Why do we take photos? It's a question that gets to the heart of why you pick up your camera. There's a deeper, more personal reason than just snapping a nice picture.
Coming to you from Ari Jaaski with Shoot on Film, this insightful video takes a step back from the philosophical side of photography and explores the pure physical act of capturing images. Jaaski starts by reflecting on comments from viewers, quoting renowned photographer Gary Winogrand: “I photograph to see what the world looks like in photographs.” This straightforward idea is a refreshing take on photography. It strips away the need to overthink and brings you back to the simple, yet powerful, act of seeing. Sometimes, it’s just about creating.
In this video, Jaaski dusts off his collection of vintage 4x5 film cameras. It’s not just about nostalgia, though. He walks through his use of classic equipment, from the German-made Mentor Studio Reflex to the American Speed Graphic. What's fascinating here isn’t just the gear, but how Jaaski repurposes lenses meant for enlargers or portraits to create something unexpected. His method of “misusing” lenses to see what happens is a reminder that experimenting can lead to some of your most interesting work. Photography, in this sense, becomes about playing and discovering as much as it is about planning.
What stands out is Jaaski’s focus on the process of developing his film and creating physical prints. He emphasizes that for him, a photograph isn’t complete until it’s printed. The tactile nature of holding a photo in your hands is different from viewing it on a screen. It’s a detail that’s easy to overlook in the digital age but remains central to film photographers. Jaaski even takes time to make his own frames, adding a personal touch to his prints. The rough edges from his homemade cardboard template give each print a unique character, showing how much the process itself influences the final product. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Jaaski.
Alex have you read On Photography by Susan Sontag, if not an essential for photographers and all interested it photography IMHO :
http://www.susansontag.com/SusanSontag/books/onPhotography.shtml
And …
“No photographer is as good as the simplest camera” - Edward Steichen
There are simpler cameras than a lens board, film holder connected by a dark vault compartment such as a moveable bellows of a large format field camera, speed graphflex or SLR type (simplicity & convenience) that Ari Jaaski mentions in this video. The only real difference is the need of a tripod or the desire to shoot handheld. In my opinion you haven’t danced with the light until you’ve made an image looking and composing through a ground glass fresnel lens (or screen) and view the sheet film results are mind blowing.
Thanks