Hey there. Today, I figured we'd take another behind-the-scenes look at a unique film photography technique I'm excited to use on a new project for a client. With the concept fresh in my mind, let's dive into why this approach is so special.
You know those visuals that just seem to carry a timeless quality? Consider those atmospheric old movie sets that seamlessly blend hand-painted backdrops with the tangible world, transporting you to an entirely different place, or those anime scenes drawn by hand, where each frame pulsates with life.
Then, there's the undeniable authenticity of real, adrenaline-fueled action—like the classic car chases in the 1971 movie "Vanishing Point" or the heart-stopping stunts in old-school action films. No CGI, just raw talent, real danger, and that unbeatable thrill. This kind of genuine craftsmanship and energy, that vibe that's full of life, is precisely what I aim to embrace with my film photography, when appropriate, especially when working with large-format film.
In today's digital age, it's all too easy to overlook the raw intensity and depth that traditional techniques bring to visual storytelling. The meticulously hand-drawn frames of Studio Ghibli's animations or Alfred Hitchcock's carefully orchestrated suspense sequences exemplify the impact of these methods. Like the authentic stunts and car chases that inject movies with an irreplaceable sense of excitement and realism, employing traditional film techniques in photography captures a similar depth and vibrancy. Despite the additional challenges presented by these traditional methods in a digital-centric world, the heightened attention to detail and the meticulous, thoughtful approach required for each shot truly set them apart from what's typically produced online, embodying a distinctiveness that's becoming increasingly scarce.
Building on a tradition of genuine craftsmanship in visual storytelling, I'm currently engaged in a project that explores the intricate art of multi-exposures on 4x5 film. This technique, far from the more common double exposures, involves a deliberate and thoughtful process where parts of the film are meticulously blocked to prevent light from recording on them. This allows for the composition and exposure of different sections of the frame in subsequent shots, crafting a layered image that is both complex and harmonious.
The magic of this process lies in its demands for foresight and precision. Each exposure is planned with the utmost care, considering how separate elements will coalesce into a single, cohesive image on one sheet of film. It’s a dance of light and shadow, where every decision—from the fraction of the frame exposed to the duration of the exposure—must be calculated with precision.
For example, if we were to create a triple exposure, the process would unfold as follows:
Conceptualize the Final Image: Before even touching the camera, the final image must be visualized. This is where creativity leads, guiding the subsequent technical decisions. Imagine how each exposure will layer together to form the complete composition.
Sketch Your Ideas: It can be beneficial to sketch out the composition, especially when planning for multiple exposures like three. Divide your sketch into sections that represent each exposure, creating a visual roadmap. This step is crucial for envisioning how the parts will come together and planning the masking effectively.
Mark the Ground Glass and Mask Off the Film Plane: With a clear plan in place, the next step involves marking the ground glass to guide your composition and masking off the film plane accordingly. This preparation ensures that each exposure is precisely aligned with your vision, laying the foundation for the final, harmonious image.
Drawing from a rich tradition of ingenuity, this meticulous approach to creating layered images echoes the creativity and precision of early filmmakers and photographers. They crafted, employed, and continuously innovated with similar techniques, setting the stage for complex visual storytelling long before the advent of digital tools for editing and effects. The pioneering work of these artists laid the groundwork for the kind of photography I, and many others, are passionate about today—where every frame tells a story, and every image is a celebration of the blend of technique, creativity, and narrative.
--
🎥
