Sep 06 2007
The computer as a studio
When I complained to dear Sylvaine that I missed my photo studio, she simply answered that her computer was her studio. She had me thinking about that for days. The studio is a place where I control light and background. Photoshop can do that too; so she is absolutely right.
Lately I was asked to participate in Harvest 2007 where I will be one of the very few photographers who worries about the physical integrity of a photograph. The show is in Atlanta, Georgia, right in the middle of the US Bible belt. I was not allowed to show genitalia in my work and I was shocked to see how many of my pictures do, but looking at the works presented on the web site I had to admit that there is absolutely nothing wrong with composing or recomposing images with the help of a computer. My camera is a small computer too, so why should I make that distinction?
A digital camera does all sorts of things with reality; it changes the perspective, it fucks with histograms at the owner’s convenience, so why all this nostalgia about an old fashioned camera with a negative? I do not know anymore. I thought I did a few years ago when I posted a few rants here about photographs being manipulated too much and too often to be called photographs any longer. I guess I am just getting old.
Three days ago I posted my short movie Smoke on the MySpace site of the Rome Film Fest to see if my work would come through the first selection. In order to do so I had to create my own MySpace site first and I did so after a lot of cursing over Microsoft’s approach to web content.
I tried to do some networking for AMEA while I was at it and I was amazed about the creativity of artists producing erotica while at the same time not being allowed to post real nudity. I soon found out that a naked behind is not considered nudity, breasts are also okay as long as there are no nipples visible. What’s the fun of breasts without nipples? And what is so obscene about breasts in the first place? They completely lost me. For a moment I considered photoshopping two nipples on an ass to see if my site would be censored because of that.
Instead I just went on with life.
You are my joy, my thoughts…and totally right (music for you will remain until saturday)I must tell you that often I’m sad of not having anymore my lab (darkroom) where I spend so many hours and day and years developping my films, smelling the sensual flavour of all the liquids that make -before and after washing them- my pictures. And also that incredible feeling of beeing lonly in the darkest place of your creation. Kinda or orgasm that “PSP CS3″ or any other “Image editor” will never give me that former feelings.I’m actually working with “Numerical” what kinda of insane name
and I have to manage it. I have all ma photography negativs I would love to develop again..but giving them to another just make me sick, kinda of frustration violation. So actalluy I scan some I save on “paper baryté” thats all I can do.
I love you Hans and your approach to old and modern photography.
Sylvaine
PS : correct since I havent anymore my darkroom…I never smoke that much…I adore the vid…it could be taken In my flat.
Dearest, you don’t smoke that much? I smoke three packs a day. You are most definitely going to outlive me. And I was so looking forward to a millionaire in the country.. See, I never have any luck.. ;-)
In music IF you weren’t drunk you could have seen that’s is Milva Singing…another great voice…ok I will change it today…Did I tell you I smoke two packs…No no…Meantime I went to your myspaceblog, have to subscribe and so on, very long especially to post a comment. I took two days before a serie with a friend…and my cam is so faith that I haven’t to retouch any picture….Be sober. Love S.
I am sorry dear. I am not *always* drunk, but yesterday I was, yes.. But if I had been sober I would still not have known who Milva is. I know she has a wonderfull voice. I guess I need some education once in a while. I am not all that brilliant, you know.
Love, your Hans