TV82-14

Admire, Objectify, and Capture

“An exotic, soulful, native of wherever, is performing heartfelt cultural music on what is no doubt an exotic native instrument” we might think. Our touristic gaze tends to reduce this image to an objectified, clichéd trope. The Camera, and its indiscriminate use when confronted with the Other, often embodies this tendency of ours, which is however, natural and not necessarily ill-intentioned. One hopes that we can be afforded the opportunity to explore and, in some manner, start to come to terms with these other Places.

Photos were taken in December of 1981/November of 1981 with a Ricoh Singlex TLS 35 mm SLR equipped with a 55 mm f/1.7 Prinz Auto Rexatar lens/ 55 mm f/1.7 Prinz Auto Rexatar with close up lenses, on Kodak Tri-X Pan/Kodak Plus-X Pan film. The negatives were enlarged optically with a Beseler 23CIIXL enlarger and a 50 mm f/2.8 Schneider Componon-S lens on Ilford Multigrade FB Classic Double Weight Fiber Base silver gelatin photo paper. Processing was done archivally using Kodak chemistry, with a final toning with Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner, treated with hypo clearing agent, and washed in an archival washer.

All aspects of these prints were handled in an authentic, pre-digital manner. Archival processing will ensure the maximum life span for these prints.

This diptych (1/25), both prints on 8” x 8” paper, is available for purchase, mounted or unmounted. Please contact me if interested. Thank You.