Sure, we’re digital…but a last gasp for film?
Last week while at the Getty, we were inspired by the Edward Weston exhibit. BUT there is a another show there in the same space.
[photopress:delahaye_rally_x.jpg,full,centered]
© Luc Delahaye
March 12, 2006. In Minsk, Belarus, a rally for the opposition candidate Alexander Milinkevich during the presidential election campaign.
Luc Delahaye
French, negative, March 12, 2006; print, 2007
Digital chromogenic print
181.9 x 247.3 cm (71 5/8 x 97 3/8 in.)
EX.2007.6.9
Promised gift of Michael and Jane Wilson
After walking from the overwhelming number of imagery prints of Weston, there were the massive prints of Luc Delahaye, with a lot fewer prints. Interesting combo of a show.
However the smaller selection did prove a point. That size does matter.
From the site:”Initiated in 2001, this series of large-scale photographs features significant recent events ranging from political demonstrations to natural disasters and evidence of war and genocides. While these subjects are known through the media, Delahaye’s images propose a different view of them.”
And that is the link between the two exhibits. An exploration of the ordinary with a more studied look to import the weight of the situation/people or object.
No comparisons here.Different visions. But the power of these large images belied the taking of them.
Many times while looking at an exhibit, I’ll first let the visceral power of the image overtake me. or not. Then I look for the photographers perspective, imagining the situation or placement of the shooter to subject. It’s a fun exploration.
Kind of the same reason behind watching a movie twice. First time to let it wash over you and let it entertain. The second viewing lets you look at it for the craft, artistry, nuances that may have been missed.
OK, all of that said, one of the things that struck me was the fact that M. Delehaye’s photos were all done with a medium or large format camera. As we explore all of our digital tools and understand the best way to use them, these larger negative are truly a perfect starting point.
You can still work in Photoshop with a scan of the larger neg. there are plenty of pro labs that will get you what you need.
Also, last week a mid-summer cleaning began with a disposal of the outdated film sitting the fridge. All 120.(medium format) Still have the camera and lenses. TMI?
However in the midst of the clean-up, what did I find? 4 rolls of good, somewhat fresh Kodak 120 film.Expiration a year from now.Samples sent to me for a look/see.
Kismet.
So dusting off the medium format camera. OK,not dusting, the system has been in a case.
And shooting the 4 rolls .B&W and color.
Gulp.
Here comes the light meter.A little strange to be sure but jumping in.
Should be like riding a bike,right?
Where does your inspiration come from?
If you’d like to write a piece on what drives you to click the shutter, and share it with the readers here, let us know. 250-300 words and a photo would be great. Sned submission to damonw@photoinduced.com. You’ll get a byline,copyright, and a link to your site.
Anyway, if you are in the Los Angeles area between now and Nov. 25th, you have to make it up to the Getty for these 2 exhibits.
Heck, I’m going back and this time getting the headset with more info, too.
Cheers!
Damon Webster
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“Sure, we’re digital…but a last gasp for film?”
On this statement I have to disagree. I too am digital but have been missing film, especially B&W, on which I was raised. Something like 50 years of it. Seems to me that many others are jumping (back ) on the film band wagon or have never left. Do a search on film and see what turns up. Ilford went down the tubes but has been resurrected by another English company, Harman Technology. Agfa? Bought and now in business thanks to a German company. Adox, now resides, at least in part, in Canada and US. I see many companies now specializing in film, chemicals, equipment, etc. Adorama and B&H both carry a selection of both while Freestyle carries enlargers and multitudes of different paper. Baier fototechnik of Germany sells Film cameras and accessories. CameraQuest here in the good ol’ US of A sells film cameras, mostly known for the Voitlander Bessa series manufactured by Cosina of Japan, another company developing and manufacturing film cameras, mostly 35mm range finders.
While the list is certainly not endless, it does show new interest in film, mostly B&W, but much color also. New interest has arisen about the alternative processes, those processes used from the beginning of photography until the start of WW1 eradicated the public use of platinum.
Reading reports in the media, it seems that many photographers, such as I are not happy with digital and returning or starting with film. I’m not going to discard my digital but it certainly will take a back seat to my film activities in the near future; well as soon as I get off my duff and finish the darkroom in one corner of my bedroom and a 6′ sink hiding in my shower. The shower is made for roll-in egress by people with wheel chairs and walkers. I could hold shower parties in it.
I’m not trying to write a book here, but just want to make a statement about the non-last gasp of film. I note that Fuji has brought back a discontinued film and so has Kodak. The Russians, Chinese, and Czechs have gone into heavier production of both paper and films which, from what I’ve read, are very good and competitive with the old established Companies. Let’s not hold the funeral yet, as Mark Twain more or less said, the news of film’s demise is over stated.
Good Light
Michael