Ah, The Difference a Print Makes

The photographic print defines today's photographer. That's it right there. Doesn't matter if you originate on film or a digital sensor, it's the print that defines the photographer. What have you made lately? Show me your work, let's see your photographs? I'd go so far as to say that those making photographic prints are the...

Simple Test: Are You a Photographer?

Are you a photographer? Here's a simple test: Can you show me a photograph? I didn't say "image", I said photograph. A photograph is something tangible, that I can hold in my hand. Printed on paper. I am a photographer and I have proof: I print photographs, my walls are covered in them and my...

Photography, Time Travel and Forgotten Memories Remembered & Relived

Photography used to be time travel. We took photographs, and then forgot them. That magic roll of film held the memory safe, tucked away in the dark to be revealed and relived at another time. A trip to the Fotomat was highly anticipated--the roll finished and developed, it offered wonderful surprises, time travel, remembering and...

The Hard Work of Publishing Four Photo Books: Follow-up

A short while ago, I published this post: Publishing Four Very Important Photo Books in 2019 Since then, I've completed three of the books (one person couldn't get it together) and they're on their way. In the process, here's what I learned. 1. People don't know where their photos are. 2. They don't know how to...

Publishing Four Very Important Photo Books in 2019

It started with a social media post. And it was an idea that would change the world. See, these four books for four friends are the most significant photo books I'll publish this year. And they're not even my photos. Because those folks weren't going to make photo books. They weren't going to print any...

Film Photography is for Smart People who Don’t Like to Waste Time and Money

We have plenty of photographs.  What we really need is a curator! I was talking to my oldest brother, who is in these four pictures below with my Grandpop and Grandmom.  He was visiting my Dad's house and going through some boxes and came upon these photographs that were in an album, and he texted...

What Really is a Photograph? And What’s With All the Surveillance?

I went to my photo lab this week to pick up some black and white and color prints of my Dad and me sitting at a pub and restaurant on my last trip to Philly.  I always pick up small black and brown wood frames at yard sales and thrift stores whenever I find them...

Flips Are Slower Than Swipes

Perhaps it's special because it feels like an event when you're flipping pages.  Is that what makes it different? Maybe it's nostalgic.  Or just a wish to get away from all things digital, especially since so many of us are in front of our phones and computers all day. Call it a resurgence.  A return...

You’re Not a Photographer, Stop Saying You Are!

You’re not going to take less pictures. You’re not going to backup your pictures. You’re not going to print your pictures. So, you’re not really making photographs. (Just snaps/notes for a quick look/like.) In the future, you’re not going to have any photographs, Since there are no photographs. They don't exist. (You can’t save what...

Your House is On Fire. Or Floodwaters are Coming. What Do You Take?

[For the Millions of People who Lose Family Photographs Each Year] It's happened time and again in times of natural disasters, and every time, the answer is the same, when asked what do you take.  Photographs. "I'm taking the photographs.  Everything else is replaceable.  Those are not." No one is running into the house for...