Hey all, Erik here with a quick guest post about a subject that’s raised a lively debate in our studio. Everyone on our crew has long been shooting with Polaroids, rangefinders, micro 4/3 cameras adapted to accept vintage lenses…even processing digital images to look like they came out of an old dusty camera. Surveying the landscape, it’s clear this tide has been rising for a while now and we’re not the only ones attached to this stuff. So the question I present to you is this:
Why is retro or faux-retro photography so popular these days?
Why, when we have such capable and inexpensive cameras at our disposal, are we reverting to old technology and old aesthetics? Is it pure nostalgia? Is it a palette cleanser from the ease and accuracy of said capable and inexpensive cameras? Is it a passing trend? We have opinions–especially Chase does as you might expect–but we’d like to hear from you.
Stu over at Prolost said it well. The point of an image is to elicit an emotional response from the viewer. A retro / vintage image can cause a more emotional response than the seemly harsh unemotional digital image.
In my case its an aesthetic choice, I love the look of film. I never had a camera that uses film growing up. But when i look at images made on film they stand out, it was images on film that really got me to take notice of photography As for Faux Retro in my case that was down to a fear of fully embracing an analog process although that fear is diminishing as i shoot more film and start to take full advantage of the amazing emulsions available today.
It’s because that’s the trend we’re in. Early 70’s etc. . .Shaggy Hair, tight clothes blah, blah . . Next will be the new 80’s. As this goes, so does art.
Personally I love the natural high you get from film. You don’t get the instant gratification but when you get that one image, you feel it in your gut. Anticipation builds as you wait to hit the dark room to watch the image pop up in developer. BAMMM! You nailed it. Plus I just miss the smell of the darkroom. It’s a mystical place.
I agree, there is nothing better than stinking of chemicals after a few hours in the darkroom, reminds me of being a kid when my dad would take me to work so I could develop my own prints, the good old times eh.
Ohh.. yes. well said.
I so miss that magical darkroom smell aswell!
goes along with the hipster movement… the selling of lomo cameras in urbanoutfitters stores. However it is a nice break from digital and unlimited exposures. The cost and limited frames per roll of film make me take more time and concentrate more on composure and exposure