Hey Wesley! Just wanted to let you know I have recently started analog photography, and from these newsletters I learn more and more. Im always super stoked to see your updates :) From a fellow California High Schooler
As an old ex professional photographer form the 70s and 80s who used to bulk load all his 35mm film kudos to you for passing on the craft.
I do, however, question the need for analog photography when digital goes far beyond he capabilities of analog and can emulate any analog lok and feel.
Maybe you can devote a post to telling us more about why you choose to shoot analog if you have not done so yet?
Hi Ian, in a nutshell: I love shooting digital and analog both, but analog has a special place in my heart due to the calming effect, the intentional (and necessary) slowing down of the act of seeing and photographing. In other words it's much more about the feeling the process of shooting analog imparts than it is purely about the end result. A metaphor: if I want to get to the other side of town I can take the car or I can ride my bike. Both get me there, the car (aka digital) will even get me there faster, but I love riding my bike for the way it makes me feel while I am moving. There are some trips where I cannot justify biking and will always have to take the car (too far, weather is terrible, etc.) but when I can I will choose riding my bike.
Thanks Wesley, interesting analogy. I don’t see myself slowing down or speeding up the process, depending on media, when creating an image. My mental process is normally one of creating the final result in my mind before I actually even lift the camera to my eye and click the shutter. But then I do find it becomes an ongoing what if after that.
However, I do find that the larger the format, e.gl 120, 4x5 or 8x10 definitely slows down the process considerably.
In another way altogether shooting analog speeds me up tremendously and that is by preventing me from overshooting. I barely have to spend any time selecting and editing images compared to if I’d do the same shoot digital because instead of several hundred photos I might have 72 photos.
Hey Wesley! Just wanted to let you know I have recently started analog photography, and from these newsletters I learn more and more. Im always super stoked to see your updates :) From a fellow California High Schooler
Thanks
Jill
Jill
That’s wonderful Jill! Congrats on starting young and I am certain we’ll all hear more from you and your work in the future!
As an old ex professional photographer form the 70s and 80s who used to bulk load all his 35mm film kudos to you for passing on the craft.
I do, however, question the need for analog photography when digital goes far beyond he capabilities of analog and can emulate any analog lok and feel.
Maybe you can devote a post to telling us more about why you choose to shoot analog if you have not done so yet?
Thanks
Ian
Hi Ian, in a nutshell: I love shooting digital and analog both, but analog has a special place in my heart due to the calming effect, the intentional (and necessary) slowing down of the act of seeing and photographing. In other words it's much more about the feeling the process of shooting analog imparts than it is purely about the end result. A metaphor: if I want to get to the other side of town I can take the car or I can ride my bike. Both get me there, the car (aka digital) will even get me there faster, but I love riding my bike for the way it makes me feel while I am moving. There are some trips where I cannot justify biking and will always have to take the car (too far, weather is terrible, etc.) but when I can I will choose riding my bike.
Thanks Wesley, interesting analogy. I don’t see myself slowing down or speeding up the process, depending on media, when creating an image. My mental process is normally one of creating the final result in my mind before I actually even lift the camera to my eye and click the shutter. But then I do find it becomes an ongoing what if after that.
However, I do find that the larger the format, e.gl 120, 4x5 or 8x10 definitely slows down the process considerably.
In another way altogether shooting analog speeds me up tremendously and that is by preventing me from overshooting. I barely have to spend any time selecting and editing images compared to if I’d do the same shoot digital because instead of several hundred photos I might have 72 photos.
That’s true. On the other hand, back in the day, I remember us constantly repeating the phrase “Shoot a lot, film is your cheapest cost input.”
Oh how I wish it still was cheap haha.