This week’s Member Moment features work by Ci Song, who is featured in our upcoming 5th Annual Student Show. His experimental black and white photography captures a version of reality that is softer, even nearing dreamlike. Scroll down to see his pictures and to read the interview!
PL: What got you interested in photography?
CS: Long story, but the moment I started to photograph seriously because I realised the importance of (analogue) photography in our time now within the history of art.
PL: What type of camera do you shoot with?
CS: Toyofield 4x5 for the most part.
PL: When taking pictures, what are some objects or elements or feelings within a scene that inspire you to take a photo?
CS: Of course light is what I look for the most. Right now, in summer, I like to look at the leaves and the way the light goes through the gap between the leaves and branches. I like that focus fall off the 4x5 can create.
PL: Of the pictures you submitted, can you share an interesting story about one?
CS: The one from Junior Project, while making the photograph, I thought I would come back to make another image, for there are cars limiting how I can compose the image. but my teacher said it was complete. The many times I walked past it later, cars are just all around the tree that I could not make another one of this tree.
PL: What do you enjoy most about digital/film photography and what is challenging about it?
CS: Film allows me to be more present while shooting as I have to be particular with what I shoot. Digital allows photography to feel more like a science, which is a feeling I feel more familiar with, and allows for more experimentation without fear of repercussion.
PL: Do you have any goals or ideas of how you want to grow this collection of photographs?
CS: I like film photography for it is a direct transfer of reality. Artificial intelligence will not compete because it exists in a different world. All my photographs are generally printed with traditional (analogue) processes, by interacting with real life objects.
Instead of manipulating a digital file, I prefer the simplicity and natural process of making the image with the camera; whatever was seen on the ground glass usually is what the final image will look like, just in B&W. If I am creating an abstract image, which I have made and loved a few, it is still based on reality, the physical manipulation of light.
There is no implication of negativity towards digital photography. There are different uses in each processes.
