I love this. I don’t know photography, I know music. And you just synthesized what I’ve been wrestling with musically - moving from a vanilla chameleon to creating and sharing music with intent and a voice that feels authentic to me. I’m going to carve out some time this weekend to dig into that. Thanks man! And all the best on your continued journey (also, your pictures are awesome)
Thanks! I do music too. I noticed that I was experimenting too much with pedals, tones, fluffy stuff, and not focusing on the core: scales, sheet music, hand techniques, etc.
it’s kinda related to the paradox of choice from Barry Schwartz
I genuinely think that film photography makes people use brain, stretch a skill, and, well, the other thing, ofc, is the eye behind the lens. I have a background in multimedia design myself, and whilst most of my peers were head-to-toe excited about the video part which just came in, I was always more on the photo side + I was excited to explore photoshop, and then mixing the two together as far as my imagination could go.
I don’t think that film is smth that couldn’t be edited, though. Unless one wants to turn Portra in Ektar or the other way around, I don’t really think that it could be a bad thing; it actually might give an extra “hand-writing” to a person who does that. Film remains where it is. Film stock is the colour palette one is gonna use, any additional touch already could speak of the artistic side one has. Old Hollywood films were also coloured a long time ago before the actual coloured film appeared. It was a lot of work put in there before masses saw it.
I could agree that the digital with many options can give distractions. I now have Olympus Trip 35 and Canon FX, and at the moment, I don’t plan to get anything extra as the two covers two different photo taking philosophies. Currently, I’m excited to experiment with the film stocks and to learn the light around, which, frankly, is smth that I tended to low-key avoid in school with the digital cameras.
Couple of days ago spoke to my friend and we discussed that “being a photographer” these days isn’t smth hard at all, like, any of us can take a phone out of the pocket and shoot million photos of wte. I said “imagine all the viral things, trends etc., pretty phone pictures on feeds”, but we might have a generation of people growing calling themselves a photographers, when they don’t really know anything about how and what their phone automatically curates for them to shoot. To me personally, it was refreshing to remember such term as “ISO”, that I need to focus or measure the distance myself, that I need observe the light around me. All these things that are easily forgotten. The digital stuff is cool undeniably, but I think that has turned into one of those things where nearly everyone is ready to add a label to themselves; however, relies on technology more than on themselves.
I like that in the age where we less and less think, and I can think, make my decisions and see the consequences later. Learn. Use my brain. It’s just so refreshing as haunting as it sounds. I don’t think I’ll ever become a photographer, lol, but I like to think of snapping the ordinary life around me and potentially make it unordinary. Additionally, I don’t have a coin to go to the therapy, this keeps my mind busy, and can fight with my depression. 😆
This is so unnecessary long comment, but, yes, I liked this article.
OMG! Your comment summarized absolutely everything I have in my mind! That’s it my friend. All aspects. Even the therapy. Film dev in my guest bathroom to me is therapy!
I’m not sure whether I’d like to go as far as developing film myself, but I most definitely enjoy the process of figuring out actual photography process. ♥️
While I don't understand all the camera details, Raf I appreciate the story-journey you've shared. I'm sure there are more threads beyond photography that weave through your identity. However, this one speaks to your curiosity, creativity and long-term commitment to evolve your craft. A memoir-ish piece using your camera as the lens (pun intended). When so many things are about immediacy, hustling to get to a goal - your art over seasons, several projects with different intentions and the layers/depth speaks volumes. Bravo.
(I know I'm late reading but I'm glad I found this piece!)
Interesting read, thanks for sharing! In my experience, the experimental phase (your 2019 to 2024) is also part of the process towards shooting with intent.
What a great article. I found myself following a similar process, ended up capturing the Texas music scene in small Austin clubs, old dance halls, and West Texas dives. I found the environment had a visual identity of its own just waiting to be captured through my eyes. Focusing on specific behaviors in specific regions seems to be enough to build a unique visual identity. Thanks for sharing this!
A courageous text that few will understand.
