Yep, again.
The last time I did this exercise was in 2021. So I wanted to do it again … well because … you know … I never got around to doing anything, even though I picked out at least a hundred or more pictures I wanted to give a second chance to. As usual, life decided to get in the way! Anyway, this time I had the old list to compare to.
Time gives you new perspectives and I was curious how I would see things now vs. five years ago. As I sat down to get started … and I hate to admit this … I saw that I had gone through my proof sheets for the first time several years before the 2021 go round. I still had that list. Same outcome. No new prints were made.
Going through my proof sheets again, I noticed there were a number of pictures that made the cut in 2021, but not now. And then there were some that I selected this time that weren’t included in the 2021 list.
Interesting.
Hopefully the third time will be the charm, and I won’t make same mistake I’ve made twice before and actually do something!
At least that’s the plan.
Here’s some of what I wrote a number of years ago and feel I the pretty much the same way … only twice as much I guess. “The question is why do so many images I recently peered at through the magnifying loupe somehow now look more appealing than they did at first glance? To be honest, I’m not completely sure. Perhaps a different perspective, a new point of view, or the fact that I am older and hopefully somewhat wiser. Or maybe I was too hasty the first time around.
I’m sure this could be psychoanalyzed, but the bottom line is that I’m not sure it really matters. What does matter is the fact that taking some time off and then going back to the sources can be illuminating. Just as it makes sense to study your finished prints for a while to confirm they are what you envisioned, or determine they need some more work … or belong in the trash.
There’s no shame if you find out that the circular file is the end result when looking at your finished work. In fact the trashcan, fireplace or whatever mechanism you use to dispose of the also-rans is one of the most important tools you have at your creative disposal! So please do go back through your old proof sheets. Maybe there won’t be anything there, or what you end up printing may be so-so … or maybe you might be surprised to find some overlooked keepers you somehow missed the first time around!”
Still sounds good to me and I look forward to getting started! This time I hope I follow my own advice!
Stay well,
Michael
Yes Michael, as we age we definitely see things differently. What we saw and felt before may not be the same as we feel now and vise versa. It’s normal. We are humans and our feelings and emotions change from minute to minute.
So yes, you are getting older, but getting wiser? I’ll have to get back to you on that.
Jeff,
Many thanks for your astute comments … except perhaps the last part!
Best,
Michael
Proof sheets, contact sheets. I often failed to make them. And what I have in my Florida $15/month storage cage, the negs most in binders but some loose, the slides, even small snapshots, I cannot know it all and I sometimes find a diamond in the rough. There is only one way out of this: When I get from Pittsburgh, where I have recently landed to Boynton Beach, start sending them off to Digital Silver Imaging (Boston) and see how this expensive project might go. One binder at first. Maybe another outfit can do it as well for less. And finally put out a book or two or three, if only for me.
Paul,
Back in the USA again I see. That sounds like a good plan. Books are great and self publishing through Blurb, etc. sounds like a wonderful way to go. I hope to do that myself!
Best,
Michael