THE LOVE OF FILM PHOTOGRAPHY
I love shooting film because of the magic. From loading the film into the back of the camera, to manually rewinding it once the roll is complete, this ritual instantly slows everything down right from the beginning. It allows me to pay close attention to the details such as lighting and composition, which encourages me to feel my photographs as I am taking them more thoroughly.
The anticipation of waiting, sometimes weeks, to see the end result, has made me more patient. These are the magical moments that film provides for me and the project. Also shooting with a rangefinder, allows me to incorporate elements on the periphery. With a wider view; elements of the story unfold with feeling, allowing the viewer to connect. Of course, this is far more costly and time-consuming. Instant gratification takes a backseat.
With all of those challenges, I wanted to slow things down for the A Changing Oakland project. Often, I feel as if I am missing moments when shooting digital; it can be a distraction, looking at my images constantly, taking me away from moments that tell the story, while fixated on the looking upon images that I have just made.
Film brings to an end the distractions that arise from subjects wanting to share the moment of looking at pictures. In this way, both photographer and subject can relax and allow life to happen.
Bryan Wiley, A Changing Oakland Director
