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Thread: Manipulated Negatives

  1. #1

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    Manipulated Negatives

    I've been growing tired of "straight" photography -- taking a photo of things/scenes and then developing/printing them -- and have been fooling around with negatives themselves before or while printing. I started with my "bad" negatives by writing on them, scratching them up, cutting and reassembling them, in addition to using multiple exposures, photograms, etc.

    Can anyone point me to sources of inspiration by other artists who do this sort of thing? (Other than Man Ray)

    See for example http://www.apug.org/forums/forum216/...-darlings.html

  2. #2

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    Re: Manipulated Negatives

    Assuming that you would like to see some very creative work that really makes you think even if it is not manipulated.

    Atget is always a good source for surreal, Man Ray is another one, there are many who have worked in that style. I suggest you go to http://www.masters-of-photography.com and browse the work there. I spend a fair amount of time there, great work and very inspiring. I learned about one of my favorite photographers on that site.

  3. #3
    Format Omnivore Brian C. Miller's Avatar
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    Re: Manipulated Negatives

    Here's a previous thread you might want to read: Surreal darkroom photomanipulation?

  4. #4

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    Re: Manipulated Negatives

    Nah neither works for me. Uelsmann doesn't really play around with the negs, most of his stuff is accomplished by multiple printing/masking. And the Masters of Photography didn't scratch up their negs nor cut them into pieces. etc

    We're so trained to worship the negative that scratching or cutting it is practically a sin so few people go this route.

  5. #5
    multiplex
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    Re: Manipulated Negatives

    hi cyrus

    i have been doing that sort of thing since about 1988 ..
    it started out as a way to teach myself to print better.

    i still do this stuff ...
    but not as often as i used to

    look into the new york school from the 50s ...
    the painters were doing similar things.
    aaron siskind tried to do it,
    but his camera and film held him back ...
    Last edited by jnantz; 20-Jun-2011 at 07:18.

  6. #6

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    Re: Manipulated Negatives

    The cuts ups of William S. Burroughs and Brion Gysin may provide non photographic inspiration.

  7. #7
    Format Omnivore Brian C. Miller's Avatar
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    Re: Manipulated Negatives

    There's also the distortions and caricatures that Arthur Fellig made. I think he was stretching heated negatives, IIRC.

  8. #8

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    Re: Manipulated Negatives

    You don't need to go far. Just look at what Emil Schildt is doing. Or on the other hand, if you like older sources as well: Robert Demachy.

    Marko

  9. #9
    Marek Warunkiewicz Marek Warunkiewicz's Avatar
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    Re: Manipulated Negatives

    Have a look at my good friend Osheen's site. He's a remarkable guy who make fab images.

    http://www.osheen.ca/

    Marek

  10. #10

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    Re: Manipulated Negatives

    Hi and thanks all
    Emil Schildt was indeed my original inspiration. I wasn't aware of Osheen though nor of John's Nanian's. Wonderful stuff! Hard to fill those shoes!

    In general it seems to me that most people are obsessed with getting "straight" prints of "reality" and really don't like to futz around with their negs! I love watching the pained expressions on the faces of my fellow photographers when they see me drop a negative onto the floor and stomp on it a few times. There's so much more potential for expression in photography in this sort of way.

    I guess the subject line of this thread should be "distressed negatives"

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