groping in the dark

Photographing Reality: A Manifesto

First point: the title of this entry is misleading, an oxymoron. People sometimes have the mistaken impression that a photograph is an accurate depiction of some "reality." Instead, a photograph is a representation or interpretation of some reality at an instant in time. It offers a singular, unique perspective of that instant, but it is not real.

This is a list of some ways that a photograph interprets or alters reality. A photograph

• is a 2-dimensional representation of a 3-dimensional reality;
• is a representation of a frozen instant of the continuum of time;
• only represents only the world as it exists within the frame;
• does not represent the full range of color and tones visible to the human eye (esp. true w/r/t B&W photography);
• may bend or distort shapes and alter color tone through the use of different lenses and filters;
• may not render objects in extremely bright or dim light or objects in motion (based on exposure and type of film used).

Keep in mind that the above only applies to exposing the negative. There are also all kinds of darkroom tricks for manipulating contrast, tonality, composition, etc. Not to mention retouching, color toning or bleaching processes. After images are converted to digital from, of course, manipulation becomes trivial.

I am always amused when someone protests digital manipulation of images on the basis, that the "reality" of what the image represents has been altered. Is it right that Oprah's head appear on Ann-Margaret's body on the cover of TV Guide? Maybe not, but these days, just like you can't trust everything you read, you can't trust every picture you see.

The simple act of framing a picture, deciding what should be in your photograph and what shouldn't, and exposing film is a conscious decision to "alter reality". The question is not whether reality has been altered; the question is where you draw the line. As a photographer and (dare I say it?) artist, you have to choose where you draw that line. For me, for now, w/r/t my B&W prints, I have made the following choices:

1. W/r/t exposing film, anything goes
Literally. Multiple exposures, filters, developing techniques, film types, etc. I will allow myself to use anything that may alter or enhance how an image becomes exposed on film.
2. Anything in the darkroom goes
with the exception of cropping and retouching as listed below. Any filters, dodging, burning, print developing, toning, bleaching, etc. are all valid options for me.
3. No cropping of the image
When I compose a shot w/ my camera, I have an idea in my head how I want the shot to look. Otherwise, I'd just back up, zoom out and capture as much image as I could then go back in and crop out the interesting stuff later. There is no art to that.
4. No retouching
as in no altering of the content of the picture. If a utility line intrudes into the shot, tough. It's there and I can't do anything about it. A piece of lint on someone's sweater looks like a dust spot on the film? Too bad. I took a picture of that lint, it stays. See a previous post for an example. I have that print hanging at work, but I will never print it again or give that print to anyone else or even bother to put the print in a frame because the stupid tripod in the background bugs me so much.
5. Actually, some retouching is ok
for imperfections due to the printing process. I will remove dust spots or scratch lines. I will also bleach areas the brighten highlights where I deem fit.
6. Silver prints only
I'm a computer savvy guy and am very comfortable with digital images and so I have no problem scanning in my images, altering them (and posting them online, for example). But the only physical prints I will make (of my B&W work, anyway) will be traditional silver based prints, no inkjet.
[In fact, be warned: anything you see on this site very likely was altered once the image was scanned in. I know many people are using the digital darkroom these days, but right now it's just not for me.]

What interests me about photography is the hunt for the perfect shot. First, finding and composing an image that interests me and then bringing that image to life in the darkroom. Seeing an image come to life in a developer tray is a intensely rewarding feeling. There is an art to these aspects of photography (i.e., the shooting and the printing) and I hope to bring that art to life in this blog. Sure, there is an art to digital retouching as well (fyi, I used to do digital retouching for a living), but it doesn't resonate with me. Especially w/r/t B&W prints, digital manipulation feels like cheating.

If you've read my rant to this point, you might be interested in what others have to say. Or, take a look at Jerry Uelsmann's photography, some totally fantastic and "unreal" images composed entirely within the darkroom.