Film photography is another tool that I plan to use more often as I photograph Wisconsin. The authenticity and honesty that a film photograph creates is a powerful tool for a photojournalist as I photograph the landscapes, communities, and people of Wisconsin. My career in photojournalism started in the film world and quickly transitioned into digital.
My return to film started with pinhole photography that I exhibited at art festivals around the Midwest. At the start of the pandemic, I built a darkroom in our basement and used vintage cameras to shoot film. I fell in love with film all over again. Film became my therapy to keep myself sane during the lockdown that took away my livelihood and purpose in photography I enjoyed from art festivals.
As I continue to photograph Wisconsin some projects I hope to photography solely with film cameras. Maybe even a future photography book? My Around Wisco Analog Instagram page is the showcase of my Wisconsin film photography.
The Driftless Area
My first long-term project will be photographing the Driftless Area of Wisconsin on black and white film. The Driftless Area is a scenic rural area I’m excited about exploring more. In My Ice Age Trail project, I explored the glaciated parts of Wisconsin. Being the Driftless Area is the Southeastern part of the state that was not covered by glaciers it’s a fascinating new area to explore.
Read more about why I use film.
The Driftless Area is full of natural beauty and small communities full of interesting residents. I look forward to exploring and meeting interesting people in the coming years. This will give my film photography a meaningful new direction that may someday be another book project. Black and white images on film I think are a great way to capture the landscapes, communities, and people of the Driftless Area.
I say the Driftless project is a “long-term” project because this may never be published in a book. A black and white photography book would be a big risk to try and sell. If nothing else it will give an outlet to continue my film obsession.