Analogue Photography, stiving to survive

[Peter Strietmann]

It has been appearing with increased regularity as one lab after another are shutting their doors.

It has come to this, http://www.huismarseille.nl/en/news/auction

I use to think moving on to the digital world was a good thing but after giving it some serious consideration lately, I have changed my mind.

While I'm still formulating exactly what this means It appears these processes should be preserved.

Best, Peter

 

[Austin Glass]

I'm confused, is this an accidental link?


EDIT: The link has been fixed. Thanks!

 

[Michael Millichamp]

Yea... I think it is.

 

[Shane Betts]

Maybe he's fixed the link but the page I get is about an exhibition of analogue photography, the proceeds of which will go to help keep the AAP-Lab in business for a further time - which makes sense to the original post.

Peter, it is sad. My favourite hand printing lab closed down here a couple of years ago and all the labs I know still exist are doing the lions share of their work going from digital files to silver based print.

But many, many top analogue photographers printed their own work - in fact many years ago, back in Ansel Adam's day, I would say almost all photographers printed their own work. Labs sprung up to to take advantage of more complicated processes and photogs too busy to spend time in a darkroom. Nowadays, to me, it feels like the shift has gone some way back towards the older model, with shooters working up their own prints in Photoshop and the labs doing no more than the chemical side of things. Personally, I'm much more skilled on the Mac than I ever was in the dark so, to me, I'm mostly positive about the progression - although I do miss the tactile nature and the smell of those old labs.

 

[Peter Chang]

Speaking of "analogue", John Bailey ASC eulogizes Kodachrome: http://www.ascmag.com/blog/2011/01/31/kodachrome-fades%E2%80%94out-but-the-afterglow-lingers/