New to create the old
by Mark ~ February 6th, 2008. Filed under: art, artistry, nature photography, processing, wonder.
I subscribe to a CreativePro mailing list because they usually have some pretty good tutorial articles posted on occasion. Recently they posted one about using Photoshop to make your photos take on that old, faded, yellowish look. Anyone that has a non-archival photo album around from 10-20 years ago knows this look quite well if you have bothered to crack that thing open lately. It is not the first time I have seen such a tutorial – there are a few around to achieve that ‘old photo’ look, or attempts to replicate the look of older cameras, like the Holga.
It just got me thinking about the irony of doing these manipulations. We use the latest software and technology, perhaps made on the latest digital cameras, to try to revert back to a look created by using non-archival materials, or dime-store equipment. Perhaps it is more for gimmick, or perhaps some feel a loss of connection with the tactile and fragile nature of photographs in the digital age. Maybe it is for the pure art of it. We have methods to try to restore old photographs to look more modern, and methods to take modern photographs to make them look old. Methods to try to reduce noise and grain, only to put it back in because an image looks too smooth. Go figure.
I wonder if the orange hue due to ozone fading of dye-based inkjet prints will ever become nostalgic? How about badly pixelated JPEGS?. 
I admit I have tried some of these techniques just to play with the artistic effects, but haven’t found much application in most of my work. I have some old snapshots from a 110 cartridge film camera from when I was around 12 years old. I can’t see myself trying to recreate that look again. What are some of your predictions of the characteristics of today that we may look back on and try to replicate in the future?
February 7th, 2008 at
Mark, this is so true. But! I think to go back in time and re-do something in order to make it look old is just for poor fun and I don’t seriously think that there is any further intent.
I still have some of my own old black and white photos made with a Revue camera (still perfectly functioning and my very first camera in life) in 1967 when I was 16 years old!! Can you imagine. But to my surprise they don’t look like vintage photos at all – they are still crisp and there is absolutely no yellow vintage sheen on them. What shall I do now????LOL
February 7th, 2008 at
ah I forgot – I think it is the same thing with playing music on old vinyls – some people swear it’s the best to hear some music with all that crackling noise in the background instead of digitally re-mastered!
February 7th, 2008 at
I don’t know about current characteristics that future generations might seek to replicate, but I remember the graininess of my ever-reliable DISC camera. (That thing even survived being dropped down a steep flight of wooden stairs. They don’t make ‘em like they used to–both in good AND bad ways!
February 7th, 2008 at
Great read! It is ironic Mark, and it does make you think about what the heck we are photographing for and why we spend so much money on new, latest technology equipment. Between retro styles and soft-focus, painterly effects, all of which I like, I think I should never buy another camera again.
February 10th, 2008 at
I’m with you. I’m still trying to figure out the settings on my camera, so I can get clearer shots of movement. I really need more equipment, though…a tripod, a digiscope. One of these days…
February 10th, 2008 at
My friend a wedding photographer shoots through an old box camera(with a top viewer) with his digital camera and gets some neat shots.
I guess some people like antiques and some like old photos.
One lady from my area stains hers with tea! Go figure.
Nice shot. I would love to see this area one day.
February 12th, 2008 at
My husband purchased a LensBaby for me for Christmas, so I could try something a bit more “artistic” and expand my horizons a little. I was discussing this with another photographer and he commented on how we spend thousands getting the best glass and optics available – and then we do something insane and throw an item like a LensBaby in front of our expensive cameras to make everything out of focus!
Now that I just started trying out the LensBaby, I’m wondering the same thing myself…I can take blurry photos on any given day! But I guess it’s the challenge of making a creative use of a very selective blur with a great sweet spot that is the allure. I haven’t gotten it yet…
February 12th, 2008 at
I didn’t think of the Lensbaby, but you are right, it kinda falls in the same concept – but the Lensbaby can do things that normal lens can’t.