The circle of Truth..

I have been around long enough now to have seen several photography techniques go full circle. The first time was the rejuvenation of very old techniques at college; a Wet-Plate-Frenzy followed by several sick students after breathing in too much toxic vapors. The second was a rival of Photo-Montage, led by, the Douglas Brothers. who knows where they went. Then it was Cross Processing one way, Slide Film through Negative film, and then the other way around. Jump ahead 30 years and we have already seen the rebirth of Film over digital and ‘Straight Photography’ with a repeat of Wet Plate- despite it being the most inconvenient and messy process ever, but the results are beautiful and unique.

Its always the same reactions to the old ways, the magic, the uniqueness, the idea of something unrepeatable and therefore more valuable ; But in truth, it really shouldn’t matter. Photography has always been, and will always be fickle. Why? because so often we see the technique, rather than looking at the actual image.

The techniques of photography will continue to move in circles. But actual Photography will never change.