Virtuous Analog

posted by Anthony

In a culture where instant gratification has become the norm, it is a relief to see that some things have yet to succumb to the impetuous razing of technology. This is for the better. Analog delights like vinyl music and film photography will never grow to obsolescence — unless we want them to. But why would we? Why should we ever forfeit the more tasteful, more romantic ways of engaging art? It’s true, in many ways old fashioned means less reliable. A scratched LP requires a replacement. A mishandled roll of film is lost forever. I’ve lost a roll of 36 exposures spanning eight months of work to either personal negligence or lab error (we never could pinpoint the blame). But risk of failure, spontaneity and experimentation are all integral to the process of creating.

I can snap hundreds of photos and review them instantly in an afternoon on digital equipment. Unfortunately, the anticipatory enthusiasm is all but absent. Picking up film from my developer is an entirely different experience. Many times I have no recollection of what will appear on the roll. As a photographer, the pleasant surprises make the uncertain process worth it. The frame above was one such accident; the combination of using a mid-twentieth century Argus C3 with manual advance and shooting on the partially exposed opening leaf of ten-year-old film. A beautifully done low-tech multiple exposure. We at Peel Pages find that exploring art the slow, analog way can better than good. Patiently virtuous maybe?