Rediscovering the Art of Analogue Photography
July 24, 2024
In 2018, after a six-year interval of working exclusively with digital photography, I returned to the analogue instruments and materials that have been a cornerstone of my artistic practice since the late 1970s. This transition marked a significant shift in my creative process, reigniting a passion for the considered, slow approach that traditional film photography demands.
A Nostalgic Revival.
For decades, I had a deep connection with traditional photographic film, maintaining a wet darkroom until a house refurbishment in 2012. Like many photographers at the time, I regretfully decided to part with my darkroom equipment, believing digital photography could fully replace my need for analogue methods. However, while studying Reapproaching Photography with the Open College of the Arts, I realised just how much I missed the tactile, deliberate nature of working with analogue-sensitised materials and simple, robust cameras.
The Return to Medium Format.
Determined to reconnect with this lost aspect of my craft, I purchased a medium-format Mamiya 6 outfit and basic film-developing equipment. Embracing a hybrid workflow, I began scanning my negatives and producing pigment prints on archival papers. This method allowed me to blend the best of both worlds—capturing the unique qualities of film while leveraging the precision and repeatability of digital printing. This approach culminated in my 2019 book, Shortcut, a study of the paths and lanes around my home town of Kinsale. The book explores the ancient settlement where footpaths predate motorized transport, capturing the essence of a place deeply rooted in history through the timeless medium of film.
Expanding Horizons with Large Format.
Over the following years, my exploration of analogue equipment grew, encompassing medium format, panoramic systems, and large format cameras. Working with large format film involving single sheets represents the pinnacle of considered slow photography. Each exposure requires careful composition and deliberate focus, making every image unique. Large-format photography has allowed me to explore new ways of seeing and working with camera movements, creating a level of detail and tonal range that is simply unparalleled. The sheer size of the negatives provides incredible depth and clarity, rendering images with a three-dimensional quality that fixed-body film and digital cameras struggle to replicate.
A Curated Selection
Here, I present some of my favourite images from the past six years, many of which are part of ongoing projects.