I love this. I don’t know photography, I know music. And you just synthesized what I’ve been wrestling with musically - moving from a vanilla chameleon to creating and sharing music with intent and a voice that feels authentic to me. I’m going to carve out some time this weekend to dig into that. Thanks man! And all the best on your continued journey (also, your pictures are awesome)
Thanks! I do music too. I noticed that I was experimenting too much with pedals, tones, fluffy stuff, and not focusing on the core: scales, sheet music, hand techniques, etc.
it’s kinda related to the paradox of choice from Barry Schwartz
Yep, that’s exactly it. Scrape away the barnacles, reconnect with the boat
I genuinely think that film photography makes people use brain, stretch a skill, and, well, the other thing, ofc, is the eye behind the lens. I have a background in multimedia design myself, and whilst most of my peers were head-to-toe excited about the video part which just came in, I was always more on the photo side + I was excited to explore photoshop, and then mixing the two together as far as my imagination could go.
I don’t think that film is smth that couldn’t be edited, though. Unless one wants to turn Portra in Ektar or the other way around, I don’t really think that it could be a bad thing; it actually might give an extra “hand-writing” to a person who does that. Film remains where it is. Film stock is the colour palette one is gonna use, any additional touch already could speak of the artistic side one has. Old Hollywood films were also coloured a long time ago before the actual coloured film appeared. It was a lot of work put in there before masses saw it.
I could agree that the digital with many options can give distractions. I now have Olympus Trip 35 and Canon FX, and at the moment, I don’t plan to get anything extra as the two covers two different photo taking philosophies. Currently, I’m excited to experiment with the film stocks and to learn the light around, which, frankly, is smth that I tended to low-key avoid in school with the digital cameras.
Couple of days ago spoke to my friend and we discussed that “being a photographer” these days isn’t smth hard at all, like, any of us can take a phone out of the pocket and shoot million photos of wte. I said “imagine all the viral things, trends etc., pretty phone pictures on feeds”, but we might have a generation of people growing calling themselves a photographers, when they don’t really know anything about how and what their phone automatically curates for them to shoot. To me personally, it was refreshing to remember such term as “ISO”, that I need to focus or measure the distance myself, that I need observe the light around me. All these things that are easily forgotten. The digital stuff is cool undeniably, but I think that has turned into one of those things where nearly everyone is ready to add a label to themselves; however, relies on technology more than on themselves.
I like that in the age where we less and less think, and I can think, make my decisions and see the consequences later. Learn. Use my brain. It’s just so refreshing as haunting as it sounds. I don’t think I’ll ever become a photographer, lol, but I like to think of snapping the ordinary life around me and potentially make it unordinary. Additionally, I don’t have a coin to go to the therapy, this keeps my mind busy, and can fight with my depression. 😆
This is so unnecessary long comment, but, yes, I liked this article.
OMG! Your comment summarized absolutely everything I have in my mind! That’s it my friend. All aspects. Even the therapy. Film dev in my guest bathroom to me is therapy!
I’m not sure whether I’d like to go as far as developing film myself, but I most definitely enjoy the process of figuring out actual photography process. ♥️
Send me some and I develop and scan it for you, especially medium format!
While I don't understand all the camera details, Raf I appreciate the story-journey you've shared. I'm sure there are more threads beyond photography that weave through your identity. However, this one speaks to your curiosity, creativity and long-term commitment to evolve your craft. A memoir-ish piece using your camera as the lens (pun intended). When so many things are about immediacy, hustling to get to a goal - your art over seasons, several projects with different intentions and the layers/depth speaks volumes. Bravo.
(I know I'm late reading but I'm glad I found this piece!)
Thanks Victoria! Glad you liked it :))
Interesting read, thanks for sharing! In my experience, the experimental phase (your 2019 to 2024) is also part of the process towards shooting with intent.
I was scared by the end of this article that I was going to want to get a Ricoh GR...I still might
Beautiful text. Congratulations.
What a great article. I found myself following a similar process, ended up capturing the Texas music scene in small Austin clubs, old dance halls, and West Texas dives. I found the environment had a visual identity of its own just waiting to be captured through my eyes. Focusing on specific behaviors in specific regions seems to be enough to build a unique visual identity. Thanks for sharing this!