Through the Lens of Time: A Photographer’s Journey
In the dim, red haze of a darkroom, I’d hunch over my enlarger, coaxing silver halides into revealing their secrets. The amber glow of the safelight cast shadows on my hands as I deftly dodged and burned, shaping the image emerging in the developer tray. The smell is a distinctive blend of chemicals that combine to form a pungent metallic-like odor some people find appealing. The stop bath, used to halt the developing process, has a strong vinegar-like smell. Fixer, which stabilizes the process, has its own unique scent. These olfactory memories linger, a testament to the alchemical dance of light and chemistry that once defined photography. Those were the days when photography was alchemy a blend of science and art, where patience was a virtue and serendipity danced with skill.
The Analog Era: A Dance with Light
Back then, every click of the shutter was a commitment. Film was precious and each frame counted. I’d load my trusty Canon AE-1, knowing that every shot had to be deliberate. There was no instant feedback; no LCD screen to review my composition. Instead, I’d wait days or weeks for the film to be developed, my heart racing as I unrolled the negatives.
The darkroom was my sanctuary. The acrid smell of fixer clung to my clothes, and I’d lose myself in the magic of prints emerging from blank paper. Dodging and burning became a dance with light and shadow. Mistakes were etched in the underdeveloped corner. But those imperfections were part of the story, the soul of photography.
Photo gallery
Through the Lens of Time
These are distant memories from far away lands of times long ago. The effort to achieve these shots is stolen yet the beauty remains. I like capturing as many elements as possible when working with negative space which comes from my learning to photograph as if life was black and white.
Urban Grind
City-life, Cinematography, and album covers inspire direction but I prefer the authenticity of the coincidental subject to the hired model. The only formal training I received in Photography was from the black and white perspective; until digital it was the most cost effective, and it’s a guaranteed hit.
The Intersection Point
The meta at the intersection of nature and man where there’s almost harmony is one of my favorite moments to capture. Modern technology has elevated photography to a part of the human experience; this is art at its purest form.
The Digital Revolution: Pixels and Possibilities
Then came the digital revolution; a seismic shift that rattled my world. Suddenly, I could capture thousands of images without worrying about film rolls or processing costs. A clunky DSLR combined with a point-and-shoot replaced an arsenal of film cameras and pixels replaced grains of silver. I traded darkrooms for a Gimp and Photoshop, where curves and layers replaced chemical baths.
As a self-taught photographer navigating this new terrain, I felt like a wanderer in a magical land. The learning curve was steep with megapixels, white balance, RAW files; terms that sounded like incantations. But there was freedom to experiment endlessly without fear of wasting film. My mistakes were pixels now, easily deleted or corrected.
The Rise of the Smartphone Photographer
And then came the smartphone, a pocket-sized marvel that democratized photography. Suddenly, everyone is a photographer. Social Media overflows with filtered sunsets and latte art. The streets buzz with selfies and candid moments captured on tiny screens.
As a photographer, I marvel at this evolution. The smartphone is an extension of my eyes; an unobtrusive witness to life’s fleeting beauty. I snap landscapes during commutes and document pizza night with equal enthusiasm.
The Paradox: Ease vs. Intimacy
Yet, amidst this ease of production, something changed, a lack of intimacy. We click without truly seeing, we share without connecting. The pursuit of likes overshadows the pursuit of meaning. As pixels multiply exponentially, does authenticity dwindle?
I long for those days when each frame mattered; the value of a stolen kiss or wrinkled face frozen forever on film. This progress, the evolution of photography colliding with technology gives me the strength to exhibit my creations.
As I chase light and embrace pixels I wonder; Is everyone truly a photographer? Or have we become curators of our own lives, framing reality through tiny screens?
Nature Provides My Greatest Work
I’m a good photographer when I practice; I’m a great photographer because of the experience.
