If you’re into photography, chances are you’ve amassed hundreds of files scattered across your phone, hard drives, and various cloud storage platforms. As highlighted in my earlier post, I began the process of printing my analog photographs in a local public darkroom (West End Darkroom). Before that, I began the process of printing my digitized images at a nearby print shop (Rocket Repro). Even if you’re not particularly drawn to analog photography, printing your pictures can be a game-changer.
“A photograph doesn’t feel real until it is a tangible physical object I can hold in my hand.” – Stephen Johnson
Let’s be honest – digital images are great, but there’s a certain magic in holding a tangible print. You can sense the vibe, appreciate the texture, and discover details you might not have noticed before. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that you print every single photo. Yet, every now and then, printing your favorites is worth it. You don’t need a roll of film or a darkroom to start printing. Just drop by your local print shop (or use online print services), upload those digital treasures, and voila – you can now touch your memories!
Unlike scrolling through endless folders on a hard drive, physical prints evoke a unique warmth and vitality. Holding a print in your hands brings you back to the essence of the moment – you can almost feel the laughter, smell the salty air, or relive the joy. There’s a certain magic in the imperfections of a print – the slight texture, the subtle variations in color or shades – it adds a human touch that goes beyond the clinical perfection of a digital file.
“When you make prints you deepen your relationship with your images.” – John Paul Caponigro
Let’s also not overlook the harsh reality of hard drives crashing. We’ve all been there – accumulating a treasure trove of precious photographs over the years, only to face the devastating loss when a hard drive decides to call it quits. It’s a digital nightmare that can erase years of memories in an instant.
So Cheers to printing – transforming grains or pixels into something intentional and tangible. Whether you’re in the darkroom or using a print shop, let’s revel in the authenticity of our pictures!
Last-minute update: One of my darkroom prints, alongside others from the West End Photographic Society, will be showcased at the West End Community Center in Vancouver, BC throughout March and April 2024. So, If you’re nearby, feel free to take a look.
