Articles

Genesis – The first roll of film – Recently, I was tidying out some old records and I came across a folder of negs and prints.

Those of you that know me will know that I file everything, and have difficulty throwing things away. This began when I started “collecting” when I was around 10.

Recently, I was tidying out some old records and I came across a folder of negs and prints.

Those of you that know me will know that I file everything, and have difficulty throwing things away. This began when I started “collecting”. I was around 10. Stashed amongst my childhood letters and Blue Peter badges, I realised that the folder was in fact the first roll of film that I put through a camera.

The image above is one of the 8 images on the roll.

Since becoming a professional photographer, every shot that I take is considered. I’m sure that most of you, who are interested in photography, will be the same. We all aspire to having or, improving our “eye”, and I am no different in this respect.

Sculpture was a good discipline to study for this. It’s a slow process, and you have no choice but to slow your mind, and consider form as you work.

With photography, taking those few precious seconds to consider and compose, before clicking the shutter has always been one of the great disciplines. The Digital revolution had an overwhelming influence on this for all of us when it was introduced. One no longer had an associated cost to each frame, and there was no film processing, or print costs either.

Of course, this is all true and the cost benefits are clear, but at what cost?