∴The Quickness of Light∴

Turning photographs into Object Art

I was told once that every photographer wants to make a book.

Making a book of photographs is a stab at addressing a particular insecurity, I think. A photograph is, or at least seems to be, instant, whether you think of how long it takes to press the release button or the scant blink of a shutter. Every photographer reading this will probably splutter in horror - ‘Think of the time spent seeking out the photographable! The staging and composition! There’s little instant about developing, editing and heartfelt display!’ The snarkiest might chime in acidically ‘Not to mention the storage.’ But the bit that everyone sees, and the impression left, is of a moment.

The art that resembles photography - illustration, painting, text and film - is typically displayed along with photography on a sheet of paper, or some kind of conceptual stand-in like a canvas or screen. What photography doesn’t share is the implicit evidence of having taken much time to make.

We, the educated and thoughtful looker, know there’s nothing quick about making a painting, or an illustration. Text is written line by line, by line, and film requires everyone you’re seeing on-screen plus a credit roll of people off-. If ‘photo’ means ‘light’ as I’m given to believe then it’s right there in the name how long it at least advertises it takes to make.

What I’m getting at is that photographs can seem slight in comparison to their braggy hand-made and time-sunk compatriots. And so in order to combat this (un?warranted?) feeling of time-sink paucity and modal thinness, it’s pretty common to put photos in a book.

Or a zine, which is what I did.

I’m in the thick of filming an in-depth how-to about how to make a photo zine. That video will live here and hopefully help everyone who wants to make one too. As well: I’m going to share a text and image version of that how-to here on Substack, and on my website. You, the reader of this, the penultimate sentence, are likely more inclined to that format.

If you have anything you’d like me to talk about in the guide, please let me know and I’ll work it in!

Cheers,

Chris