Is film photography "alternative photography" yet?

[E. von Hoegh]

We're officially old fogeys now!!

In the 1990s I had on my business cards "Practitioner of obsolete technology"

[Ken Lee]

Thanks for the link, Darr. I believe that Brooks is "dead" right!

Ditto.

[Drew Wiley]

I recall what Mark Twain routinely said to howling laughter on his popular speaking tours later in life: "Rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated!"

[tgtaylor]

Excellent points by Brooks.

+1. The Van Dyke brownprint is killer!

Thomas

[Merg Ross]

Hi Mark,

I was deliberate in not endorsing the work, which perhaps belies Brandt's observation of film. However, I understand what he was suggesting about film, and the indefinable magical quality.

I believe that there is currently an exhibition of Brandt's work at Brooks in Santa Barbara, in case anyone is interested. Check first, this is from memory (often unreliable)!

[Andrew O'Neill]

Yup, and that's fine with me. Film has always been my alternative.

[Jay Decker]

Your portraits were likely called "alternative" because you use a Petzval lens. I don't think film has much to do with it. The contemporary use of Petzval lenses is clearly an alternative to more mainstream sharp-focused photography.

In this case, I do not think the Petzval lens aesthetic motivated his "alternative photography" comment. I am not "swirly" Petzval portrait photographer. The image below is one of the images he was commenting on and is representative of the photographs he was looking at. I should also add that there were a few portraits taken with RR, Heliar, and a Kodak Portrait (meniscus) lenses.

Billy

8x10 Kodak 2D
Dallmeyer 4D - Wide Open
8x10 FP4+ in HC-110
Kennewick, WA

[Jay DeFehr]

Jay, this is so beautiful, spontaneous and natural, I'd never guess it was made with a view camera. Regarding your question, I think the answer depends on who you ask. For the guy who made the comment; yes, I suppose LF film photography might be considered an alt process in much the same way Nirvana might be considered an alt rock band -- a convenient label in absence of a deeper understanding of the subject. I'm sure he meant it as a compliment.

[Michael Alpert]

Jay,

Your portrait is lovely. I think the classic eyes-in-focus wide-open-lens approach is, these days, quite unusual and thus "alternative," regardless of lens or even technology. Also, you made no effort to "air-brush" her face, which was the norm back in the day. I think the same portrait made with a high-end digital camera would be "alternative." Your young visitor was, apparently, responding quite nicely to your artistic vision, albeit is a somewhat inarticulate youthful manner.

[Kirk Gittings]

Personally, I think being an alternative to the commonplace, the mainstream, the comfortable, the Q&D, or the usual methodology is a really good thing. IMHO film has been "alternative photography" for a few years now.