two pipes

I walked into Freestyle Photographic Supply here in LA a while back for the first time. My first question was “are you guys hiring any help?” The woman just grinned and said… “Nope. Nobody ever leaves here.” They’ve all been there a long time. It’s a cool place.

I spent some time looking around, and other than the darkroom supplies, and digital printing supplies, and photos on the walls, the first thing I noticed was the selection of Holga cameras, accessories and supplies, as well  as several other so called toy cameras and pinhole cameras. There is a huge subculture growing around these cameras, a backlash to the near total dominance that digital technology has assumed in recent years. There is a great and growing number of photographers turning to these inexpensive film cameras and the unpredictable expressive qualities you can get from them.

Film is considered dead by many, but I don’t think so. Many photographers are still staying with film and working with vintage cameras. Many more are turning to the Holga and the Diana, and other toy cameras as their instruments of expression. Others are still working with large and medium format film cameras. Working pros have largely abandoned their 35mm SLR’s for newer digital equipment, which isn’t a bad thing, but many artists are exploring the possibilities of these other cameras and are keeping the traditions of film photography alive and vibrant. That’s not a bad thing either.

I had started a blog some time back about photographing with an old Silette film camera my wife at the time found for me at a yard sale years ago. I’ve since decided to let that one go.  It’s a bit redundant  —  I can devote some time to it here when I want to. In fact, I’m going to do that right now…

For the rest of this month I’m putting my digital camera on the shelf, and I’m going to play around with my two-dollar Silette. I’m going to put one roll of film in it, and shoot it over the next four weeks. If I get any keepers on that roll, I’ll post a series of Silette photos during April.

Why am I doing this? For the best reason in the world… I want to. Be sure to check the results next month. It might be kinda fun…

bark abstract #4

I ended my last post about learning photography with the words ‘end of class’. That’s only about half true — class is never really over. Photography,  good photography,  is a lifetime process. David Hyde pointed out in the comments that it may be a disservice to budding photographers to imply that learning photography is simple or easy. With that in mind I’ll briefly expand on my fourth step.

My first three steps actually are pretty simple and basic. You get a camera and learn how to use it. You take a class, or you read the manual that came with it, and with a little head scratching you figure out how it works. That part isn’t hard to learn.

Many people stop right there. They never move on to step four. They spend the rest of their days drooling over the latest cameras, get into endless debates about optics and resolution and features, but never seem to get around to making any meaningful photographs. But step four, practicing and honing your vision, is really only the beginning.

Others move on a bit. They buy the books, they read the magazines, they pore over the ten tips for better photography or the ten best places to photograph, and they make the same pictures we’ve all seen countless times. This is okay… it’s all part of the learning process, but to truly become a photographer in your own right you have to move on further. A handful do and become fine photographers, but many decide photography isn’t really for them, get rid of their cameras, and take up other hobbies and pursuits. There’s no end to slightly used cameras at yard sales.

Becoming a good photographer requires commitment. Much like a concert pianist will practice for hours a day for a lifetime, a photographer must commit to a lifetime of practice and learning. Like I said, there are no shortcuts. You don’t suddenly reach a point where you’re good. You gradually get better.

You learn from practicing… you learn from consciously looking at and seeing the world around you… you learn from reading… you learn from music… you learn from others.  Most of all you learn from your life experiences, and it’s an everchanging lesson. It’s an ongoing process. It may be simple in theory, but it’s not easy.

My own photography comes from having made about sixty trips around the sun. It’s about places I’ve been, things I’ve seen, things I’ve done, experiences I’ve had. I’ve been involved with photography for about thirty five of those years, and I think I’m finally getting somewhere with it. I’m finally learning to translate those years into visual form.

And that, when it comes right down to it, is what this blog is all about.