I don’t know if this will translate on the screen or if it’ll just smear like a bug across the windshield, but I’m too amped to be subtle about it. A few weeks ago, I dropped the “Noctilux Flathead” print on you fine folks. Same session, same camera, same lens, same goddamn roll of film—I took this shot: Now, let’s talk about it. The exposure’s a little twitchy, the tones feel flatter than a day-old beer, but it’s fine. Fine in that way that scratches an itch but doesn’t draw blood. I could drag it into Photoshop, crank the contrast dial, slap it around until it’s all neon fireworks and pixel-perfect drama. But where’s the art in that? That’s not a process—that’s pushing buttons. The real game is in the darkroom. Drop the negative into the enlarger, stand over a sheet of 17x22 like a mad alchemist with your dodgers and burners in hand. It’s a ritual—a sweaty, obsessive dance to coax shadows and highlights into some kind of harmony. Half a dozen tries later and I’ve got two prints worth keeping. They’ve got soul. They breathe. Dimensional, richer, like you’ve pulled them from some hazy otherworld. And here’s the kicker: no two prints are alike. You could make twenty versions of this thing, and every single one would carry its own scars, its own quirks. That’s what gets me. That’s what’s real.... I think? Or maybe it's just shittier and I like shitty things. Anyway, feels like I actually made something this morning, y’know? Like I wrestled something good out of the chaos. And that, my friends, is a goddamn rush.
Ironically, I’m having hell taking a true photo of the print… but this crop shows the grain and tones a bit better. Edit: Maybe this will work better: The challenge here is that the print is larger than my scanner...
They aren't quite polished enough for prime time yet. I'm gonna work on my process over the week and through the weekend. If I get good enough to do this for real, I'll post em. Quality standards and all that shit...
I took a photography class in high-school. This was before digital cameras were any good. But you knew that real film was on the verge of decline in popularity. My favorite part was the dark room process. There is nothing like a picture you've made yourself from start to finish. Holding it in your hands after all the work to develop it. While I don't consider myself a good photographer. That class definitely helped me use my phone camera at its best....Which isn't saying much for the equipment or myself. The eyes that really "get it" are few and far. Luckily we all get to benefit. Great shot @Ryan! Long live film!
@Ryan, my daughter bought me a subscription to a thing called Storyworth. The idea is that they give you a large list of questions about various things you've done in your life. One question that I find really difficult to answer is "What picture do you regret not taking?". Have you ever had that thought?
Is beauty in the eyes of the beholder or the creator ? Maybe you are being to hard on yourself. I think the flathead shot is beautiful
The shittiest , man I love your stuff! Pure raw unadulterated art. Any body here knows what they are looking at, a beautiful flat head. You could hang this in an art gallery and people who know nothing of cars or mechanical items will understand that they are looking at a beautiful precision machine exuding energy! Dan
The Jalopy Journal
