Decay has its own charm

[Gianluca Drago]

Decay has its own charm. When we confront things that are fading, we’re really looking at ourselves in the mirror. Yesterday, I found myself in front of some urban graffiti that’s now peeling away — not a pretty sight, and yet the details had something worth photographing. Like little pieces of pop art. Or maybe like fragments of ancient maps, spared by time yet marked by age, evoking atlases, islands in uncharted seas, astronomical paths.
I guess it’s a kind of documentary photography. Nothing fancy. But I like it.

 

[Gary R. Smith]

Great series Gianluca! All subjects are united and the series is very colorful. I suspect that it would look great printed and on display.

 

[Gianluca Drago]

Great series Gianluca! All subjects are united and the series is very colorful. I suspect that it would look great printed and on display.

Thank you, @Gary R. Smith, I'm glad you liked it.

 

[Gary R. Smith]

Gianluca, do you ever print your photos for display (in a show or a one-person show in a shop)?

 

[Gianluca Drago]

Gianluca, do you ever print your photos for display (in a show or a one-person show in a shop)?

Since I switched from analogue to digital, I have only printed a few photos one single time, just to see if the RAW editing software I was experimenting with for the first time worked properly. It worked fine and I haven't printed since. The walls of my house are already cluttered with too many things and, honestly, I don't want to be faced with my photographic production every morning when I wake up, much less in a gallery or exhibition of which I would not be worthy. In the past, my paintings have been shown in a few small public exhibitions, but that was a long time ago, you could say it was youthful sins, but don't get me wrong, I'm not bragging: I've never been a good painter, let alone a good photographer. I just enjoy taking pictures and hearing how others see them—whether they like them or not, and why—but I'm well aware of my limitations.

 

[Gary R. Smith]

I'm not bragging: I've never been a good painter, let alone a good photographer.

It's not about how good you are or aren't, it's about whether or not you enjoy it.

I used to paint (both oils and watercolor) as well a do pencil sketches. I have never exhibited nor have I ever made any photo prints for display. 50 years ago, the only way to see my photographs was to print them and at the time I had a wet darkroom with an enlarger, so prints were made then.

Since going digital, I've only had a single image printed (on aluminum) and in hindsight I don't think I'd bother.




I might decide to print some of the redwoods...

 

[Gianluca Drago]

Of the redwoods series, I like this one https://realphotographersforum.com/threads/trees-count.27037/post-209615 but I'd probably print this other one https://realphotographersforum.com/threads/natural-color-redwoods.27038/ that is almost as good.

 

[Gary R. Smith]

Of the redwoods series,

I have 42 other shots that I've not really done anything with yet...
...if I do print one, it will just be for here at the house (sort of my own contribution to what my wife has collected as refrigerator magnets from the places we visited).

 

[Gary Ayala]

One's eye is more important than the image.