Sue Reno Studio: April 2024

April 10, 2024

Everything old is new again

I love making imagery, especially when it has the power to skew and alter the perception of reality. It's one of the reasons I enjoy working with cyanotype and wet cyanotype-- I can produce images that have a basis in actual objects, like leaves, but are altered by the process enough to invoke further study and contemplation.

So it seems inevitable that I am jumping on the trend of experimenting with film photography. Although to be accurate, for me this is not so much trend jumping as it is a blast from the past that is enabled by the current easier accessibility of film and developing services. Over time I've used all kinds of cameras, from Brownies, to 126s, to the last iteration of film cameras before digital tech (which I used to take slides of my work for show entries). And I've got a variety of digital cameras I rely on for documenting my work and travel adventures. But 35mm film cameras hold a particular appeal.

Part of it is just the physicality of the cameras themselves, their pleasing heft in one's hand, loading and unloading the spool of film, the satisfying click of the shutter and the even more satisfying film advance lever. And I love the warm tones of the photographs; this batch is from a Canon AE-1 loaded with Kodak Gold 400.

I am also rediscovering the joy of the internal debate over whether something is worthy of being photographed. This is not an inexpensive hobby, so I need to think carefully and focus well. I also have to accept that at this stage of the game, there will be some duds in each roll, a change to learn and improve.

I have no fixed agenda for these images, for now it is just exciting, and seems somehow important to experiment with. I'm up to three vintage cameras, with accessories, all loaded with different types of film, so there will be more of this forthcoming.

I invite you to take a moment to view and enjoy these images, and I thank you as always for your time and support.