Note: Film shots were digitized with a multi-pass high resolution negative scanner.

Shooting Aesthethics:

Adverse lighting creates the best chance for dramatic photographs. Successful photos are less likely under these conditions, but those that do materialize are of subsequently higher aesthetic value because they display physical qualities that eyesight cannot access. Low ISO values, small appertures, and long exposures comprise a way of seeing outside our experience, and for this reason produce images that are whimsical, filled with dynamic qualities to which we attach emotional interpretations. That much is my basic formula for photography; I hope you appreciate the results.

Texture, On Film & In Digital:

Texture isn't normally a priority in digital media, but rather something of a printing concern. However, there are ways of refining the finish of an image once it has been digitized to make sure printed versions will exhibit a more natural character.

Take a look at the full image above. The film grain is preserved, creating a mottled texture that flows across the entire image. A comparable digital image of the same scene will be flat in comparison, specially when using a high ISO setting.

In this digital image, there's nothing so dramatic as the fine granularity present in low ISO film, but there's still enough texture to emphasize shadows on snow. Some people may prefer film grain, while others may like the smoothness of digital quality. I like playing with them both, and feel each one can be used to make a dynamic image.