Why Film?
I fell in love with photography on my first overseas trip to Paris in 2007, but it wasn't until I started shooting film in 10th grade (2008) that I began to understand the craft behind the art form. Not simply was I capturing a moment now frozen in time, but I was [light] painting that story onto paper. With film, I shoot on a fully manual camera (without even a light meter), taking the idea I see in my head, thoughtfully capturing it onto film, developing the film myself and then printing in my darkroom, all the while using my own judgement to create the art rather than relying on technology to do so. It's a meditative process: because I have to concentrate on choosing the right settings based on available light needed to capture the story I'm interested in, the rest of the world simply melts away. I love shooting film as much for the enjoyment and integrity of the creation process as I do for the final product.
Why Street Photography?
While wandering through Manhattan in April, I found a backdrop I loved and knelt down in the middle of the sidewalk to capture street portraits. Not 3 frames later, a gruff man asked whether I was an art student, which I laughingly affirmed. He then asked if I could watch his belongings - a suitcase and a giant painted canvas - while he washed paint off his shoe, offering to pay me a dollar. I declined the money, instead asking if I could make his portrait in exchange. Obviously, he agreed, and then we chatted about paint stains for a few minutes. To me, this illustrates the power of photography; not in simply creating evocative images, but in making genuine connections.
My renewed deep-dive into the world of film street photography has helped me to even better create artistic storytelling images for my portrait clients.
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When I say I want to photograph someone, what it really means is that I’d like to know them. Anyone I know I photograph. ”
Original Print Sales
Rather than simply keep these little stories to myself, my aim is to spread the love of ordinary people, of beautiful lands and of the art of analog photography with others. I sell original prints of my work developed by hand by me in my darkroom. You can choose your commissioned print from any of the offered images here. If you've seen one on social media that isn't offered on my website, email me at adrian@adrianetheridgephotography.com to let me know which image you want!
I currently offer film from my travels in Ireland, NYC, Portland, Iceland, London and my hometown of Asheville. I also have travel prints shot in digital format available from Paris, Scotland, Iceland, Ireland, NYC, Portland and Asheville, sold here.