Back in the darkroom and on the damnable scanner this coming week, in order to attempt to find something from my recent work fit to exhibit in the Darlington Media Group group show. So I’m giving it until the end of March: that’s 5 or 6 weeks. Yesterday someone, call that two different someones actually said “but you still enjoy it though, don’t you?” Ah.
Crazy really: have a fully functional darkroom, all the kit a lass could possibly desire. But if the work is meh, ce’st fin. It really is that close.
So yes, the RSS feed hasn’t br0ken, just me. In the meantime, please enjoy these lovely slurps of sound from Fluxus.
Things are like that sometimes though, aren’t they?
I’d sooner be in a position with the time, but without the inclination (because the inclination comes back, sooner or later). I’ve struggled to find time for anything worthwhile (in terms of photography) since moving house – I can manage the odd digital piece because it doesn’t require in date chemistry & can be processed there and then, but it doesn’t grab me like film does.
Gah, sorry, meant to encourage, rather than gripe about my own problems! Hope your mojo returns!
John: I know what you mean, but this one’s been gestating for such a long time. I think I’ve been hiding behind other projects, collaborations that didn’t go anywhere, multiple darkroom errors and frustrations. But there is simply no inclination now. I can’t possibly publish the mediocre.
Could this be analogous to writer’s block? You sound pissed off with the objects – the darkroom, the scanner – but they’re presumably the same as they always are?
Not going to add any advice.. not in my position! But good luck.
I really am giving it until the end of March. All out until then. Must be able to produce something meaningful/useful/beautiful in that time, yes/no? Thing is, I have no idea. Giving it one big push seems like a good plan though.
Had one long and successful day in the darkroom yesterday, the first in many months. Prints are flattening under a pile of Nat Geogs as I write. Let’s hope I can have another like that, and hopefully another, maybe even one a month, or one a week. Not a lot to hope for after all this training, hmm?
Thank you all, your words are deeply and much appreciated.
Some things I’ve tried in the past, singly and in combination:-
If you can’t ’see’ things, try writing about it.
Concentrate on a very small area – say a page in the A-Z
Take the camera with only one lens that you don’t use very much
Forget framing and go for it – quantity not quality – the visual equivalent of brainstorming. You might want a digital compact for this then you are free from having to process everything!
Go to an area you think you know very well and really look at it.
[...] and taking-stock exercise around the first few days of April, so no firm decision on the giving-up-photography thing before then. If I do stop, it will be with a proper set or three or four of decent prints and some [...]
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Things are like that sometimes though, aren’t they?
I’d sooner be in a position with the time, but without the inclination (because the inclination comes back, sooner or later). I’ve struggled to find time for anything worthwhile (in terms of photography) since moving house – I can manage the odd digital piece because it doesn’t require in date chemistry & can be processed there and then, but it doesn’t grab me like film does.
Gah, sorry, meant to encourage, rather than gripe about my own problems! Hope your mojo returns!
Not entirely sure I understand what you’re giving up. Wet darkroom? Printing? The upcoming exhibition? Surely not photography itself?
Jeff: All of the above.
John: I know what you mean, but this one’s been gestating for such a long time. I think I’ve been hiding behind other projects, collaborations that didn’t go anywhere, multiple darkroom errors and frustrations. But there is simply no inclination now. I can’t possibly publish the mediocre.
Could this be analogous to writer’s block? You sound pissed off with the objects – the darkroom, the scanner – but they’re presumably the same as they always are?
Not going to add any advice.. not in my position! But good luck.
Don’t you dare give it up Brenda!! I mean it!! Give me a shout about a darkroom visit, I need to talk you out of giving up. :)
Don’t give up Brenda. Take a break if you need but don’t give it up.
I really am giving it until the end of March. All out until then. Must be able to produce something meaningful/useful/beautiful in that time, yes/no? Thing is, I have no idea. Giving it one big push seems like a good plan though.
Had one long and successful day in the darkroom yesterday, the first in many months. Prints are flattening under a pile of Nat Geogs as I write. Let’s hope I can have another like that, and hopefully another, maybe even one a month, or one a week. Not a lot to hope for after all this training, hmm?
Thank you all, your words are deeply and much appreciated.
Some things I’ve tried in the past, singly and in combination:-
If you can’t ’see’ things, try writing about it.
Concentrate on a very small area – say a page in the A-Z
Take the camera with only one lens that you don’t use very much
Forget framing and go for it – quantity not quality – the visual equivalent of brainstorming. You might want a digital compact for this then you are free from having to process everything!
Go to an area you think you know very well and really look at it.
I should also say that stopping for a while is not the same as giving up permanently. Put photography on the back burner for a while.
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[...] and taking-stock exercise around the first few days of April, so no firm decision on the giving-up-photography thing before then. If I do stop, it will be with a proper set or three or four of decent prints and some [...]
[...] I was here, back in February, one of the actions of self-preservation was a resolve to print and print and [...]