Established in 2015 the Friends of Photography Group is a film photography…
Exhibition: Sheet Film
An Overview of work made in Victoria
‘In an age of short attention spans and instant gratification, that has applied to all aspects of life, there is a quiet rebellion happening.
We see imaging making devices get smaller, simpler, quicker to use and makes many acceptable images fast. Many many images. We are now overwhelmed with photographs. Our own and others. The amount of attention to detail is decreasing. The need to study and perfect a craft is disappearing.
Here is a group of 16 photographers who are rebelling against the instant ‘sugar hit’ of modern living. They have decided to use cameras who’s heritage goes back to the beginning of photography. These cameras take one sheet at a time. They take time to set up. The cost is high per photograph. Each image is considered. Each print is thought out.
The reward is fine detail. A feel that is only possible via analogue. Whether the artist wants the final print to be ethereal or stark detail it is possible with the knowledge of light, optics, chemistry, training and practice. This show has practitioners who have decades experience and those that are just starting out. This is a survey to encourage you, the viewer, to see photography differently’. XYZ Photo Gallery press release.
Photographers included: Avner ben-Arieh, Ellie Young, Keira Hudson, Andrew Green, Mark Darragh, Zo Damage, Hody Hong, Mat Hughes, Kevin Xue, David Pattinson, Shea Kirk, Kurt Baldonado, Charles Xie, Garrie Maguire, Lachlan Fysh, Ali Choudhry & Stuart Murdoch.
Main photograph above: Regenerating Eucalyptus woodland, Gariwerd/Grampians National Park. Victoria. 2022. Mark Darragh. Inkjet print from 4×5 transparency.
XYZ Photo Gallery. Melbourne until 2 July 2023
The XYZ Photo Gallery should be congratulated for putting this Sheet Film exhibition online, thereby enabling people outside Melbourne to see it. I do wish more galleries would embrace the internet and do this.
That is a superb photo by Mark Darragh of regenerating Eucalyptus woodland in Gariwerd/Grampians National Park. I didn’t know that Mark also worked in black and white.
Thank you, Gary. I do shoot a little bit of black and white film. In this instance the original is a 4×5 transparency but the colour is very subdued due to the cloud and low light together with the composition.
Garrie Macguire the director of XYZ is really passionate about providing an exhibition for photographers, particularly those working with film, who might not otherwise have opportunity to exhibit elsewhere.