The Art of Analog

Sometimes it’s just better to take it slow…

I've always loved shooting on film, especially for capturing personal moments. Some of my favorite shots are at friends' weddings, and vacations with family. I get to live in the moment alongside my subjects rather than aiming to fulfill a specific shot list.

Mindy at sea.

I've also recently found solace in listening to music on Vinyl Records. I love that you have to stop every four or five songs and actually stand up to flip the record; it has a slower rhythm to the experience, similar to how shooting with film limits you to thirty six shots on a roll.

Analog experiences, be it with film or vinyl, offer a more deliberate and tactile experience. When you take a photo digitally, you look at it instantly, and if it isn't right, you snap ten or a hundred more photos without even thinking about it. But with film, you make sure that photo is even worth taking in the first place.

Similarly, playing a vinyl record involves a deliberate ritual, fostering a deeper connection to the music. You pick up the album off the shelf, inspect the artwork on the cover, take it out, dust the disk off, gently place it on the turntable and then you begin listening to the music. It isn't Spotify where you can instantly get a playlist of thousand songs curated to your taste, hit shuffle and forget about it. Not to mention album art is now an after thought for listeners, something you check out as a tiny three by three square on your phone.

Night out in Chicago.

For me, those analog experiences are practice; I put on an album and try to focus my attention on the music and let it guide my thoughts; if something else comes up, I let it move out of my mind so I can focus on the music again. Just as with film, I let myself take more time to enjoy the process of waiting for the perfect shot. Some days it’s really hard to focus, but the more consistently I practice these slower forms of taking in my environment and using all of my senses the more in tune I am with how to get into an authentic flow state of creativity.

Sebastian in Colorado.

When I photograph professionally, there is a lot of planning involved to ensure all technical elements of the shoot are worked out ahead of time. Knowing this prep work is done helps me get in that focused mindfulness state that I practice on analog and things just start to flow. Often new and better ways to execute a shoot that never occurred to me in the planning phase come to mind. I’ve found the more I practice getting into that state while there isn't money on the line, the more prepared I am for when there is.

Tybee as a punk rock baby.

So here’s your friendly reminder to slow down, engage your senses, and appreciate the depth that deliberate, intentional actions bring. Whether in photography or life, analog practices encourage us to savor the moment and enjoy the journey.