Greetings. I’m Christian Payne aka Documentally, over-sharer, photographer and journal-ist. In this weekly dispatch I seek out novelty, explore how we share, what we share and consume, plus where we might be going. Thanks for stopping by.
#TheAction
There have been some stand out moments this week. Great food, some laughs, a little concern, time with friends, an ale in a church, lots of walking and a writing milestone. Weirdly birds have also featured. Bird tattoos. A bird flying into my shed. A crow that followed me on a dog walk. Ten minutes of me standing in the cold with a camera waiting for a flock of birds to leave a sunlit roof. And yesterday I watched a swan, standing on icey pond, let out an almighty screech before rocket-pooping a massive pellet onto the ice. It steamed like a little geyser.
#ThePictures
After every one has already watched the second series of The Last of Us, I’ve just started the first.
I’ve been trawling Vimeo looking for films that have been up for a while but had less than 100 views. There is quite a lot of them. At time of posting this had 67.
Steve Lawson reminded me this week of this advert he made 14 years ago.
His next house concert will be in San Jose 7.30 on Sunday 21st January, Tickets are 'pay what you want' with a suggested donation of $20-30. If you want the address ping him a message.
This makes me want to get an Xbox.
#TheWords
I started writing about how this week I’d discovered that I started keeping journals and documenting over 40 years ago. But the post got a bit long so I shared those first ever words with supporting subscribers here.
#TheSound
I’m enjoying field recordist and instrumentalist Cosmo Sheldrake’s new release Eye to the Ear. He sounds like no-one else.
#TheConsumed
I’m taking a break from coffee to see how my body reacts. I only have one strong cup a morning and so far the test is inconclusive. Not sure if i’m sleeping any better or that I have any less energy. I was missing the ritual though, so started using a tea diffuser.
I’m currently enjoying White rose and raspberry white tea, which I think might have been ‘borrowed’ from a hotel. It’s bloody lovely. I had a few strong large cups in a day as I was pretty sure it’s really low in caffeine. But weirdly I felt a slight sense of euphoria. After mentioning it to someone they said I could have been ‘tea drunk’.
I’d never heard of the term. But now I’ve read stuff and learned a bit, I think I might experiment with some more weird and wonderful teas. I just wish there was a tea logging app like Untappd is for beer.
The shop Muji sell these weird little dehydrated soup cubes. Just add water.
As with most food photography the hot and sour tomato soup mix with beansprouts and bamboo shoots looked nothing like what’s on the Muji website. In fact mine looked more like a pub ashtray left out in the rain. Don’t let that put you off though. It was pretty good and I’d consider packing a load of this and some of their other dehydrated food for camping trips.
#TheBody
I’m still enjoying meditating daily. Day 152 now. There have been some quite amazing sessions but I’m finding time spent in the morning is far better then trying to cram it in at the end of the day. If I meditate late in the day then I’m fighting sleep. If I meditate before the day really kicks off, it sets me up in a great frame of mind and it never fails to be a ‘good’ day.
#TheThings
It’s just a thing. That’s what I keep telling myself.
And it is a thing in the physical sense. A lens stuck to a box. In which you need to add film in order for it to reach its full potential.
And then it’s a tool that documents the passing of time, preserves memories, creating a visual history on sharable objects we can collectively reflect upon. It’s also a scientific instrument, a communication device, an artistic medium and a reflection of society’s need to curate our lives through images.
And as we capture images, it influences how we communicate with, perceive and interact with the world around us.
Of course any camera will do this. And I have a few I can pick from. Including and especially the one on my phone. Which I use to take most of the pictures in this publication.
So why acquire a Leica M7. Especially as I already have a Leica M6. My reasons are tangible and intangible.
Firstly, I bought this particular camera from a generous family member who made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. I’d also wanted to try the only M with aperture priority.
Also Leica is well known for the quality of their lenses and I have a few that get little use. Leica glass also gives a distinctive look many try to emulate.
From an aesthetic perspective, there is something about an analogue machine and its precision craftsmanship and durability. This is also why I often put on a record rather than stream music. Beautiful machines work with us, inspire us and remind us that something special is happening.
A beautiful camera in the hand encourages a slower, more thoughtful approach to the photographic process. Perhaps even a deeper engagement with the subject.
Then there is my love hate relationship with film.
It has got really expensive recently. And hard to find round my way at least. I must've walked around six or seven different shops asking the same question. “Do you sell camera film?” The one place that said yes showed me an SD card and when I said “No. I'm actually talking about 35mm camera film that comes in rolls.” The assistant in boots thought for a moment and said, “Have you tried the antique shop?”
So it’s more niche than ever and possibly soon to be a lost art. I ended up getting the film online. Analogue photography certainly has a different feel, look and discipline compared to shooting digital. Each frame is precious, and I can find myself thinking far more about what I am doing.
I’m looking forward to reminding myself how to develop my own film and in a world of AI generated or manipulated images, a negative is a wonderful piece of provenance for a photographic document.
There are of course other film cameras out there. Here is someones’s idea of the world’s best film cameras of all time. The Leica M series features in the list and so if you are lucky enough to try the ‘best’ why not?
Yes some people will wear their camera as a status symbol and preach on its heritage and legacy — And long may that continue. The more buzz and fervour around this machine, the better it will hold its value. My M6 is worth far more than I paid for it. Looked after, they can make a good investment. Providing people still want to use film.
There is also a thriving community around the Leica brand. And although sharing the #Leica tags in the socials feels like a humble brag. The community has always been friendly and supportive with me.
So there we are. I had some money saved to buy a linear amplifier for my amateur radio and spent it on a great value Leica M7.
It’s just a thing. But it is a lovely thing that takes me places and helps me see things differently.
“For me, the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity.”
~ Henri Cartier-Bresson
#TheThanks
I must thank those that pay $5/month to support my efforts and keep the weekly dispatch free for all. If you enjoy these issues and would like access to the archive, please upgrade to become a paid supporter.
Or if you prefer you might like to buy me a coffee or send a tip via PayPal or Monzo. Either way… Thank you for reading.
#TheWeb
How can art retain meaning in an A.I Shaped social world?
Thanks for adding yourself to the Documentally community map
Mapping Middle-earth: The lopsided demographics of Tolkien’s universe
The incredible story of ultrarunner Courtney Dauwalter
Some of my other places include Letterboxd, Flickr, Strava, Untappd, LinkedIn, YouTube, Mastodon, a ham radio newsletter or search ‘Documentally’ in other places.
Street photography in The New Yorker.
The title of this dispatch comes from this post.
#TheEnd
Thanks for reading. And I hope subscribing, sharing and all that other stuff.
“This is the real secret of life -- to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realise it is play.” ~ Alan Watts
Play,
See you out there.
Over…
There’s only one series of The Last of Us so far. There are two games though!
I have some 35mm film knocking around but it’s almost certainly expired and given it’ll be in my office room, not been stored in anywhere approaching good condition...
As I write this I'm listening to Cosmo. I discovered him on Radio Paradise years ago. You haven't heard of Radio Paradise Christian? Give their multiple channel feed a try you may just like the way they do it.
Anyways… I noticed you haven't shared this deep dive into film manufacturing etc. done by Dustin on Smarter Every Day. It's a multiple video series but I had no idea of the complexity of making film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCxoZlFqzwA&list=PLjHf9jaFs8XXcmtNSUxoaENoWX4GD9oHB
I figured you may not have seen it as it's the sort of thing you would have shared.