We'll also let you know what's going on around the community pertaining to photography and the arts. This will allow us a chance to keep you apprised on what other places are doing that interest us.
Lastly, we may post occasional essays and opinions—written either by me, a friend, or an associate—on topics that we hope will interest you. I have other PhotoSynthesis blogs in mind that you should start seeing in the near future—blogs with more narrowly defined topics than this one.
The following is a repost from our original web log. I just felt I had to carry it over.
Not everyone will understand why I would want to open a business with a large emphasis on what most would consider a dying discipline of an industry with a firm foothold in a digital era. I would be in denial if I didn't believe that digital photography is without a doubt the superior method for professional photographers to produce a finished product for their clients. Successful digital image capture can be immediately confirmed. Computers, printers, and editing software allow photographers complete control over their images, avoiding the need of darkroom chemistry and even photo labs if so desired. Photos can be uploaded and stored on the internet, downloaded by a client, or ordered online and printed and delivered by a lab. These things are really only possible in analog photography if one goes through the laborious process of digitizing one's negatives or positives. So, why bother with the effort and cost of building a darkroom and offering it for others to use?
The main purpose of this business—PhotoSynthesis, LLC— is to promote photography as an art. Just as sculptors can work in clay, bronze, wood, or stone, photographers can work in various light-sensitive media. The medium to be chosen is determined by the desired outcome. Some would have you believe that manipulated digital inkjet output is the only choice. This is but one choice, and perhaps even the best one at times, but is not the only option. Silver gelatin, salted paper, cyanotype, van Dyke brown, and platinum are just a few other viable options in the world of fine art photography. Each of these has its own benefits and its own drawbacks over other processes, and a photographer may choose any of them for any reason he or she sees fit. One process is not necessarily better than another in the world of art, just different.
This is why I chose to incorporate a darkroom in this business. Yes, PhotoSynthesis offers digital output services, and there is a digital workstation and wide-format printers available for customer use. I also offer studio services—product photography and the like, and yes, this photography will typically be shot digitally, as dictated by the end result—websites, catalogs, and so forth. One may also rent this studio. So you see that I am not one who shuns digital photography, however, the soul of PhotoSynthesis lies in tradition and its incorporation into a modern digital age, and I aim to do my small part to help keep traditional photographic arts alive by offering workshops and short-term classes. PhotoSynthesis has the resources available to help you realize your vision. These resources include tools for dry-mounting and matting, and yes, a darkroom.
The main purpose of this business—PhotoSynthesis, LLC— is to promote photography as an art. Just as sculptors can work in clay, bronze, wood, or stone, photographers can work in various light-sensitive media. The medium to be chosen is determined by the desired outcome. Some would have you believe that manipulated digital inkjet output is the only choice. This is but one choice, and perhaps even the best one at times, but is not the only option. Silver gelatin, salted paper, cyanotype, van Dyke brown, and platinum are just a few other viable options in the world of fine art photography. Each of these has its own benefits and its own drawbacks over other processes, and a photographer may choose any of them for any reason he or she sees fit. One process is not necessarily better than another in the world of art, just different.
This is why I chose to incorporate a darkroom in this business. Yes, PhotoSynthesis offers digital output services, and there is a digital workstation and wide-format printers available for customer use. I also offer studio services—product photography and the like, and yes, this photography will typically be shot digitally, as dictated by the end result—websites, catalogs, and so forth. One may also rent this studio. So you see that I am not one who shuns digital photography, however, the soul of PhotoSynthesis lies in tradition and its incorporation into a modern digital age, and I aim to do my small part to help keep traditional photographic arts alive by offering workshops and short-term classes. PhotoSynthesis has the resources available to help you realize your vision. These resources include tools for dry-mounting and matting, and yes, a darkroom.
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