Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Location: Piikani Reservation, Alberta
Looking at photos here at the ranch I’m thinking about how we’ve lost something in the transition to digital imagery. Here we’re looking at photos, whereas nowadays most people’s photos are captured on disk or hard drive, no longer tactile. We’ve literally lost touch with something through this transition, we’ve lost touch with memories made physical. I see a large gap created as all of these are subject to technological innovation and breakdown. Here today gone tomorrow.
As I was leaving on this journey, my assistant at the time Forbes Campbell, decided to clean up his laptop. In doing so, he lost two years worth of photos from his time teaching English in Korea. Man o' man was he hurting, all the way to Dawson City. These kinds of things don't really happen with 35mm. The downside is 35mm costs more, uses brutal chemicals, and isn't as instantaneously gratifying.
Still, I love film. I love the alchemical process. I love the tactility. I love sorting through piles of photographs, and remembering. I’m learning to love digital for a bunch of reasons, but I’m still and probably always will be, a film geek at heart.
peace,
d
P.S. Reflex camera cleaning tip: scotch tap. Wrap it sticky side out around your finger and get all that dirt, hair, dust and even fingerprints out of the inside of your gear.
Location: Piikani Reservation, Alberta
Looking at photos here at the ranch I’m thinking about how we’ve lost something in the transition to digital imagery. Here we’re looking at photos, whereas nowadays most people’s photos are captured on disk or hard drive, no longer tactile. We’ve literally lost touch with something through this transition, we’ve lost touch with memories made physical. I see a large gap created as all of these are subject to technological innovation and breakdown. Here today gone tomorrow.
As I was leaving on this journey, my assistant at the time Forbes Campbell, decided to clean up his laptop. In doing so, he lost two years worth of photos from his time teaching English in Korea. Man o' man was he hurting, all the way to Dawson City. These kinds of things don't really happen with 35mm. The downside is 35mm costs more, uses brutal chemicals, and isn't as instantaneously gratifying.
Still, I love film. I love the alchemical process. I love the tactility. I love sorting through piles of photographs, and remembering. I’m learning to love digital for a bunch of reasons, but I’m still and probably always will be, a film geek at heart.
peace,
d
P.S. Reflex camera cleaning tip: scotch tap. Wrap it sticky side out around your finger and get all that dirt, hair, dust and even fingerprints out of the inside of your gear.
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