The reason I do this

A lot can happen in four years… A lot did.
2011 was my last post on this blog and in that time much has happened that took precedent over posting new content. Further to this, beyond the occasional roll of film through my mju:II my OM’s and other cameras sadly lay dormant, waiting for the day they’d be plucked from their shelf to be used for what they were designed for. This however didn’t happen for quite some time. I had been busy starting and running a new business, completing a masters degree, travelling and moving more than once. Then there were a number of personal milestones I seemed to of powered through (which I may eventually cover in more detail in future posts). Basically I had very little time to pursue hobbies or interests not related to my work. Well, I say that, but really what it comes down to is the fact that I didn’t actually make the time, and that was a mistake.

For a while I had felt something was missing. Something that brought me satisfaction outside of work and my regular social circles. To cut a long story short, it was only after faced with the prospect of moving house and having to box up my personal possessions did it dawn on me. The volume of cameras that had amassed over years of collection had mostly gone unused. It was a waste. A waste of opportunity and something I decided I needed to rectify. I went through and cataloged the cameras I had, then decided what I’d keep to use and move on the rest. Some would (and continue to) be sold, whilst others are given away. It has been quite a cathartic experience.

Saying all that, I’m not ashamed to admit I do like cameras as a physical object. I know for many this notion is associated someone who doesn’t take photos and just likes to buy new (or old) toys. For some this is undoubtedly true, but for others like myself I think the end result is consequential to the process and for me that process includes acquiring the camera itself. Along with each camera is a history; some are predictable whilst others can be interesting. It’s these histories that create unique objects which in turn are used for creative output. Second hand objects are unique for they bear record of their respective pasts. A camera is a time capsule of sorts. The technology (both electronic and mechanical) used at the time of creation is generally superseded almost instantly and the way a lens renders a scene or even the ergonomics that dictates the way you hold and compose a shot are often emblematic of the era it was created. In a world largely concerned with predictability and uniformity, I am drawn to processes that reject this notion and objects that bring this process to fruition. For me, second hand film cameras achieve this and I enjoy hunting for a specific camera almost as much as I enjoy using them.

I guess Nobuyoshi Araki probably puts it best when he says “If you want to change your photographs, you need to change cameras. Changing cameras means that your photographs will change. A really good camera has something I suppose you might describe as its own distinctive aura“. That aura is very real and one of the things that keeps bringing me (and others) back to film cameras.

Several months ago I decided to start updating this blog as I rekindled my interest in posting more and wanted to integrate photo galleries more cohesively so I couldn’t put them “out of sight out of mind”. At the end of the day the whole idea is to post photos, so looking back at old posts I couldn’t help but feel somewhat frustrated as I recalled all the rolls of film I had shot but my lack of interest in scanning them at the time. After I shoot a roll of film I’m mostly content and shy away from the hassle of scanning. But looking back I really wish I did. The whole purpose of posting images or content on this site isn’t to show off or seek affirmation from others. My motivation is entirely personal. A reminder to myself to continue practicing and producing work that interests me, but also to record my thoughts and experiences along the way as I experiment with new equipment, techniques or ideas. Or to put it more simply, I enjoy it.

With that in mind here is an obligatory gear shot. This is inside one of the boxes of cameras I had to pack and move recently. You don’t want to see the others.