Analog Magic

Considering how easy, instant, and inexpensive digital means are in modern America, it's progressively rarer to find people using analog media. Not that analog is necessarily inherently better--being able to take digital photographs means that it's much easier to instantly gauge one's perspective and adjust accordingly. It's much cheaper, and allows for nearly-infinite exposures. On the other hand, there is a certain craft to manipulating an analog camera so that you get the shot you want in one or two exposures. And I love the mystery of film, how it's impossible to know what your camera has seen until you develop your roll. It's like waiting for Halloween (or whichever holiday you so prefer).

To step back a minute, I should clarify that I really don't know a lot about photography, especially analog photography. I've never taken a class; I've developed film a grand total of once in my life. I use my digital camera far more often than any of my others. But. I have the basic sense to know when something is impressive, and the work of David Benjamin Sherry is just that.

I think I first saw his work in some art magazine in a waiting room, but I liked it enough to remember him and look him up later. His work is mostly film, and is very invested in unusual color composition. Considering that all of the photographs below were created using only analog techniques and without digital alteration, they're pretty awe-inspiring:

If you liked this, or you want to learn more about these photos, or you simply enjoy clicking on hyperlinks, here is Sherry's website for further perusal.