Negatives in the Dark
Preserving the Craft of Darkroom Photography
Mark Muller
About the Artist
When I was a teenager my dad gave me his 1941 Kodak 35RF rangefinder film camera. I barely understood how to use this all-manual camera, but enjoyed taking photographs anyway, light leaks and all. I still have this camera, and one day I'll fix those light leaks! Ten years ago I got my first DSLR and found my photography passion. I enjoyed using techniques like panning and slow shutter speeds to show motion blur for birds in flight. Other interests included Intentional Camera Movement (ICM), street photography, and most recently creating abstract images from rust and peeling paint. For the past three years I've returned to shooting mostly film. I love using old film cameras with their mechanical knobs and dials. I also love the process of slowing down to think about what I'm shooting, and what settings to use. Although each image takes more time, I find that time flies by. So, "thank you, Dad" for sharing your love of photography with me!
When I was a teenager my dad gave me his 1941 Kodak 35RF rangefinder film camera. I barely understood how to use this all-manual camera, but enjoyed taking photographs anyway, light leaks and all. I still have this camera, and one day I'll fix those light leaks! Ten years ago I got my first DSLR and found my photography passion. I enjoyed using techniques like panning and slow shutter speeds to show motion blur for birds in flight. Other interests included Intentional Camera Movement (ICM), street photography, and most recently creating abstract images from rust and peeling paint. For the past three years I've returned to shooting mostly film. I love using old film cameras with their mechanical knobs and dials. I also love the process of slowing down to think about what I'm shooting, and what settings to use. Although each image takes more time, I find that time flies by. So, "thank you, Dad" for sharing your love of photography with me!
About the Work
Using a panoramic camera, I wanted to explore if including film sprocket holes in an image might add to its impact. I focused mostly on black and white film, wondering if its strength in showing off lines and shapes in a scene could be complemented with the graphic squares of sprocket holes. So I looked for strong shapes in wide settings. I found airplanes, boulders, and buildings. I found that sometimes the sprocket holes closely match shapes in the scene, which is fun. And sometimes I think the sprocket holes add a certain vintage vibe, and that they work especially well with older, vintage subjects. But, the jury is still out! What do you think?
Using a panoramic camera, I wanted to explore if including film sprocket holes in an image might add to its impact. I focused mostly on black and white film, wondering if its strength in showing off lines and shapes in a scene could be complemented with the graphic squares of sprocket holes. So I looked for strong shapes in wide settings. I found airplanes, boulders, and buildings. I found that sometimes the sprocket holes closely match shapes in the scene, which is fun. And sometimes I think the sprocket holes add a certain vintage vibe, and that they work especially well with older, vintage subjects. But, the jury is still out! What do you think?
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