning. I have experimented some with platinum/palladium doing the coating and using my buddy’s lab to expose. It seems a lot like alchemy! Your examples are lovely!
I am very impressed with you taking home a classroom full of shoe-boxes. I had a good chuckle!
I look forward to seeing more of your darkroom magic! Great Post!
Took me a while to get around to reading this Andrew, but I totally agree with the sentiment. I think as humans we can double-down on making our art, and not be scared.
The urge to create is human; the execution involves technology at some level, especially in photography. The desires to look upon images and to have them at hand are human; that such images exist beyond the unique experience of seeing them so they can be shared and abide involves technology.
The human urges are the primal material and the ones we should always focus on. These have existed in us and with us throughout time, in at least our meager understanding of ourselves through time. The technology has never stopped changing over that time.
Even the former large format gear of your friend represents a very advanced technology; digital capture and AI more so. Both of these fill niches in the changing image needs in a culture, but they are always secondary to the human urges.
Your experience with teaching reveals that. You are right to focus people on the human urges, to create with whatever technology fulfills their purpose in image making, to see how the “hand” affects the image and better fulfills both the urge to create and its subsequent, gratifying, desire to retained.
Thank you for this article, ypu give us so many wonderful ideas to explore and add our hyman touch to a medium that is getting 100% automated.
Thank you Rachel.
Great article, Sandy. As you know I enjoy makinbg Bromoils but am gathering the impetus to start gum bichromate.
You will love it Tony.
Justin Quinnell is such a tour-de-force. Cheers!
Your depth of knowledge is amazing. I have a great affinity for historical methods. I recently bought a platinum/palladium/gum print. Unbelievable. Stunning. I have experimented some with platinum/palladium doing the coating and using my buddy’s lab to expose. It seems a lot like alchemy! Your examples are lovely!
I am very impressed with you taking home a classroom full of shoe-boxes. I had a good chuckle!
I look forward to seeing more of your darkroom magic! Great Post!
Thank you for taking the time to respond. It is much appreciated.
I agree 100 percent. I’m not even sure my digital pictures even exist.
Took me a while to get around to reading this Andrew, but I totally agree with the sentiment. I think as humans we can double-down on making our art, and not be scared.