Quick Shot: Big Ben(s)

As I often do, I shared these photos with some family and friends before sharing them online. When I sent these to my dad, he replied with the following question, which I thought was worthy of sharing and answering online:

"Why waste all that film when you could use photoshop to more accurately and directly control the images?"

Well (dad) and everyone else - it's not about the most effective way to create an image.... it's about art, creativity, and fun! If I sat down at my computer with a blank Photoshop document, I would never have dreamed up the images I created. And assuming I had thought up these photographs, I would have spent hours manipulating and playing with them to be 'perfect' rather than accepting the creative randomness that I experienced.

I really didn't put much pre-visualization into these double exposures - which is unlike most of my photography. Normally I have clearly planned my perfect image in my head before I arrive on site or take the photograph. Although film photography means I don't know the results of my shoot until after I've developed the film, I still try to pre-plan photographs. The exception came with these double exposures.

I knew the general themes I wanted, but much of the final composition was to be decided in person. It was only when I was looking at Big Ben that I decided to try and compose upside down. It was only after I took that shot that I thought "I bet it would look interesting sideways." Being creative and artistic means that sometimes you operate without a plan and try something crazy. It means that sometimes you try something you couldn't do in Photoshop!

Shot with the Hasselblad 503CX on Ilford Delta 100 film.