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Examining Photography

Photography is particularly fascinating as it represents one of the innovative tools of the industrial era. In an artistic world traditionally governed by craftsmanship, it elevated imagery to unprecedented levels. Numerous professions underwent significant transformations during this period. The tool not only provided an additional means of creation but also fundamentally altered entire sectors. Today, we are experiencing another wave of transformation with the emergence of a powerful new tool: digitization, which is once again reshaping our professions. Having actively participated in what is known as the "analog" photographic realm (utilizing tools that have nearly vanished from professional use for various reasons such as economic and ecological concerns), I had to swiftly adapt to a new demand and face competition from artificial intelligence (AI). However, nothing can entirely replace what existed before; rather, the new technologies assert themselves significantly until they reach a point where earlier methods remain irreplaceable for certain functions or techniques.
Current digital techniques often serve to accelerate professional practices, making them highly effective; however, their implementation comes at such a cost that they must optimize their systems at the expense of certain specificities that contributed to their richness.
In other words, their rapidity has overshadowed the apparent impoverishment they caused. The portraits created in the early 20th century bear little resemblance to those made in the early 21st century (in terms of color, composition, printing techniques, etc.), yet they already encapsulate the essence. The technological differences between the two periods are significant; however, their aesthetic disparities remain minimal, even mediocre. We often find ourselves surprised by the originality of these old "snapshot" photographs, and the few color images from that era can profoundly affect us as they shorten the temporal distance that separates us from them. Furthermore, one of the factors contributing to an apparent "modernity," but which is also quite misleading in photography, is color itself; it tends to cover its subject with a filter that we must penetrate to reach what truly matters: the subject itself. Even today, black and white photography immerses us in "what has been" more deeply than a color photograph taken at the same time would. Decades of "gray" images have left a lasting mark on our collective unconscious as being "old." It seems unlikely that this perception will change anytime soon. Aside from this factor, photography has not undergone significant revolutions in its figurative domain.
As a curious photographer, one often contemplates the influence of the camera on the quality of their work. The relationship with our surroundings varies significantly when using a Leica M6 compared to a Linhof Technica large format camera with flash. Speed becomes a critical factor; while one allows for stealth and invisibility, the other often necessitates control and a slower pace. Certain tools may align better with an individual photographer's character, enhancing their practice and distinguishing them from others. However, in our current "all about reflex" era, this nuance seems to be overlooked. Recently, there have been some attempts to introduce more affordable medium format options, which may gradually shift this trend, but we are still far from the rich era of analog photography that once existed.

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