now is the winter of our discontent…
Tired of the cold weather keeping you from getting out to make images? I know I am. I struggle with Raynaud syndrome which results in my hands becoming painful and useless after just a short exposure to cold temperatures. As a result I do not get out to shoot much these days.
As winter drags on and the days feel endlessly cold and gray, it’s easy to feel restless and bored. So, rather than wasting time longing for the warmth of spring and the chance to explore the world through your lens again, use this time to slow down, reflect, and find inspiration in the stories of those who see the world a little differently. These two stunning documentaries offer just that—insightful, beautifully shot films about the art of photography and the passion behind it.
In No Great Hurry: 13 Lessons in Life with Saul Leiter (2013) takes us into the quiet, contemplative world of Saul Leiter, a pioneer of color photography who chose a life of solitude over fame. This documentary takes us into his home and highlights Leiter's sometimes cantankerous, sometimes humorous take on life and photography. For me it was discovering Leiter’s painterly approach to capturing the world that was most informative. His philosophy — embracing imperfection, spontaneity, and the beauty of the overlooked— makes this a must-watch for anyone who finds magic in the everyday. For more on how painting influenced his photography, I recommend the article Saul Leiter, the New York Nabi (link here). (Available on Apple TV and Prime Video).
An Impossible Project (2020) is a celebration of analog photography’s revival, following Florian "Doc" Kaps, the man who led the charge to save Polaroid film from extinction. Shot entirely on 35mm film, this documentary is a vibrant, nostalgic journey that reminds us why physical, tangible images still matter in a digital world. If you love the romance of film photography and the passion of those who refuse to let it die, this is one to add to your watchlist. (Available on Apple TV and Prime Video, and sometimes YouTube).
So, as we wait for the first warm days of spring, let these films reignite your creative spark and remind you why photography—whether digital, film, or instant—is worth the wait.
And, speaking of "tangible", I hope that any readers of this blog who live in the area in and around Providence, Rhode Island will join us on the first Saturday of each month for "Analog Saturdays" at the Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts (RICPA). The event is an open session of discussions, presentations, exchanges and celebration of all forms of analog photography. I am hoping that we will become a community or collective with the goal of creating a zine highlighting the work of the members — something in print, something tangible.