DETROIT: A film photography expedition
IT MAY SOUND LIKE A CRAZY IDEA TO CREATE AN EXCLUSIVE BLACK AND WHITE FILM TRIP IN 2023. BUT WE SAW SO MANY LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR NATIVE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS IN AN EXPERIENCE LIKE THIS. SHOOTING WITH FILM ENTAILS A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THE PHOTOGRAPHIC ACT, ONE WHERE TIME AND ANALYSIS IS IMPORTANT, BECAUSE EVERY SHOT COUNTS.
FOUR Entire days photographing a city’S recent history EXCLUSIVELY ON FILM and very long nights dedicated to developing and SCANNING THE NEGATIVES. Our travelers photographed in medium format and 35mm, the immediacy OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY was left aside for four DAYS TO DISCOVER A MORE PAUSED ANT THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO THE IMAGE CREATION.
© Damaris Rodriguez 2023
Julio is an expert in reviewing even the smallest detail of a route or a city through Google Maps. He reaches an unsuspected level of detail. The scouting for each photographic expedition has two stages: the long hours at the computer monitor where he researches and prepares the trip, then the investigation in situ that we do together, that is to say, the complete route or area traveled to the fullest to find the best places, themes and photographic gems for our travelers. This is how Detroit was developed for our photographers in B&W.
A city that has lived through a terrible economic depression yet with particular dignity and resilience offers a unique cultural richness. Warm and friendly people, beautiful light, and a history that goes from the first Ford plant where the Ford T was produced to the famous Motown label (Diana Ross & the Supremes, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson & the Jackson 5, the Marvelettes, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Lionel Richie, The Commodores, ...).
This particular expedition allowed us to relive our first trips to Morocco and India, which were absolutely on film; the digital format was still in development and provided neither the quality nor the confidence of today.
In Detroit, every frame was thought out; there were no thousands of photos, no bursts, no BKT, and accurate light metering; there was a pause, reflection, introspection, and an exciting wait each night while we developed all those negatives. Not everything, nor should it be instant gratification.
Roberto Mata
PLEASE ENJOY SOME OF THE PHOTOS RESULTING FROM THE trip, EACH ONE OF OUR PHOTOGRAPHERS SHOT WITH DIFFERENT CAMERAS, FILM STOCKS AND OF COURSE FROM THEIR PERSONAL POINT OF VIEW:
Oscar Valbuena / Mamiya C220
Alfredo Suels / Hasselblad 500c
Michel Catalan / Rolleiflex + Canon AE1
Damaris Rodríguez / Nikon F100
THIS TRIP ORGANIZED BY THE SCHOOL ALONG WITH LONG DISTANCE PHOTO EXPEDITIONS PURELY SHOT ON FILM WAS AN unprecedented experience up to that moment, now we hope to BE ABLE TO repeat it in another destination SOON! THANK YOU PHOTOGRAPHERS FOR JOINING US!
What’s next? Photo London / May 15/24 2024
