Kevin Parsons lives in Western Australia and treasures an awesome stash of photographs. These vivid recollections are a result of his mother, who took fiercely intimate photographs as a photographer in the Midwest during the 50s and 60s. This beloved collection includes a unique variety of photography slides and home movies shot on 8-millimetre film reels. It features mostly colourful images of life in and around Geraldton, just over 400 kilometres north of Perth. Parsons, looking back on that time, compares the magic of old school photography to the digital world we live in today.
Parsons fondly remembers evenings dedicated to showcasing these slideshows, where family and friends gathered to relive moments captured on film. “We used to have film nights in those days and get family and friends to come over and watch,” he reminisced. Today, at the age of 90, he finds himself utilizing a mobile phone for photography, valuing its simplicity over the more complex processes of his youth. “It’s a lot easier to get it on there and you look at it immediately,” he explained.
The Shift in Photography’s Essence
Dr Emily Brink is an associate professor in the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Education at the University of Western Australia. She sheds new light on the changing role of photography itself. She convincingly argues that authorship should still be at the heart of today’s conversations around photography. “Authorship is really at the heart of all these questions, over and above the image itself,” she stated.
Brink observes that early photography was itself often a memorializing practice, capturing moments imperfectly but ensuring a story was told in the process. Digital photographs circulating on the web these days possess an almost dazzlingly slick sheen. This longing for precision leaves room for authenticity to be lost in translation. “The way that we are experiencing our lives now is so increasingly mediated by the photograph,” she pointed out.
Brink found a really intriguing change in people’s preferences. It’s no wonder so many people are enchanted by “vintage” photos—imperfect features that have all but disappeared in the age of digital perfection. “I want to believe that a photographer is still somebody who is choosing to take an image, not choosing to purely make an image,” she added, highlighting a fundamental difference in intention behind photographic practices.
The Impact of Social Media and Identity
And that’s the second key element of today’s photo-environment. As Brink noticed during his extensive tour, people easily compartmentalize their online selves from their real lives. “Your personality gets split between the social media personality you’re constructing and the person you are actually, you know, who you are in the world,” she explained.
Hierophante (Valentin Mermet-Bouvier), a speaker at a recent conference, echoed this sentiment, noting that while some may perceive younger generations as self-obsessed, this view oversimplifies the dynamics of sharing images today. “I think people have always been like that. The only thing that’s changed is the possibility of sharing pictures,” he remarked.
Through the lens and the shared human experience, Mermet-Bouvier pointed toward a different picture, one without walls. “It just proves that we have the same need of sharing the same thing when we’re in the same situation,” he said, indicating that despite advancements in technology, the core human desire to connect remains unchanged.
Nostalgia and Modern Experience
Parsons’ memories serve as a testament to photography’s ability to evoke nostalgia. He recalls his mother’s talent for capturing beautiful landscapes and moments in nature: “Mum took some really good photos at times, especially out in the bush, good scenery.” His collection serves to not only protect personal history, but he encourages you to think back on how the world’s views towards photography has changed.
As digital imaging continues to prevail, traditional film photography has transitioned into a specialized art form. This change prompts serious consideration about authenticity and expertise in an age of perfectly filtered Instagram photos to optimize eyeball engagement. Penny Dr. Brink makes the case that today’s virtual photography provides upped control. It’s about producing a vision, not just documenting a snapshot of existing conditions.
